Determining Breast Implant Size

Although not the best way to determine size - the best is a carefully calculated pre-operative system such as the Envision Breast Implant Sizing System . Many women can't resist trying various kinds of "Do it yourself" tests to try to visualize how they will look after breast augmentation surgery.

It's certainly okay to "play around" with various looks – but remember that these "Do it yourself" tests give only broad approximations  of the desired size goal.  Please don't rely solely upon these tests to determine size, because all they offer is a "guesstimation" of the actual result.

And before you try any of the methods discussed below, be sure you have a good, correctly-sized bra.  Breast forms are often only as good as the bras that contain them. Spending extra time getting the right bra size (not just cup size) will make all the difference in both your "test runs" and in your actual new shape after surgery.

Believe it or not, studies show that the vast majority of women actually go through life wear the wrong bra size – a situation that will present problems both with test implants and following the actual implant surgery.

Buy a bra that fits your body as perfectly as possible, remembering for your "test run" that homemade breast forms usually don't hold a particular shape well - their shape comes from the bra that contains them. Keep these things in mind when bra-shopping:

• Implants tend to run a bit wider than a natural breast, so you may need to wear a "D" cup simply because the width of a "C" cup bra is too narrow.
• Bra sizes differ by style and manufacturer. For example, if you buy a 34C bra from Bali, this does not mean that you will always wear a 34C in all bras manufactured by Bali. This is true for all manufacturers.
• A bra should be substantial and give enough coverage so that the desired contours can be created. (Push up bras, see-through lace, and sheer nylon do not work very well for implants or test forms. Bras with an underwire structure provide better shape.

Measuring For Correct Bra Size

Use a soft measure tape to measure each breast individually.  Start where the breast begins - near the armpit - and measure all the way across the fullest part of the breast.  (This usually means across the nipple, but if that's not your fullest part ignore the norm and measure where you are the fullest.)

Then, measure the circumference of your ribcage.  This is the area just below the breast, in the area of the crease; measure all the way around your body for your ribcage measurement.

If your result is an odd number, add 5" to get your band width.  (A ribcage measurement of 27", plus 5", equals a bra band size of 32".)  If your ribcage measurement is an even number, add 4" to get your band width.  (A ribcage measure of 28" ribcage, plus 4", equals a 32" bra band width. 

The best kind of bra to use for various breast implant sizing tests is a sports bra. 
Why? Because a sports bra compresses the test forms much like muscles will compress the real implants.  This is especially helpful if you plan on having your implants placed under the muscle, as most surgeons recommend.

You can make your own breast implant sizing forms, from readily available and inexpensive materials. The types of forms created using these methods can quickly give you the look of a fuller, shapelier breast, but remember that they are only approximations of how your implants might look.

One of the most popular do-it-yourself test implant methods is the "Rice Test."

Despite its name, instant mashed potatoes, cous cous, birdseed and oatmeal are sometimes used instead of rice because they are lighter. It's better and more realistic to stick with raw rice. However, since implants aren't light and the weight of rice is much closer to what you actually will feel with your implants.

To do the rice test, you'll need the following materials:

• 1 pair of knee high nylons, preferably in a shade that closely matches your skin coloration
• An inexpensive plastic funnel to fill the knee-high
• 1 pair scissors
• A good quantity of rice (or whatever filler you've chosen to use)

Use knee-high hose (or cut-off pantyhose), and fill them with the desired amount of cubic centimeters (cc's) of rice. The general consensus of the rice measuring system is usually 270 to 275 cc per cup of raw rice. (Some women use zip-closure plastic bags, instead, but this is not recommended, due to the "pointed" corners of the bag.) Once you have them filled, try them on under a properly fitting sports bra.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) has suggested that an average of 189 cc of saline is needed to bring a patient up by just one cup size. Generally, one cup of raw rice equals 270 to 275 cc. You'll need a conversion chart to help you determine how much rice to use.

Here's one conversion chart:

1 milliliter (ml) = 1 cc
1 Teaspoon [US] = 4.9 cc
1 Tablespoon [US] = 14.7 cc
1 ounce [US, liquid] = 29.5 cc
1 cup [US, liquid] = 236.58 cc

Here's another:

1 cup = 236cc
½  cup = 118cc
¾  cup = 177cc
¼  cup = 59cc
1/3  cup = 78cc
2/3 cup = 156cc
1/8  cup = 30cc

Or, you might want to use an online conversion chart such as the one found on:
http://www.onlineconversion.com/volume.htm

The amounts above can be used in different combinations to achieve the cc amount you desire.  And remember that if your implants are going under the muscle, you'll need to add about 15% more to the amount that you like when it comes time for the actual implant.  For example, if you like the way 400cc looks under the sports bra, you need to add 15% to that amount – that is, you would need around 460cc implants to achieve the look you see with the test implants in the sports bra.

How to make the Forms:

Have ready the approximate amount of rice that will be required for each form. (If you are using a mix such as birdseed, you will need to use a screen or colander to sift it in order to separate everything but the small, round seeds.)

If you use seeds, use only
small round ones, such as millet.

Insert a hand in the knee-high and stretch it out to reduce the natural stiffness of a new nylon. Insert the funnel in the top of the nylon and pour in the correct amount of seed. (Too little rice in the form will make the bra wrinkle; too much will make the form overflow and look phony.)

Twist the stocking a couple of times and then push the ball you have created through the remainder of the stocking so that your form will be 2-ply. (This will greatly lessen chances of the form tearing or opening while you're wearing it.) As for how tightly to pack the form, experiment a bit to get the right amount of tension when you twist it; if you have it too loose or too tight the form won't look or feel realistic.

Next, tie a slip-knot so that it can easily be undone if the amount of rice needs to be adjusted – as it most likely will need to be. [The nylon will adjust and stretch over a few days giving a more natural feel to the form. For this reason, you can't assume that the form is "final" when you've first made it. The amount of filler most likely will need some slight adjustments, and the form will feel more and more comfortable and natural as time goes on.]with time

Use scissors to cut off the nylon above the knot. If the knot is made tightly enough and the correct amount of nylon is left, a fairly realistic "nipple-look" can be created. Insert the form into your bra, making sure that the slipknot is worn at the right place to simulate the nipple.

Make sure that balance between your left and right side is about equal and does not produce an overly lopsided appearance. Most natural breasts are, in fact, a bit uneven – but with breast augmentation you'll be able to have perfectly balanced breasts.

The advantages of this type of test form are:

• It looks pretty realistic
• It has a more realistic weight than foam or cotton inserts
• It's easy to configure the exact size you want
• It's inexpensive, so you could try several different sizes
• It's easy to do
• It's sturdy, and shouldn't fall apart on you in normal, everyday wear

There are a few negatives, though, and they are:

• The consistency and feel is aren't as realistic as silicone or saline (or as latex or rubber)
• It's not waterproof (avoid getting caught in the rain!)
• Fillers other than rice (especially seeds) might have an odor
• Fillers might leave unpleasant residues on your clothing
• Even though the basic shape is determined by the bra, minor impacts can cause temporary deformations

Forms Made from Rubber Fishing Worms and Balloons

To make this kind of breast implant sizing test, you'll need:

• 1 pair of knee high nylons – choose a shade that closely matches your skin coloration.
• 4 paddle balloons -- These be found in flower shops and cost about $10 each. When flat they are circular in shape and are about 10" in diameter. Choose a shade closest to your own skin tone.
• About 200 4-inch rubber worms – These can be bought from mail-order fishing companies or found in bulk at some stores such as K-Mart and Wal-Mart (costing about $11/$12 a bag). Avoid bright colors and, if possible, get colors closest to natural skin tones.
• 2 3-quart bottles or storage containers or some similar plastic object that has a kind of rounded shape to it.
• Sandpaper

The negatives concerning this type of form are:

• The consistency, feel and movement aren't as realistic as silicone or saline
• It's vulnerable to puncture and resulting water leakage
• It's not attachable to the chest

• Padded bras support this type of form better than a regular bra
• Any kind of sharp encounter will produce puncture and leakage
• It's possible to use plastic bags in place of condoms, but they tend to leak more, even when double-bagged and double-knotted