By Terrye Tebbetts

With the publication of The High Five Measurement System for surgeons and our How to Determine Size chapter in The Best Breast 2, and all of my various rants and raves about how important it is to measure a breast with your plastic surgeon during consultation, all of the sudden patients are asking for and expecting their ps to measure the breast…..which is good!!!  However, both the patient and the ps need to know what to do with the measurements once they are taken.  When 5 simple measurements of the breast are put into a formula, a ps can determine just the right amount of volume to optimally fill the breast envelope ~ producing a beautiful breast that looks like it belongs on the patient and is least likely to cause her any problems long term.

The disturbing trend I am seeing and hearing from patients now is that breast implant surgeons are taking out the tape measure and the caliper and putting on a good show with them but then turning around and asking the patient to try on sizers to figure out what to use in the operation.  So honestly, why did you measure if you are not going to plan the operation based on the measurements?

If a ps uses a system like High Five to plan the operation – sizers will be obsolete!  Remember, you can force fabric to do anything  - – but your tissue, your body will not react to that implant size like the bra did!

 Here is a prime example of what I am talking about…….

 Question ~

I am having my surgery tomorrow! I had some size questionixzs too but I trust that my surgeon is very knowlgable and will pick the appopriate size… he measured me A LOT and gave me a range what he thought would look good (about 450 ccs) I tried on implants in that range and all look good. Like Terrey I think it is more up to your body than you what will look good. So I told my surgeon to “go with what fits best” when hes in there… I know he will make the right choice and I know even with measuremenets things might be slightly diffrent once he gets inside so i wanted to let him know i am flexable… and he knows the range im comfortable with… I think it goes back to trusting your surgeon and his understanding of your body…best of luck!

 Answer ~

You are probably right to work with your surgeon about the size – I think that is a very good situation for both of you.

I would still like to address a very important issue that you brought up though…..If a ps is truly using a MEASUREMENT SYSTEM (taking the measurements and then applying them to a formula that will tell him or her what implant volume will adequately fill your breast envelope) then there will not be a “range of size”  there will be just one size that will fit your breast.  So when they measure, but still have you try on sizers and pick, the measurements don’t really mean anything, do they?

I wish you the best tomorrow, I know your ps will do what is right for you.

About the Author: Terrye Tebbetts is one of the most knowledgeable women in the world about breast implants, with 27 years of experience educating patients and 11 years as a patient herself. For more information about breast implants or breast augmentation Dallas surgeons, please visit www.thebestbreast.com.