Breast Augmentation is the number one cosmetic body procedure performed in plastic surgery, even outdoing liposuction which has the advantage of potentially treating many body areas as opposed to breast augmentation’s one. Because the operation is fairly ‘standard’, many potntial patient’s questions and concerns are quite similar I get them on almost every consult that I see. Here are some typical ones of which I will try and provide some general answers. Neither of those questions, however, has a definite answer to any specific patient as there are many variables that control what an implant looks like and how much volume makes a certain cup size. The implant plays a role but the patient’s own anatomy and type and amount of breast tissue and skin play an equally important role.
Will the breast result be better if the implant is above or below the muscle?
The issue of how a breast implant looks above or below the muscle highly depends upon what type of implant that is used, saline vs silicone. They will look somewhat different, silicone will generally be smoother at the edges, saline will likely have some rippling at the bottom and teh sides (eventually). Either way, the shape (due to the weight of its filler content) of the breast will be slightly fuller up top for saline and potentially less full on top with silicone, although the style or projection (low, medium, high) of the braest implant will also play a role. However, how much or how little breast tissue one has and whether the skin is tight or saggy will influence the final appearance as well.
How many implant ccs (volume) does it take to make a full C breast?
The concept of breast size based on cup size and what a certain implant volume may due…..is a little like looking at art. What does a full C look like? What I think it looks like and what you think that looks like may be very different…or similar. Unless we are looking at actual breasts in pictures and asking that same question…one can never know for certain. Even if we agree on what a full C is….every patient’s chest and breast size will require a different volume implant to get there. For example, if you are 5’ 0” tall and weigh 105 lbs, most likely 350 – 375cc will get close to that size….but if you are 5’7” tall and weigh 145 lbs, than 400 – 425cc may be needed to get to that size. Also, how wide your breast is, what we call base diameter, plays a very important role in size and how far to the side the breast implant may go. (which generally is undesired by most patients) We want to choose a breast implant that gets you the size you want but does not go too far to the side. If the size implant chosen for your desired look is too wide, then we need a higher projecting style implant. Sounds confusing, doesn’t it?
These breast augmentation questions are excellent ones and very common. For most patients, these are two of the most important questions (what type of implant, saline vs silicone, is best for you is the most important one) But the answers are not straight forward and each women’s chest and breast size anatomy must be taken into consideration.
Dr Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana