It can be difficult to imagine your new bust line prior to breast implant surgery. Most women understand breast sizes by the cup size of bras, but this has nothing to do with breast implant sizing. Instead, the size of an implant is measured in cubic centimeters, or “cc” for short.

A cubic centimeter is a metric measurement for volume and is used to define a saline or silicone breast implant’s capacity. One cubic centimeter equals one milliliter, and breast implant sizes typically range from 100cc to 800cc. Many implants are prefilled, but some saline implants can be filled to different capacities once they are placed in the body. To better understand how cubic centimeters determine breast implant size, you may find the “rice test” helpful. Using a knee-high stocking filled with uncooked rice, you can determine what size implant may work best for you. To create a 300cc test implant, place 10 ounces of rice in a stocking. Ounces are units of mass, not volume, so keep in mind that 30cc equals one ounce, therefore 300cc equals 10 ounces. Tie off the stocking and place it inside a non-padded bra to see how a 300cc implant might look on your frame. Pay close attention to whether the test implant is proportionate to the rest of your body, and add or subtract rice to find the size that looks best.

Review Photos

To supplement the rice test, it may also be helpful to look at photos of women with natural or augmented breasts to find examples that appeal to you. Try to find photos from both frontal and profile views. Bringing your favorite photos to your initial consultation with a plastic surgeon can help him or her get an idea of your desired size and overall appearance goals. Keep in mind that your breast augmentation results will not exactly match those of the women in your photos.

Consult a Plastic Surgeon

Although using the rice test and viewing photos are good ways to determine your preferred breast implant size, they should be utilized only as a starting point. During your initial consultation, your surgeon will help you accurately define your desired outcome. His or her final recommendation will be based on:

– Your body type and shape

– The amount of existing breast tissue you have

– Your personal preference

Your surgeon may recommend a larger size than you might initially prefer, but this is because the implant size will look slightly smaller once it’s placed in the breast pocket. On the other hand, your surgeon may suggest that you consider breast implants with less volume, particularly if you already have a significant amount of existing breast tissue. Additionally, if your natural breasts differ significantly in size or are otherwise asymmetrical, your surgeon may recommend two varying sizes of breast implants.

Choosing your breast implant size is ultimately up to you, but it’s important to have realistic expectations. Listen closely to your surgeon’s professional opinion and make sure you are completely satisfied when making the final decisions about your enhancement surgery.

Katie Perry is an online content editor in the Tampa Bay area. She posts articles about plastic surgery topics and procedures including breast augmentation, breast implants, and more.

Katie Perry is an online content editor in the Tampa Bay area. She posts articles about plastic surgery topics and procedures including breast augmentation, http://bayshoreplasticsurgery.com/ breast implants, and more.

Author Bio: Katie Perry is an online content editor in the Tampa Bay area. She posts articles about plastic surgery topics and procedures including breast augmentation, breast implants, and more.

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