Home|Blog | Breast Implants: How Big Is Too Big?
Breast Implants: How Big Is Too Big?
“Go big or go home” is not exactly the best advice for a woman choosing breast implants. There is a careful balance between choosing the right implant size for your preferences and your body type versus choosing implants that are far too big (or, conversely, too small). The following factors can help you understand how to choose breast implants that are the best size for your body and your needs.
Understanding Implant Sizing
Implant sizes are measured in cubic centimeters, not cup sizes. You may want to go from an A cup to a C cup but there is no one specific implant size that is labeled as making you “two cups” larger or a “C”. However, by knowing what you want and expressing your goals in detail, you can provide Dr. Turkeltaub with the information that he needs to help select the appropriate implant size range.
The commonly used “rice test” is not an accurate reflection of how certain sizes will look on your body. To more accurately determine a good implant size, Dr. Turkeltaub uses implant sizers and photographs during the consultation to identify a range of sizes and projections that may lead to your desired aesthetic outcome.
Expressing What You Want
It is critical that you have a clear idea of the look you are trying to achieve. The number one reason women undergo breast revision is that they are unhappy with the size of their implants. Most commonly, it is usually that the implants were too small rather than too large though some plastic and “cosmetic” surgeons have a reputation for using too large implants for their patients in general.
If you aren’t sure exactly what you want, choosing your implant size is much more challenging. Use descriptive words such as “conservative,” “natural,” full,” “voluptuous,” “perky,” or other words that will help you get what you want from breast augmentation surgery. However, be aware that certain words can mean different things to different people including your plastic surgeon. For instance, if you express that you want a “fuller” look but all you want is the appearance of more cleavage, this could be interpreted differently and result in a recommendation for larger implants than you want. To avoid any misconception, Dr. Turkeltaub will ask you to express your goals in as many ways as possible, as well as what you are not looking for, so that he can help you ultimately achieve the outcome that you are desiring.
Balancing Body Proportions
In Dr. Turkeltaub’s experience as a breast surgeon, most women who come in for a breast augmentation consultation want to look proportional or slightly larger than that. Often, they will also express the desire for a more conservative size than they truly want. For women with wide hips, going a little larger in implant size can create greater balance and a more attractive look. On the other hand, women who ask for “double D’s” or larger when they have a rectangular body type or narrow hips may end up with results that look “too big” and unnatural which is fine if this is what they were seeking.
Working With Your Natural Breast Tissue
Quite disproportionately large sized implants can lead to significant complications for women with little natural breast tissue, restrictive anatomic issues, thin skin and/or poor skin elasticity. For example, these oversized implants can result in thinning of the skin, bottoming out of the breast, premature breast sagging, rippling of the skin and bizarre breast shapes.
Implant size selection based on breast tissue measurements can lead to better results than size selection that does not consider this element. The amount of natural breast tissue, the position of your breasts, and the width of your chest wall all affect how implants of different sizes will look on your body. Dr. Turkeltaub will measure and assess these factors and then recommend appropriate implant sizes that can allow you to meet your goals without increasing the risk of complications or producing results that are “too big” (unless that is exactly what you want).”
How Other Factors Come Into Play
Implant size by itself isn’t the only factor that needs to be considered when determining which ones would be best for you. Implant characteristics such as profile, shape and fill material (silicone versus saline) are also very important in decision making. It is also important to recognize how the implants and your breast size and shape will affect other aspects of your lifestyle and the image you project to the world.
Selecting the most appropriate implant size is both a science and an art. Dr. Turkeltaub is well prepared to help you choose the perfect size for your goals and your body type so that you can achieve the greatest possible results from your breast augmentation.
Dr. Steven H. Turkeltaub is a board-certified plastic surgeon who strives to provide every patient with the best possible results. He can help you decide which size is best for you to give you the best possible results from your breast augmentation. To request your personal consultation with Dr. Turkeltaub, call us at (480) 451-3000 or complete our online contact form today.