by Terrye Tebbetts
Every day when I talk with patients or go on different internet forums, there is always a question about how to figure out what size implant a woman should use or choose. They get differing opinions from the surgeons they have had consults with. They get different advice from their friends and women who have had implants. They are told that a certain amount of CC equals a certain cup size or that just simply bringing in a photo of what they want to look like will work. Or my favorite method of determining size…….stuffing something into your bra – be it rice or soaked panty hose or sizers - just stuff it on in there and we will make it happen! Then there is always putting your breasts into a computer image and just changing and morphing it all over the place while the disclaimer scrolls across the bottom of the screen “This is not a guarantee of result”.
The problem is, as I see it, patients and surgeons have taken the surgical planning of breast augmentation, so far away from the patient’s body that nothing makes sense any more. It’s just a sea of grey that fosters confusion and often leads to unhappy patients.
Preoperative planning using measurements of the patient’s body and a scientifically published and peer-reviewed formula to decide the size of the implant (like the High Five System) puts objectivity back into the decision-making process. It eliminates the GREY area. No longer will a patient have to wake up at 3 am and wonder if her surgeon really, truly understood what she meant by “full C Cup” any more. When you respect the body and the tissue you are operating on, everything gets easier — for the patient and the surgeon!
Here’s one more example…..
Im a petite girl..5’4 110 with a 34A. My doc recommended 300cc moderate silicone unders and Im concerned they are going to be too small for my liking. However, with the moderates he cant go any bigger because they will be too wide for my body. He also doesnt want to use HP’s because I have rather prominent nipples that will just project them more. What do you guys think? I would like to be a C. Will this do it for me or am I being ultra paranoid? I did the rice test (not sure how accurate it is) and they looked okay.
Answer ~
There are 3 really good articles on how to determine size on the home page of our book website. Just go to www.thebestbreast.com and click on the articles button.
Pay real close attention to the illustration where Dr. Tebbetts is pouring water into the breast with a funnel. This is a simply illustration but it really says it all – - if you don’t put enough fill or volume in a breast then it sits in the bottom of the breast like a rock in a sock – in other words, its ugly! But if you exceed the amount of stretch or room in the breast – the volume has nowhere to go so it bulges at the top and instantly becomes a “Boob Job”. So if you want a natural, proportionate breast, you have to figure out just want the empty room or space is in each patient. We use the High Five Measurement system to figure out what the Ideal amount of fill for each woman is. Because when you measure – you know what the limits are and when you simply fill a breast – it is a pretty breast that is least likely to cause you a problem long-term.
Balancing what you want with what your body can realistically and safely have is the key to a really good result and a really pretty breast!
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.