Stuck on a Cup? Here’s how to Choose the Right Breast Implant Size.

Making the decision to move forward with breast augmentation surgery is an exciting first step in building confidence and feeling great about the way you look.

But after you make the choice to proceed with breast implants, what’s next? Where do you start when deciding how to choose the right breast implant size for you?

Here’s the good news: you don’t have to go through this process alone. The Cosmetic Surgery teams at NuBody Concepts Nashville and NuBody Concepts Memphis are here to guide you and help you every step of the process. Our board-certified plastic surgeons perform breast augmentations on a regular basis with excellent results, and we’re here to help!

Choosing the best type of breast implant for you is about more than picking a cup size. There are factors to take into consideration that you may not have thought about. Here are a few of the most important things to consider when selecting the ideal breast implant size for you:

How to Choose a Breast Implant

Lifestyle vs Look

The first decision to make is how important your lifestyle is to you versus the look you’re trying to achieve. The two may compete with each other. If you regularly perform high-intensity workouts or do a lot of running, you may want to opt for a smaller size of implant. However, if it is important to you to show off your new cleavage wearing scoop neck dresses, then a smaller implant may not be dramatic enough. Think about what is most important to you before you choose a cup size that may look good on paper but not in practice.

Shape and Position vs Size

While cup size is one of the most obvious factors to consider when picking breast implants, you’d be surprised how much shape and positioning factor into the outcome. For many women, especially those who have gone through childbirth and breastfeeding, implants alone will not be sufficient. In such cases, a breast lift is typically needed to reverse sagging. A breast lift without implants is possible but most likely reduces your cup size, since tissue is removed to achieve a perkier positioning. Choosing the right type of implant to make up for a loss in volume can help you achieve your pre-pregnancy look (or, most likely, improve on it!).

Whether you pick saline or silicone implants will also have an impact on your look. Silicone implants typically give you more shape options (with a more natural look) but are also a bit pricier.

Expert vs Layman Advice

Your plastic surgeon is one of the most qualified people to help you choose the right implant size. Remember, he or she has likely helped a wide variety of women transform their look. There is a vast range of body shapes and sizes, and each individual responds slightly differently to breast surgery. What you may have in mind for your body type may not be the most practical.

It will be very helpful if you bring images that inspire you to your doctor. We’re serious! The more photos you can bring to your consultation, the better. It’s important that you communicate your expectations for breast augmentation surgery, and what you hope to achieve. If you’re clear about the results you expect, you’ll be well on your way to achieving the body you’ve always wanted.

While your surgeon will be able to consult you based on his years of experience, it may also be a good idea to bring a friend or loved one to your consultation. Someone who knows you may be able to give valuable input about your lifestyle and preferences that you may not have thought about. Of course in the end the decision rests on you, but you will be most comfortable with it if you’ve taken all factors into consideration.

…And Finally, Size!

Now that we’ve pointed out everything but size as a factor in determining what breast implant you should choose, let’s in fact talk size. Here is what you should know:

Breast implants are not actually measured in terms of cup size. They are sized by volume, which is measured in cubic centimeters (cc). Implant sizes range from 125 cc on the low end (which is the equivalent of approximately an increase of half a cup size) up to 1200 cc on the high end. Another way to easily size a breast implant is to add 250 cc for every cup size you wish to go up. For example, if you are looking for a 1.5 cup size increase, 375 cc sized implants would be your best choice.

If your breasts are different in size (which is completely normal for most women), you can opt for a breast augmentation using a single breast implant, or you may choose to enlarge both breasts using different sized implants in each breast. It’s not like you have to buy a matching pair, such as buying shoes. It’s even easier with saline implants, where the amount of saline solution injected determines the size of the breast. Unless of course you prefer the size of the smaller breast, in which case you’ll want to learn more about a breast reduction.

Where to Go from Here

We hope that our above guide on choosing the right breast implant has helped you gain a better understanding of how to frame your goals of a breast augmentation procedure. Now it’s time to take a deep breath, relax, and really think about what you want. This is your body and we’re here to help you create the best possible outcome for the brand-new you!

The next step is to schedule a consultation with a plastic surgeon to help you transform your goals into reality. Here is what you should know about cosmetic procedures at NuBody Concepts Nashville and Memphis:

  • Our price quotes are all-inclusive – no hidden fees or surcharges or taxes that might drive up your overall cost later!
  • Your surgeon consultation fee can be applied to your procedure if scheduled within 6 months
  • We offer 0% interest financing plans through a variety of lenders, some of them with zero payments due for up to 24 months!

We hope that you have found this article to be informative. View our Cosmetic Surgery Library for a full list of related topics to easily find what you are looking for.

With NuBody Concepts, you can achieve the body you’ve always desired. Check out our Breast Implants before and after photos to see proof of our work. Schedule a consultation at our Memphis or Nashville location today to learn how NuBody Concepts can help you achieve stunning Breast Implants results.


Each patient is unique. What your treatment will look like is determined by you and the plastic surgeon who you will meet with in a personal consultation.