BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101

Thank you Deborah - this is so helpful! I would have been playing a guessing game without your guidance

hello, I just read your comment. I am getting ready to have 195 cc implants. I want TINY breasts. I had a mastectomy 11 years ago and bigger implants before....one ruptured. can I ask if yours are still too big? I am worried, because I do not want much...very small.

Hi Whippetmom,

I'm hoping you can help me on whether or not I should be done with expander fills. Here are all my stats:

Height: 5'3 Weight: 135 Ribcage: 31.5
Tissue Expander: Sientra Opus Mid Height, Suggested Fill Volume 310-370, Width 12, Height 9.8, Projection 5.2-6.0.

My previous size was a 36B and I would like to be a small C. I currently have 330 cc in my expanders if that makes any difference. During my fills my PS has been doing 60 cc and at my last one I had him do only 30. I thought I was going to be done after that one, but now I'm having second thoughts and I'm worried that I'm not going to be a C (and it's so hard to tell what you are going to be with expanders). I'm now wondering if I should get the other 30 cc which would put me at 360 cc. Thoughts?

I believe my PS will use Sientra mid height for the implants as well.

Thanks for any insight you can provide!

Thanks Deborah! I found out at my appointment today that my PS will use Allergan Natrelle Softtouch Ultra High Profile. He will bring a range from around 430cc to about 550 cc.

Hi Whippetmom (and anyone else who may have experience with this question),

Boy, I wish I had jumped into this thread a month ago! You have great information. My surgery is next week so i am locked into my fill size and implants but I'm hoping you can reassure that everything will be ok. I'm feeling a little anxious (for some reason I am more anxious about this surgery than I was the mastectomy).

• I am 47 yo, 5'5", 135 lbs, rib cage is 30.5"
• pre mastectomy breast size was a droopy 36B - I had single mastectomy so have remaining breast that will be lifted and small implant placed for symmetry
• current and final fill volume is 300cc - I have been really worried about being too big or augmented looking but now am worried I went too conservative. I wish I hadn't passed on a final fill at my last appt.
• TE - CPX®4 Smooth, Medium Height, Breast Tissue Expander with Suture Tabs, Style 9200 (volume size 450cc) - w 12.3, H 12.9, Proj 6.5
• My PS has ordered Mentor MemoryGel Xtra Smooth Roung Moderate Plus in a range of sized from 115 (for left breast) to 370 (for right breast). I don't know exactly what was ordered and was only told the range.

I am happy with my projection (probably around 4.5 cm) but would like a little more fullness. I think I may lose a little projection and that's ok. I am currently filling out a 36C bra nicely. I would like to ask my surgeon to please use the 370cc implant. I didn't have radiation and I think my skin has good elasticity.

Looking back at past messages I think I read that your implant was actually more ccs than your final fill volume. Is that correct and can you describe your experience? I imagine things will be a little high and tight for awhile but will, hopefully, drop and relax within a couple of months as the skin relaxes. Do you feel like the look of your volume increased after the exchange because you went with a larger implant than your TE volume? I'm hoping I get just a bit more fullness.

Thanks Whippetmom!

Surgery was yesterday and I'm home and feeling surprisingly well. I ended up with a 370 on mx side and 190 in my remaining breast. Both implants are Mentor Xtra Moderate Plus. Now I just can't wait to see what they will look like in a couple of weeks when the swelling goes down. Thanks so much!

Hi Whippetmom - let me say you are doing an incredible service....15 months ago I had a double nipple sparing masectomey with nerve grafting, immediate implants Natrelle Inspira SCM 345, no expanders ....

pre surgery was probably a 36A /B (thinking I was a full B - you know how VS lies and tells us what we want to hear, LOL) I asked for a full C .....

needing revision and looking to swap out implants for larger size - I like my current overall shape just think I need more cleavage and projection

Measurements = 5'4" tall

under breast/ribcage = 34"

weight varies 150-158lbs but carry it all over - slim build

My Dr is hesitant to lager that 400cc but another Dr said he would recommend 660cc

what would you recommend ?

thanks again for your insight

Thank you whippetmom! Here's the info, or at least what I have:

SMX on right side; they took out just over 300 grams.

1. 5'5", 155 lbs, ribcage 34. Trying to lose 15 lbs, to get back to where I used to be until the past year, but it's slow-going. Middle age and pandemic life is a bad combo!

2. 300 cc Allergan Natrelle tissue expander serial #24422674. There was no notation of the style number in the surgical note or on the card they gave me. The PS said they can overfill the TE. Currently getting 50 cc a week. I'm only at 150 now - they could only do 50 during the MX because I hadn't healed from the lumpectomy a few weeks earlier, and I didn't give them a lot of skin to work with anyway. She said my skin is very tight.

3. I don't remember if the PS specified a certain brand of implant, but I'm assuming it's the same as the TE. I know it's over the muscle, non-textured, and silicone.

4. I wore a 36A before. I'm thinking/hoping to upsize to a full B or small C, which will require an implant on the left side.

Let me know if you need further info. I appreciate your input!

Whippetmom - thank you! You are a treasure on this site.

Hi Mem127 - I didn't have implants prior .... the 345s are giving me a flat droopy B/C and that is with a moderate profile, like wippetmom recommend I feel either a high profile (extra full) or moderate profile 550

......from what I've read we can't beat wippetmom's recommendations this site would be lost without her knowledge and help

Hi Whippetmom,

Thank you so much for your feedback. Back in July 2015 my PS brought all 3 sizes in and ultimately went with Mentor Smooth Round High Profile in 800ccs. They were great, wide enough, only issue was rippling after 3+ years, and not much side profile but I was good with them. I was good size, full D size.

In late 2019 almost had an explant issue due to feeling implant edge bottom left side. Unbeknownst to me PS never put in the allodern slings for extra support back in July 2015.

Went ahead with exchange 2/6/20, on both sides to what I thought were the same implants Mentor 800ccs I had mentioned that I felt my implants were going into my armpits could we tighten the pockets. He said he might use slightly smaller implant and increase fullness but never showed implant to me at last visit. I then woke up from implant exchange surgery with newer Mentor Memory Gel Xtra High Profile in 790 cc and did alloderm ( dermal slings) no fat grafting he wanted to wait till I settled. My PS said they were fuller, great side profile and less rippling. Thought they would be a good option for me?

After swelling went down felt like I lost cup in chest size in width and shape, they are still big ( guessing large C) but look narrow and have no side breast fullness. They are not as wide and on my chest so to me they look too small, especially with my broad shoulders. In clothes look like I have higher pointy chest, but missing lower width and side fullness. So not a nice shape at all. Due to covid had to wait until now to look into revision.

Now yr later they are firmer, sit higher, have good side profile, no rippling, no issue of implant edge at all but they look too narrow on my chest. I look good in bra but horrible in clothes, lose shape and size and look flat forget wearing anything baggy.

Are they really that different from my previous ones, or can by fixing pocket to be bigger and adding fat grafting fix this issue of not being full enough? Really not happy with them and will be getting 2nd opinion from another PS. Trying to figure out best option do I stay with Mentor or look at others maybe Allergan Natrelle Inspira ? Thanks again