When you’re considering a breast augmentation, it’s natural for your mind to drift to one place: size. How large should I go? And while the size of your breast implants is, of course, a significant consideration, it shouldn’t be your only consideration. Here are a few others that’ll help ensure that your breast augmentation results in natural-looking (or striking) breasts that complement your body shape.
Fullness
Breast implant sizes aren’t the same as bra cup sizes, which can be a little disorienting. It’s important to know how they’re measured in order to have a good reference point. Breast implants are measured by volume, usually in cubic centimeters or milliliters. The higher that number, the larger the implant and the more it will project outward.
An implant’s diameter—its width at its widest point—is also going to affect its projection. Two implants with the same volume but different diameters will project differently. The one with the wider diameter is going to be a bit flatter and project outward less than the narrower implant.
Shape
Not all breast implants are the same shape, either. They can be round or teardrop-shaped. Round implants basically have the same level of fullness all the way around, whereas the teardrop variety is fuller below the nipple, mimicking a breast’s natural contour.
Profile
Profile also plays a role in the fullness of your breast implants. Think of it this way: High-profile implants sit higher on your chest and appear more rounded, while moderate-profile implants look comparatively subtle. The latter tends to be favored by women seeking a natural-looking upgrade, while the former is preferred by those with a more dramatic flair.
Your own inherent qualities
Much as you may be dreaming of much larger breasts, it’s not quite as simple as just picking the right type of implant. Your body shape and frame are going to dictate, to a certain extent, the magnitude of your augmentation. If, for example, you have a narrow chest or a small frame, you’ll be limited in the size of the implants you can wear safely and comfortably. But you could still opt for high-profile implants, which will help them appear even larger than they actually are.
You’ll also want to consider the entirety of your lifestyle. Tempting as it may be to picture yourself flirting with your significant other in a new, low-cut black dress, ignoring your HIIT Saturday-morning workouts and that adventure-seeking other side of yourself could eventually make your high-profile breast implants feel like more of a hindrance than a step up.
Your plastic surgeon will have all of this in mind when you sit down for your consultation. But having at least a basic familiarity with these nuances should go a long way toward shaping breasts that you’ll love for years to come.
For more on breast augmentation and how to select the right breast implant, tune into Dr. Steven Davis’s podcast, The Plastic Surgery Revolution.