How to decide breast implant size?

How to decide the best breast implant size for you?
Make sure that they look natural on your body

Angelina from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, writes, "At the insistence of my husband, I have decided to get breast implants, but I don't know what size to pick. He wants them to be really big but I am afraid that I will look awkward, particularly in front of people that know me. How do I decide what size will look good on my body?"

Surgical enlargement enables a woman to choose the size that she feels will enhance her body image and self-confidence. However, some women find that, following breast augmentation, their ideas about the ideal size have changed, and this can lead them to request additional surgery. Additional surgery means additional risks, so plastic surgeons are always looking for ways to help women make better choices about size at the time of their initial augmentation surgery, according to experts like Los Angeles plastic surgeon Peter Fodor. (Related article: Are silicone implants for you?)

A recent survey showed that, while satisfaction with surgery was extremely high, nevertheless 34 percent of those who underwent re-operation did so simply to change the size of their implants. In most cases, women who change implant size switch to larger implants, says Dr. James Baker, Jr., author of an article on choosing implant size. He warns, however, that implants that are too large can leave a patient looking "proportionally disfigured." "If a patient demands a size unsuited to her body type, I cannot in good conscience perform the surgery," he says. (Related article: Should you have breast augmentation surgery?)

While there are different opinions on selecting the appropriate implant size, most plastic surgeons agree that the base diameter should be the key measurement determining the selection. If you do not have enough skin to accommodate the implants, you can not have a large implant. That is why a doctor needs to examine how much skin you really have and what can be fitted in without causing stretch marks.

Although the average size implant that Dr. Baker uses today is significantly larger than he used in 1971, when he began his cosmetic plastic surgery practice, he attributes the increase to the body type of the patients he sees today. "Women are now taller with broader chest wall dimensions and larger frames than they had 30 years ago," he says.

Even though implant size usually is best determined by measurement, patients who are actively involved in the decision about implant size may be more likely to be satisfied with the results of surgery. How can augmentation patients explore their options for implant size before undergoing surgery? Here's some advice from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS):

Be frank and open in discussing size so that there is clear communication, from the beginning, between you and your plastic surgeon.
Select several photographs from magazines illustrating ideal proportions, and show these to your plastic surgeon as a way to begin the communication process. The examples should be of individuals with a similar body type to yours.
Don't define your desired size only in terms of bra-cup size. Cup size can vary significantly among bra styles and manufacturers.
Plastic surgeons sometimes have implants in the office that are used for patients to "try on" different sizes by stuffing them inside their bra. Do the same thing at home, using plastic bags filled with oatmeal, and see how various sizes look in different types of clothing.
Maintain realistic objectives and don't assume that bigger is always better. Implants that are too large not only will upset the aesthetic balance of your figure, they also may be more prone to sagging and ultimately give you a "matronly" look. The best approach is to select implants that will look like a natural part of your body.

Dr. Fodor also says that "When choosing implant size, patients should be aware that large implants, compared with smaller sizes, have a greater potential for certain types of complications, both in the short-term and long-term," says . "Patients who select the smallest implant that will give them a well-proportioned and natural-appearing body contour are making the best possible choice."

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