Breast implant sizes: how to choose the volume in ml

Mammoplasty is a serious operation that women undergo to get an ideal bust. Each person evaluates in her own way which forms will make her even more beautiful, but not always objectively. As a result, after complete recovery, the patient develops complexes due to the incorrectly chosen size of implants , and an obsession appears to have a repeat operation. Therefore, during the consultation, you need to listen to the advice of the plastic surgeon, because he does not visually assess the “working area”, but using different methods and calculations.

Letting the Surgeon Choose Breast Size: Is It Really a Good Idea?

Looking at photos before and after plastic surgery, consulting with friends and on forums, the potential patient chooses the breast shape she likes. She thinks with full confidence that her breasts will look like in the photo, and insists on her own. Several factors indicate that this is a utopia:

• Close people cannot give an objective assessment depending on personal perception:
  some are quite satisfied with the appearance of a woman without surgery and believe that nothing needs to be changed;
• others have their own ideal and claim that their advice is the most correct;
• still others simply do not want to participate in the choice, so as not to be “extreme” in case of failure.
• Each woman has her own individual characteristics, so you cannot rely on the advice of friends who have undergone augmentation mammoplasty. Even in cases where a friend with size 4 breasts evokes admiration and names the specific model of endoprostheses that were installed for her. It is likely that she has a completely different body type, and these are the types of implants that will not suit you. As a result, they can only spoil your appearance - it will be noticeable that the breasts are silicone.
• The shape and size of implants, “won” in a dispute with a surgeon, are likely to cause health problems: back pain, fatigue, numbness of skin areas, etc.

Only a doctor can objectively assess what size breast implants will suit a particular patient. He, of course, also takes into account her personal preferences.

Selection of breast implants

When choosing implants, it is necessary to take into account not only the individual wishes of clients, but also the available product options.
Bust prostheses differ in shape, filling, texture of the top layer, volume, diameter, and price. In this article, we will describe a brief grading scheme for breast implants, provide an expert opinion on which implant is best, and provide an objective summary. The information will help you choose the ideal option if you are at the stage of planning mammoplasty. At the Butko Plastic clinic you can carry out an expert selection of breast implants. During a personal consultation with a doctor, patients will be able to see bust prostheses, evaluate their texture, volume, size, and also see the final picture in 3D modeling. Ideal selection of implants in Butko Plastic with a guarantee of the desired result!

Correction of breast asymmetry

Tubular breast correction

Implant replacement

Breast augmentation

Factors influencing the choice of implant

The main goal of mammoplasty is the aesthetics and beauty of the bust after the installation of endoprostheses, regardless of the reasons that prompted the patient to undergo surgery. To achieve this, the surgeon takes into account many factors:

• Natural bust size. The implant becomes a complement to the mammary gland, and not a replacement for it. Identical models of endoprostheses give different results to women with initial breast volumes of the 1st and 2nd bra cup sizes.
• Patient's height. For a petite woman, a large endoprosthesis will give off an artificial breast, while for a tall woman it will be an excellent addition because it will look more natural.
• Width of the chest. For a patient with a thin build, a medium-sized implant will seem huge, but the breasts of a woman with a broad back will not visually enlarge the breasts at all.
• Breast shape. If the height of women and the size of the bra cup are equal, it may be necessary to choose implants of different sizes if the bust of one remains elastic, and the second has severe ptosis (sagging).
• Curvature of the chest. The location of the bone tissue can make the breasts appear more prominent or “hide” part of them.
• Skin elasticity. The inability to sufficiently stretch the dermis becomes an obstacle to installing an implant of the desired size.
• Health problems. The weight of a silicone breast implant depends on a certain volume, and it may be unacceptable for spinal diseases.

Competitive advantages of breast implants

1. Full biocompatibility.

The risk of inflammation and rejection is minimal.

2. Flawless imitation of natural breasts.

Visual images and tactile sensations allow us to judge objectively – modern implants perfectly imitate the structure of natural breasts. If a professional Butko Plastic takes on the job, the result will be as natural and aesthetic as possible!

3. The endoprosthesis will not tear.

Modern implants are adapted for active life. They do not deform when sleeping on the stomach, palpating the chest, even with small impacts and pressure from above. The only thing that can damage the structure of the endoprosthesis is medical punctures or injuries from sharp objects.

4. Maintaining the ability to breastfeed.

With the dynamic development of plastic surgery, this problem is a thing of the past. Millions of women with installed implants successfully breastfeed children up to 2 years of age or more. At the same time, the breasts do not lose their shape and remain beautiful and firm. The only point is that with prolonged feeding of two or more children without breaks, the tissues may weaken, but you can always make a small correction and return the perfect effect. The main thing is that with the prosthesis installed, neither the mother nor the child suffers.

The chest should be harmonious!

