17 Sep 2024 | by Dr. Sean Doherty
As a breast surgery expert, I have performed countless breast augmentation
procedures, and more often than not, when a new patient first comes in to my
Boston office to discuss breast implants, she will tell me that she wants to be a C or
D cup, for example. I understand the focus on cup size. Bras are a worldwide form
of measurement, and companies such as Victoria’s Secret have made certain sizes
seem more desirable. The problem is that bra size is not the best indicator of breast
volume as bra size and breast volume are not the same thing. Here’s why and what
I ask my patients to focus on instead.
Bra Size Different Than Breast Volume
Your bra size is determined by two measurements:
• Band
• Cup
The band is the number of inches around your rib cage. And though the next
logical assumption would be that cup size equals your breast volume, this is not
actually true. Instead, the cup size of a bra is the difference between your rib cage
and your bust. This is why your bra size changes when you gain/lose weight. Since
a breast implant has no effect on your rib cage, cup size is not a good indicator of
the amount of volume or cc’s of silicone or saline that you would need in a breast
implant. Furthermore, if you’ve tried bras made by different manufacturers then
you already know that bra size is not standard. You can wear a range of different
cup sizes depending on the bra.
Focus on the Look
Instead of cup size, I advise my breast augmentation patients to focus on the look
that they want to achieve. This is where photos can be really helpful. I suggest that
you scroll the internet and flag photos of women who have breasts that you like.
Then, when you come in for your initial consultation, we can peruse these images
together, and discuss what can and cannot be achieved with your anatomy.
Because here is the other critical component of a successful breast augmentation
— any breast implant has to work within the confines of your unique body.
My goal is to deliver a natural looking result that will be long lasting. I am not
going to place an overly large breast implant into a patient with a small chest. It
will just stretch the skin and tissues, ultimately resulting in complications such as
implant malposition that will require revision surgery. The job of any good breast
augmentation is to create or restore proper proportion to your entire torso. I like to
make your breasts the best version of themselves. This is what can make your
waist look tighter, your torso look longer and your abdomen appear flatter.
To find out more about a breast augmentation, or any other surgical or non-surgical
procedure with Dr. Sean Doherty at Boston Center for Plastic Surgery, contact us
today or call (617) 450-0070 to schedule a consultation.
