There are many issues that a women considers when contemplating breast augmentation from which plastic surgeon to see to whether one should have saline or silicone implants. Amidst these considerations is one most women spend the most time pondering…what size implant should I get? This is no surprise given the reason to get implants is driven largely by the desire to have bigger breasts. So what size they should be understandably is the dominant consideration that offers both concern and excitement in the decision process.
Despite the importance of choosing breast implant size for each individual patient, there is no consistent method for doing it. Women candidly discuss what they want and it is always stated in cup size, proportion to one’s body and what one doesn’t want. (too big) The interpretation of these breast size goals is one variable that makes consistent breast implant size selection difficult. Numerous methods have been touted and used over the years by plastic surgeons for picking breast implant size. The one that is both measureable and consistent is that of the breast base diameter. Matching that to breast implant base width will always give a final breast implant size that will not be too big for most patients. (whether it is adequate is a different story)
Trying on breast implants has always seem logical for sizing and is easy to do. But the stuffing of a round implant between one’s breasts and an overlying bra, while providing some help, does not create a realistic result. The round implant does not conform to the underlying breast tissue and merely pushes it flat. This creates distortions in how the volume of the implant is seen with the bra in place.
To improve in-office implant sizing, Mentor has introduceda Volume Sizing System. For the first time, breast implants sizers are available that actually create a more realistic result. The new sizers have a unique shape that fits over a natural breast creating a more realistic preview of the new size. The sizers have a combined concave inner and convex outer shape and are made of a very soft and malleable silicone elastomer material. The sizes are available in volumes from 150cc to 650ccs. Uniquely, there are also gap size fillers of 50cc, 75cc and 125ccs. These are made to fit on top/on front of the breast with existing implants to determine how much volume may be needed when one is doing an implant exchange.
While no breast implant sizing method is perfect, this new Volume Sizing System is a real asset to this important preoperative consideration. Not commonly recognized amongst patients is that the national rates of breast augmentation revision due to size change is not rare. The very visible and palpable feel of more accurate and natural sizers will go a long way to reducing revisional surgery and helping patients participate more in the breast implant selection process.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana