If you’ve been looking at before-and-after pictures of breast augmentation on the ‘net, you may have experienced the same problem as one of our patients. “I don’t understand what all the letters mean,” she told us. “It makes it hard to understand what I’m looking at.” We showed her how easy it is to decipher the implant code and in today’s article, we’ll do the same for you.

Forget About Cup Size

Let’s start with something you may be familiar with: cup size. It’s easy to work out your cup size. First, measure your band size (the area under your breasts) and then take your bust measurement (the fullest part of your chest at nipple level.) Subtract the band size from the bust measurement and you have your cup size.

“Cup size is useful when you’re shopping for lingerie and bathing suits,” says Dr Norris. “It is not a measure you use in selecting a breast implant. You don’t walk into a surgeon’s office and say ‘I want a double D implant.’ That’s just not how it works.”

Sisters from a Different Mister: Grams & Cubic Centimetres

There are two measures that are used interchangeably to describe implant size, though they describe different aspects of the implant:

Grams – a measure of mass, sometimes abbreviated as gm or g
Cubic Centimetres – a measure of volume, abbreviated as cc

A cubic centimetre of volume is the same as a gram of mass. Therefore, the same implant may be referred to as a 295cc implant or a 295gram implant. Dr Norris uses the ‘g’ for grams designation to describe the work done in his before-and-after breast augmentation gallery.

The grams or cubic centimetres of an implant size should not really be of concern to a patient. “You don’t go to a consult and tell your surgeon to give you a certain implant size because it has a big number attached it,” says Dr Norris. “You work together to determine which implant will look best on you, regardless of grams.”

Ask Dr Norris: Breast Implant Questions

During a preliminary consultation about breast implants, patients at Form and Face are encouraged to ask (and answer) these questions about size:

What size implant will give me a subtle change in appearance?
What size implant will make a dramatic change to my bust?
What size implant will affect my lifestyle, including exercise?
What size implant will make me look more attractive in clothing?
What size implant will help promote good breast health?
What size implant will be good for the long haul and still feel “right” in 10-20 years?

A breast implant that has not been properly fitted to the body of the woman receiving it can lead to a variety of problems. In addition to looking unnatural, lumpy and disproportionate, overly large breast implants (for example) can lead to:

Sagging breasts
Back pain
Tissue thinning

Implant Sizing Is a Specialty at Form & Face

There’s a science to picking breasts that are aesthetically pleasing. Dr Norris has been helping women improve their curves for many, many years. He has developed a keen aesthetic eye and is masterful at determining an ideal implant size based on a woman’s proportions and goals. If you would like to learn more about breast implants, breast lifts, and other body contouring procedures, we invite you to contact Form and Face to schedule your appointment.