Surely you have heard about the pursuit of modern women for extra-volume busts. It seems that large breasts look more natural and impressive. But a large size can also cause undesirable consequences, including stretching, lowering, and rotation of the implant (even the highest quality). Also, when installing large prostheses, patients usually experience a difficult postoperative period.

Implants that are consistent with weight, height, and the shape of the chest will not cause back pain, nor will they provoke the “arch” effect, when the body is constantly tilted forward due to gravity. In addition, the period of adaptation to small implants is optimal. For comparison, women with large implants most often come for corrective surgery. And the point here is not at all about the professionalism of the doctor or the incorrectly performed operation - it’s just that no one has repealed the laws of physics. Large volumes require appropriate conditions, and if they do not exist, no master, unfortunately, will help.

How to choose the right breast implant size

It is better to go to the first appointment prepared in order to obtain the doctor’s approval for augmentation mammoplasty. You can determine the approximate size of the endoprosthesis yourself by taking the necessary measurements:

1. Mark a straight line from the hollow between the collarbones to the navel.
2. Draw a parallel at a distance of 1.5-2 cm from line A. It should not be as long - the upper point is at the level of the armpit, the lower point is under the chest.
3. Draw a horizontal line from the armpit to line A to make a perpendicular.
4. From the lower edge of the nipple, draw a vertical line 5-6 cm long and mark a point.
5. Draw a perpendicular to line A, passing through point D. Then you need to connect a point on the armpit of line B with an inclined line until it intersects with line D. And take two measurements: 1st - horizontally through the middle of the nipple from line B to the inclined line, 2nd — vertically through the middle of the nipple from line B to line D.

By clicking on the image, you confirm that you are over 18 years old!

Scheme

Based on the results obtained, you need to select the volume of breast implants using the table.

Only a difference of 100 ml will be significant. A smaller volume does not affect the visual or sensations in any way, so there is no need to suffer from doubts because of 40-50 ml.

The smallest value will be appropriate.

Using external sizers

When agreeing to surgery, you must understand that breast implants are not pads that can be removed or replaced with others. This is a part of the body, and it should feel comfortable at work, when playing sports, while sleeping and walking.

All manufacturers of endoprostheses offer sizers that can be worn for some time before mammoplasty in order to choose the appropriate size, but taking into account the following recommendations:

• Wear a tight-fitting bra, preferably a sports bra. Sizers cover the breasts rather than being underneath the muscle or gland, so they don't give a clear look without proper tightening.
• Wear different clothes, changing styles and colors. Tight-fitting tops visually add volume, while loose fits reduce it.
• When you look in the mirror, imagine that you see another woman and give an objective assessment of “her” appearance.

It is also worth finding out the opinion of family members, not forgetting that they may have their own ideals of proportions.

If liposuction is the most popular plastic surgery in the United States, and nose surgery is the most popular in Iran, then in Estonia it is undoubtedly breast surgery. The fact that our women lack bust fullness is by no means bad news. Breast augmentation materials and techniques have improved greatly in recent years, and by choosing the right method, you can achieve remarkable results.

Which size will fit me?

Often, before the consultation, women do thorough preliminary work and come to an independent decision about what size implants they need. But they forget that they cannot make a decision based solely on the size of the implant. You need to take into account what breast size you want after surgery and how this will change the proportions of your body.

For example, a 300 ml implant will increase your breast size by about 1.5 sizes. This means that from a small B cup after surgery you will get a full, beautiful C. A 400 ml implant will already increase your breast size by 2.5 sizes, that is, from a small B you will get a full D. Whether a C, D or E cup is better for a particular woman, we We find out only by looking at the proportions of the body as a whole. Therefore, you should not be disappointed if we recommend you a completely different size of implants instead of the popular 350 ml.

Our women have one more feature - often two implants of different sizes are needed for breast correction. This is due to skeletal conditions caused by a lack of vitamin D. During the consultation, we often have to explain to the patient that it only seems that her breasts are different sizes. Visual differences in breasts are not caused by differences in the volume of fat and glandular tissue, the breasts are simply located at different levels. In this case, we try to get rid of visual asymmetry. This can be done using implants of different profiles, for example by installing one implant with a medium profile and the other with a high profile.

Before the consultation, a woman must come to an understanding of what result she is striving for, what breast size will suit her body, what cup will suit her. It is better to leave the choice of the size and shape of the implant to achieve the desired result to a professional.

Which installation method do you prefer?

Just 20 years ago, the technologies used did not allow women who had given birth or with slightly sagging breasts to have implants placed under the pectoral muscle. At that time, they did not yet know how to release the edge of the muscle and mammary glands so that they could be lifted for installation of the implant. Therefore, there was a danger that an implant installed under the muscle would cause a double bubble or double breast, forming a double fold of the mammary gland.

