Breast Augmentation Blog: Breast Implant Sizes

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Breast Implant Sizes

If you are thinking about breast augmentation, one of the first and last questions you will have is about the breast implant sizes that will be best for you. Considering that the primary purpose for breast augmentation surgery is primarily to increase the size of the breast, this point is fairly obvious.

Interestingly the leading cause for breast implant revision procedures is actually simply to change the size of the implant. Unfortunately, women often pick their new size without enough research which can result in dissatisfaction with the procedure. This breast augmentation video highlights a woman who initially went in for a C cup, but returned for another operation simply to increase the size to a D cup…just six months later.

Since all the costs and risks of subsequent procedures are included the second or third time around, it is an expensive and risky problem. There are many ways available to choose your breast implant sizes that you should know about. While a surgeon may prefer the method they have always used, it is important for you to take control of the decision since you will be the one living with the results!

Primary Methods to Choose Breast Implant Sizes

As I began to research this issue I found an interesting video from 1992 starring Cindy Crawford (now in our video library). The doctor in this video uses the best method they had available at the time which was to draw with a marker on a black and white photo the approximate size that the patient would receive. Drawing on a photo? With the importance of the decision let’s see how the industry is working towards solutions today.

1) The Rice Test

2) The Water Baggie Test

3) Before and After Photos

4) 3 D Imaging

5) Breast Implant Sizers (the latest and best method)

The Rice Test

This rice test for breast augmentation is pretty basic and is only slightly better than the doctor drawing on a photo. The industry is tied to it however and most surgeons seem to recommend it primarily because it is so simple and inexpensive. The entire rice test should only cost you about ten to twenty dollars.

The basic principle is this—fill a plastic bag with a comparable volume of rice and then stuff it in a bra. It should give you a very rough idea of how large your breasts will be after the implants have been placed. Here is the recipe for the Rice Test:

1) Get a 2 pound bag of rice…or birdseed works fine as well

2) 2 large sandwich baggies

3) A bra in the size you want to be, preferably a sports bra (the only real cost to be considered).

Now measure the rice to match the cc’s of the implant you are considering. If you don’t have a metric measuring cup here is a conversion chart for you to use:

1 cup = 236cc

¾ cup = 177cc

2/3 cup = 156cc

½ cup = 118cc

1/3 cup = 78cc

¼ cup = 59cc

1/8 cup = 30cc

Using the chart above, if you wanted to create a 300cc implant sizer, use 1 cup (236cc) plus 1/4 cup (59cc) of rice. The total (295cc) will give you a rough look at what you could look like with a 300cc implant

Benefits to the rice test: Cheap and you can try it right now!

Problems: A plastic bag of rice or birdseed looks just like it sounds. You can’t really wear it anywhere. If you try it on for a hour or two…well, you smell like a rice cooker!

If the biggest complaint with breast augmentation is incorrect breast implant sizes, why would you want to do the same thing that has always been done? With technological advances today you should really invest in a good breast implant sizing system (described below). For about a hundred bucks you can get the latest technology in breast implant sizing. With the newest breast implant sizers you can actually wear different breast implant sizes throughout the day.

Breast Implant Sizers

A few years ago a few different breast implant sizing systems came to the market which were a huge improvement over the old rice test. These systems, which are still on the market today, are plastic bags pre-filled with a comparable volume of water to that of breast implants. These are pretty inexpensive – about forty to sixty bucks. They work fine for standing in front of a mirror but not really for going out with them on. As a bag of water, the ripples of the tester implant show through the bra.

Still, I like these better than the rice test. As the first generation of breast implant sizers they were a good idea. While you get a chance to try on sizers during your consultation for breast implants, you will only get about twenty minutes to try them on. Sizing systems allow to have sizers at home so you can try them on in a variety of different clothing. The early implant sizers gave you the option for trying them on at home, but not to go out and try on different breast implant sizes in public.

The next generation of breast implant sizers is called The Purlz Breast Sizing System. The big difference is that you can actually wear these sizers throughout the day. They actually look like a natural breast within a bra. Basically the first generation (still offered by the largest implant manufacturer), is designed to look like a breast implant. Purlz are designed to look like a breast. There is a big difference.

