Breast Implant Size and What Profile to Get

Posted November 30, 2020 in Breast Augmentation

When choosing your implants for breast augmentation, implant size and profile are both important factors. These two implant characteristics will impact your final results in different ways. Use the following information to help you identify the ideal implant size and implant profile for you.

Implant Size vs. Breast Size

Implant size and breast size are not the same thing. Implants are measured individually, pre-insertion, meaning the size of your implants is not the size your breasts will ultimately be after your implants are inserted.

How Implant Size is Measured

Breast implants are measured using cubic centimeters (cc’s). The number of cc’s is the volume of each implant and describes how much saline or silicone is inside it. An implant that is 300 cc’s will be smaller than an implant that is 400 cc’s.

How Breast Size is Measured

A woman’s breasts are measured using inches. Two measurements are taken: one underneath the breasts (along the breast crease) and one around the fullest part of the breasts. The bra band size is the number of inches underneath the breasts, and the cup size is the difference between the two measurements (1 inch difference means A cup, 2 inches is B cup, 3 inches is C cup, etc.). For example: if a woman measures 34 inches along her breast crease and 37 inches along the fullest part of her breasts, then her bra size is 34C.

Breast implants will likely change your cup size, but since there is no “D cup breast implant” or anything like that, it will take careful determining to choose an implant size that will give you your desired cup size. You should ask a skilled surgeon to examine your breasts and evaluate your goals in order to help you select the ideal implant size for you.

Implant Size Considerations

When determining your implant size, consider both your personal preferences (your desired appearance) and your natural breast anatomy.

Personal Preferences with Breast Size

Your aesthetic goals are a critical factor in determining your ideal breast implant size. Is your goal to have more cleavage? Correct sagging? Reverse volume loss? Create an hourglass shape? Get a subtle, natural-looking enhancement? Make a bold and dramatic change? Determine what your priorities are and what look you want to achieve, and that will help you choose your ideal breast implant size.

Natural Breast Anatomy and Breast Implant Size

Your natural breast anatomy will affect how implants of different sizes might look on you.

• Example 1: You are a woman with a petite frame, small breasts, and very little natural breast tissue, and you want a bold, dramatic change.
  • If you choose large implants: Your results may look unnatural, your breast skin may be noticeably stretched and thin, and your breasts may not have enough supportive tissue for the implants (making you more vulnerable to complications).
  • If you choose small or moderately sized implants: Because your natural breast size was small to begin with, your results will likely be noticeable and dramatic as well as more natural-looking. Consider a smaller implant with a high profile (see below.)
• Example 2: You are a woman with naturally larger breasts that have become deflated after pregnancy and nursing, and you want to improve their appearance while maintaining a natural look.
  • If you choose small implants: The implants may not be large enough to fully correct the deflated appearance of your breasts, and you may feel disappointed by lackluster results.
  • If you choose moderately sized or large implants: Your implants may better fill out your deflated breasts, leaving you with a more attractive breast appearance that still looks natural and authentic.
• Example 3: You are a woman with small or moderately sized breasts, but you have a wide frame and very wide hips, and you want more balanced contours.
  • If you choose small implants: The implants may be too minimal to balance out your frame and may not make much of an impact in your overall appearance.
  • If you choose moderately sized or large implants: Your implants may give you more of a feminine shape because they balance out your naturally wide hips. Consider a larger size implant with a low or moderate profile (see below).

To achieve the best results, you must consider your natural anatomy along with your aesthetic goals before choosing your implant size.

Implant Profile

While implant size is the volume of the implant, implant profile is more about how that volume is organized or structured. Put plainly, “implant profile” is both how wide the implant is at the base and how far the implant projects from the chest wall. A low profile implant has a wide base and projects only minimally from the chest wall. On the other end, a high profile implant has a narrow base and projects far outward from the chest wall.

Implant Profile and Anatomical Considerations

With implant profile, it is especially important to consider your anatomy. Choosing the wrong profile can create poor aesthetic results that may look odd or unnatural. Not only that, choosing the wrong profile can also increase your risk of complications. A skilled surgeon can help you select the right implant profile based on your anatomical needs.

Here are some general suggestions regarding implant profile and different body types:

• Low Profile implants: Relatively flat with minimal projection outward from the chest wall.
  • Best for: Women who have naturally wider chests and/or whose breasts are naturally spaced far apart from each other, especially women who want a subtle change.
  • Not usually recommended for: Women who are petite, have a narrow frame, or have close-set breasts (the implants could spill out to the sides and/or eliminate cleavage at the middle).
• Moderate Profile implants: Moderate base width with moderate projection outward from the chest wall.
  • Best for: Women with smaller or narrower chests, especially women who prefer a more natural or subtle enhancement.
  • Not usually recommended for: Women whose chests are particularly wide or narrow (either extreme).
• High Profile implants: Narrow base with significant forward projection outward from the chest wall.
  • Best for: Petite women with a narrow chest wall, especially women who desire a fuller and rounder appearance.
  • Not usually recommended for: Women with a wider chest wall or wideset breasts (the implants could look “stuck on”, fake, and unnaturally placed).

Breast implant size and profile are not the same, but they both determine the end results of breast augmentation. If two identical twins chose implants that were the same size but different profiles, or the same profile but different sizes, their end results would look quite different from each other. Conversely, if two biologically unrelated women chose the exact same implant size and profile, their end results would still look different based on their natural anatomy. With the help of an experienced breast augmentation surgeon recommending an implant size and profile that meets your anatomical and preferential needs, you can ensure the best aesthetic results after your breast augmentation.

Dr. Andres Taleisnik is a skilled, board-certified plastic surgeon with significant experience helping women achieve excellent results with breast augmentation. He can help you determine the best implant size and profile to match both your body type and your preferences. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Taleisnik today, call (657) 294-8375 or contact us online.