Today, the dual-plane technique is used to install an implant under the pectoral muscle. During the operation, the edge of the pectoral muscle is opened, and the implant is only partially installed under the muscle. Placing the upper part of the prosthesis under the muscle will not only help to better hide the implant itself in the area where there is usually the least fatty tissue, but will also eliminate the formation of the so-called “step”, that is, a level difference between the décolleté area with ribs and the unexpected spherical shape of the prosthesis. The more the implant is hidden under the tissue, the more natural the result looks.

The Dual-plane technique opens up many new possibilities. It allows you to install an implant under the pectoral muscle in cases of sagging breasts, as well as tubular (triangle-shaped) and lateral (nipples pointing outwards) breasts. We have also begun to use innovative technologies that make it possible to install implants with a volume of up to 500 ml under the pectoral muscle - previously, the upper limit for a woman’s average height was an implant with a volume of no more than 400 ml.

We now install implants partially under the pectoral muscle in 80% of cases in which previously we would have been forced to install an implant on the muscle. Although dual-plane provides the surgeon with more options, this technology also places higher demands on the patient. Careless post-operative care may negate the benefits provided by the technology. Therefore, in working to preserve beautiful breasts, the most important role is assigned to the patient.

What types of implants are there?

To get the bust of your dreams, not only the volume, but also the shape of the endoprosthesis is important. They come in two types:

• Round. They create maximum plumpness and lift of the bust, but give off a “silicone-like” appearance, especially if the volume is chosen incorrectly. The positive aspect is the natural shape during active movements, in a horizontal position of the woman.
• Teardrop-shaped. They resemble the natural shape of the breast, which is why they are called anatomical. But such implants have a disadvantage: when a woman lies on her back, her breasts do not “spread out” like real ones, but protrude upward.

There are positive and negative aspects to installing a certain type of endoprosthesis. The choice is made after studying many physiological and aesthetic indicators, taking into account contraindications.

Mammoplasty: size 3

Breasts of this volume look natural and beautiful in some women, too unnatural in others, and almost invisible in others. And when a patient tells the doctor that she wants a size 3 bust, she means the depth of the bra cup.

The surgeon cannot determine how many ml the patient wants based only on the desire for “size 3”. And all because there is simply no such magnitude. With the same size C, but different amounts of coverage under the bust (for example, 80 cm and 72 cm), the bra cups are different.

Breast surgery size 4 and larger

Curvy shapes are not suitable for everyone, and besides, the installation of large-volume implants may simply be contraindicated for health reasons.

In medical practice, there are many cases when a woman insists on the desired size of breast implants. Such situations often arise when talking with patients of short stature and thin build. Despite the surgeons' warnings about possible complications and a difficult rehabilitation period, the patient undergoes surgery. In 35% of cases, these are candidates for revision mammoplasty, during which the endoprosthesis is replaced with a smaller model.

Before mammoplasty, the plastic surgeon carries out a lot of preparatory work to ensure that the selected size of the endoprosthesis suits the patient. In many cases, doctors recommend that a woman not use sizers, but rice, measured in the desired volume in ml and poured into a nylon stocking. A thick sports bra is necessary in this case. It is also important to consider how much breast implants of a certain volume weigh. After all, the acquired beauty will cease to please you if your arms and back constantly hurt under the weight of endoprostheses.

Pain and discomfort after surgery are inevitable

Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure that includes anesthesia, an incision, pocket formation, and implant placement. After any surgery, the body will need some time to recover. And the body's natural reaction involves some pain and discomfort. As many former patients have noted, the pain after breast augmentation surgery is not that severe, but it is still enough to make post-op recovery quite unpleasant. Fortunately, the doctor will always recommend many ways to get rid of pain, and the first of them is painkillers. The medications prescribed by the surgeon can be taken without fear, but you should strictly follow his instructions and dosage. The medicine that the doctor prescribes should control the pain. If this does not happen, then you must definitely inform the surgeon about this, as any complications may arise.

The second method, which is good for preventing pain rather than relieving it, is rest. Constantly spending time in bed may not have the best effect on your legs, so it is better to give them a little warm-up during the day, however, no stress or physical activity should be allowed.

You can also try a massage. Even though the breasts have undergone surgery, they will not be too painful when touched. Therefore, you can massage it lightly. However, this can only be done with the permission of a doctor. You need to carefully ask him how the massage should be performed, and whether it can be done at all. In some cases, proper massage can significantly relieve pain.

Breast implant size chart

For your information, the article presents data from catalogs of manufacturers of thoracic endoprostheses.

The first table shows the average profile of Mentor round implants with a textured Siltex shell and Cogesive filler.

The second table shows the size table of round Monobloc®Silicone implants with a textured surface from Arion. Medium Profile (HP).