Purlz are not made of water, rice, or birdseed. Instead the manufacturers came up with the idea that a sizer should be comfortable and natural looking within a bra. They are made of a microfiber shell with small plastic beads. They are terrifically comfortable. They made them specifically to fit in a bra, to compress to your breast so they would not have the problems inherent in the water systems. Purlz come in volumes comparable to breast implant sizes from 150cc to 700cc sizers.

The Purlz Breast Sizing System is the first breast sizing method that is designed to help you with the total decision with breast implant sizes. Purlz can actually help you with the psychological issue that is causing the biggest problem in this area.

With Purlz you can try out various sizes while at work, at home, or at play. You can actually go out shopping and try on the new clothing you will need due to your new breast size. Women have even worn their sizers to work, to meetings, out for an evening on the town. The value of this is that you are really taking control of the breast implant size decision by trying out different sizes. You get a chance to experience—not just look in a mirror.

Similar in size and dimension to breast implant sizes Purlz are available in a wider range than any other system:

150cc, 175cc, 200cc, 225cc, 250cc, 275cc, 300cc, 325cc, 350cc, 375cc, 400cc, 425cc, 450cc, 475cc, 500cc, 550cc, 600cc, 700cc

Breast Implant Sizes Psychology

Ok, well I’m not a psychologist so let’s just call this a good guess based on observation. It seems to me that this is what is happening:

1) While making the decision on having larger breasts, a woman may feel self-conscious about how she will look and how she will be perceived with her new body.

2) She relies on discussion, maybe a preview of sizers in the doctors office to make her breast implant size decision.

3) After the breast augmentation procedure, she receives compliments and feels better about herself. She finds that she feels good and that her fears of how she will be perceived were exaggerated.

4) Within a few days or weeks she wishes she had picked a different breast implant size.

It happens often. Doctors typically report that about half of all women wish they had chosen a different size, and most of them wish they had gone bigger.

The advantage to Purlz is that this is the first system that allows you to try on breast implant sizes in public and get over any psychological misperceptions you might have. Just try them out for a weekend or two and you will soon start to see what I am talking about. Besides that, it is just plain fun to try it out.

Breast Implant Sizes – Photos on the internet

There a lot of great sights on the internet which show photos of breast augmentations performed on other women. Doctor websites use these to help you make a decision based upon another woman’s body. These can be helpful especially in terms of inspiration!

The best suggestion with before and after breast augmentation photos is to try and find a picture of a woman’s body similar in age and weight to yours. See how the larger breast size looks on these photos.

I especially like the websites that give you a database of photos so you can quickly sort through photos to get to the ones that pertain to you.

One huge word of caution here, however: breast implant sizes on one woman may look very different on you, even if your age and body type are similar. The reason for this is that each woman’s body is unique, right down to the strength and size of the muscles that the implant is being placed under. Before and after breast augmentation photos should be a tool, but take care in terms of placing too much value on them.

The Water Baggie Test

I am simply not going to talk about this test much. I just don’t see how a woman can actually accomplish this. Basically the idea is to get a bra in the size that you want. Place a plastic bag in the bra. Now carefully fill up the bag with water until you get to a breast size you want. Now empty the bag of water and measure the contents.

I hate to say it but only a man could have come up with this idea. I mean, the water is going to spill over, right? It does. Try walking around this way and…splash. Don’t bother with it unless you want to see yourself soaking wet.

Breast Implant Sizes – 3D Digital Imaging

This is a pretty good idea and there are millions of dollars invested by companies into this technology. With the new Axis 3 Digital imaging machine, the doctor and his assistant take your photo in their office. They use software to create a digital image of your torso as a preview to what you would look like with breast implants in various breast implant sizes.

I like this technology because it is far more accurate than a hand drawn photo! It is an excellent method to help you with choosing the right breast implant sizers to wear.

Conclusion—Take Control of the Decision

I simply want to encourage you to take control of this important decision. So many women are choosing breast augmentation today and I think the need for revision procedures is needless. Hopefully if you use all of these methods you will get enough information to make a good decision the first time!