There are two issues that generate a lot of doubts and uncertainty in patients who are going to undergo breast augmentation:
- The final bra size after breast augmentation.
- The scars that may remain
However, these are questions that will not have a firm answer before undergoing surgery. It is completely normal for a woman to want to know what her breasts will look like after surgery, so it is the duty of the specialist in Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery to tell her that, although it is not something mathematical, they will be able to find the best option for the patient to decide whether to undergo surgery or not.
When it comes to bra size, there are many variables. Even bra manufacturers do not agree on it, just as with any article of clothing, which varies according to the manufacturer.
Misconceptions: cup augmentation, not sizing
Being strict and rigorous, the bra size (80, 90, 100) should not change because it only indicates the contour of the thorax and this will not be modified with the mammoplasty, but only the cup (A, B, C, D…) will be increased. When the breast augmentation is moderate, only the cup will be increased, but there are not always moderate mammoplasties. In this case everything will increase.
Neither before nor after the operation the patient is very clear about how the size issue works. All women who undergo a mammoplasty want to increase bra size, cup size and contour, but the main thing should be to have a beautiful breast. It can be generous if they want, but within limits, with as few postoperative complications as possible and to be in place as long as possible.
What will the size, cup and volume of a breast augmentation be like?
After making a medical and aesthetic assessment, the specialist will show the patient photos of volumes similar to what they can and want to apply. In some cases this first explanation will be enough and the patient will be clear about the concept, understanding that they are not “models to choose from”, but that there will be variations.
We should not rely on cubic centimeters (cc) or grams because the bodies are different and, in addition, the different brands of prostheses are not homogeneous in terms of volume, can be higher, wider, etc..
The cc in breast prostheses will give little information. What is important is how those cc are distributed: width, height, projection, cohesiveness of the gel inside, shape, cover, type of prosthesis applied, etc. All this should allow to get the approximate volume, never exact.
What guides the plastic surgeon to achieve the best results?
Each plastic surgeon has his or her own resources when it comes to orienting himself or herself to apply a breast prosthesis. Sometimes experience alone will be enough. Other times, on the other hand, intraoperative testers or gauges will be used to see the volumes at the moment, if there are doubts.
The final size can also be calculated in pre-operative consultations. In addition, there are many studies published by prestigious specialists detailing parameters and measurements that, once applied, should give the exact prosthesis to be applied to the patient. However, although these specialists have found it useful, it has not become popular.
Another hot topic at the moment is 3D simulation. It is a useful tool but can be a bit dangerous. The moment the patient goes home with a picture of what she will look like postoperatively, she does not stop thinking about it until she decides to have the surgery, hoping for that result. But the simulators do not take into account the materials with which they work, which can condition the final result and the tissues. In this sense, a patient with little breast tissue is not the same as another with breast tissue; tissues that have been damaged and do not have elastic capacity or thinned tissues, than others with resistant dermis; whether the patient has stretch marks or not; whether there is a variable proportion of fat-breast, etc.
All the factors mentioned above can result in spectacular breasts or others with a very bad rippling, pseudoptosis or slight ptosis in front of a perfect conical breast. In general, 3D simulation can be too illusionary for patients but misleading.
The issue of breast size is a constant question in consultations. Although it is not the most worrisome issue from a medical standpoint, patients are concerned, so the specialist must spend time finding out what the patient’s wishes are, as well as making sure she is understanding what the specialist intends to do, based on tastes or what the tissues will admit.