What Size Of Breast Implant Do I Need To Go Up Two Cup Sizes?

Q:  I am 32 years of age and I have breastfed 3 children. I am 5’ 4” and weight 127 lbs. My current breast size is a 36B which measures about 7” I want to get bigger breasts but also want them to look natural. I don’t want my breasts to look like big round spheres. What size of breast implants do you think I will need to go up 2 sizes without looking fake but still having a good size?

A:  The perception of natural vs fake-looking breasts after breast implant surgery can have different interpretations amongst various observes. Beauty is truly in the eyes of the beholder. But natural vs unnatural breast implants results are usually interpreted by the shape of the breast primarily and size secondarily. A round breast (upper pole fullness) is usually what one perceives as fake. A breast with a tear-drop shape (lower pole fuller than the upper) is usually seen as more natural.

When a breast implant expands the breast skin, the shape it creates will be determined by the size of the implant and the amount of overlying breast skin. If one has tight breast skin, just about any implant size will make it look more round. In your case with having had three children that you have breastfed would indicate that you have some loose or lax breast skin, with or without a little sagging. This would mean that it takes more of an implant size than one would think and only8 a very large size would make you more round. The key to breast implant size selection is in knowing your breast base diameter measurement. With a near 7 inch diameter (17cms) to your breast, you have very wide-based breasts. You will likely need at least a 500 to 600 cc implant of moderate profile to get you increased by two cup sizes. That may sound large but it is only because you need more volume with a wide breast.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana