What to consider before getting breast implants

By MARIE KUECHEL and PAIGE HERMAN
Tuesday, March 27, 2007

If you're considering surgery to enhance breast size and you're looking for natural results, you must keep in mind that the size of the implants matters. Finding the right size implant is not just about defining your final size after breast augmentation. The plastic surgeon needs to take into account a woman's physical build, including the width of her chest wall, the amount of natural breast tissue she has and her overall figure.

Depending on if she's curvy or slender, then an implant can be chosen to achieve a breast size and shape that works well with overall body image to create a natural-looking breast. Other factors that are taken into consideration include, chest shape, rib size, breast shape, volume and width, breast base dimension, skin elasticity, depth of the sternum, pregnancy history, height, weight, chest, waist and hip proportions.

Overall proportion and fit for your body should be the No. 1 goal. If you wear a size 7 narrow shoe, you aren't going to buy a 9 wide just because you like the style. The skin "envelope" of your breast can only handle so much "filling," and a natural appearance depends on the natural tissue you have to cover the implant. Perkiness is usually a breast augmentation goal as well, so it's important to realize that a large implant will have to sit lower than a smaller one, since there's no where else for it to go! For the most natural-looking outcome, most plastic surgeons recommend that the average-framed woman with moderate natural breast tissue limit the increase in breast size by no more than two bra cup sizes.

It's common for your plastic surgeon to have you "try on" various implant sizes during your consultation, but you may also want to do this yourself at home. Simply fill nylon knee-highs or cut-off pantyhose with the amounts of rice below. If you're considering under-the-muscle placement, you'll need to add 15 percent more volume, and try them on with a sports bra that will compress them in a manner similar to how the chest muscle would. Generally, it takes 150 to 200 cc to increase breast size by one cup. You can also head to you local lingerie store, try on various bras and stuff them to the profile that works for you, then take that bra to your doctor to demonstrate what you want to achieve.

2/3 cup equals 156 cc (to add less than one cup)

3/4 cups equals 177 cc (to add about one cup)

1 cup equals 236 cc (to add more than one cup)

While you may have an idea of what you'd like your "ideal" breasts to look like, it's important to know that what nature has given you may limit the outcome. Every woman's breasts have unique attributes when it comes to shape, nipple position and degree of sagging, but this doesn't mean that you can't get surgical results that you're happy with. During your consultation, ask to see before-and-after photos of your doctor's patients who started with breasts similar to your own so you can get a better idea of what you may be able to achieve.

Paige Herman and Marie Kuechel are editors of New Beauty, a semi-annual magazine about cosmetic enhancement. Reach them at editors (at)newbeauty.com. For more columns visit www.scrippsnews.com