Regardless of the type of implant (saline or silicone gel) and the shape (round or tear drop), the size or volume will be the most critical element in providing the desired fullness. Per a leading San Diego Breast Augmentation surgeon, patients often specify they wish to be a certain cup size, but don't really understand how a bra cup size is measured or the variations in cup sizes.

There are several formulas that manufacturers use in creating a certain cup size. Unfortunately, there is no federal regulation or enforcement of any set standard. Hence, different brands will fit differently and even within a certain brand, the stretch of the fabric will alter the fit and size selected. Some say that perhaps bras from some fancy lingerie brands always run smaller and therefore customers may need to purchase a bra with a larger indicated size tag than they would in using more traditionally made bras. Perhaps this has been a good marketing plan for the company.

San Diego Breast Enhancement and San Diego Breast Lift Specialist Dr. Sherman has found that educating our patients and involving them in the selection process helps to create happy satisfied customers. Following are some excerpt of our discussion with him.

As a leading Breast Augmentation San Diego surgeon, how do you explain this issue of Breast sizing?

First, we explain the concept that the final breast size is related to not only what size implant is used, but also how much breast tissue is present pre-operatively. Many times a patient will tell us that she wants the same size implant as her friend received, although her friend probably developed with a different breast volume than that patient.

Secondly, I try to steer patients into a well proportioned (but not overly proportioned) final result. The very large breasted women will undoubtedly experience more healing problems, and inherent with aging a higher tendency towards drooping of the breast or asymmetry as one breast may become lower than the other. This would lead to revision surgery perhaps to lift breast. My goal has always been to create an ideal proportional body where normal tailored clothing will fit naturally, but when the patient wants to show off in tight fitting revealing clothes, the fullness and curves will be noticeable. Most patients readily understand this concept and accept the idea that ?too big can be harmful?.

Finally, we ask our patient to research and bring to our office, pictures of nudes with different breast sizes. One set being the most desired fullness our patient would like to see when looking at herself in the mirror. Other sets of pictures would be too big and too small breast sizes. Using both inflatable sizing balloons during surgery and our years of experience, we consistently select the size needed to produce very close or exact resemblances to those desired pictures. While there is no quick substitute for experience, judgment, and astute aesthetic abilities of the cosmetic surgeon, having our patients involved with the selection process has been a proven successful technique to translate a women's desire and aesthetic goals into a successful and full filling experience.