Women considering breast augmentation at our Langley, BC, plastic surgery practice often arrive for their consultations having done quite a bit of research about the breast implant size they believe will achieve their cosmetic goals. Choosing implants, however, is more complicated than simply selecting a size to get results that look natural and in proportion to the rest of a patient’s body.
An experienced, Royal College-certified plastic surgeon can help patients navigate the decision-making process through all of the many breast implant options. They’ll explain the relationship between a patient’s anatomy and an implant’s proportions—including size and profile—and how they translate into successful breast augmentation results.
How To Choose Breast Implants
Having an open mind during your consultation is important when selecting breast implants. As an example of what you want your breasts to look like, you may bring “wish photos” featuring the breasts of models or celebrities. Or you might mention a friend’s implant size that you think looks great. But it’s important to remember that cup sizes and implant sizes look different on different people.
We always encourage patients to have an idea in mind of what they are hoping for. However, you should be flexible when it comes to implant sizes because the size and shape of your inspiration bodies may be different. That’s why factoring in your unique proportion is so important. The following elements all contribute to selecting the implant that will give you the end result you desire:
- Your own natural breast tissue
- Your natural breast width
- Your chest wall width
You can see some of my patients’ natural-looking results in the photos below and in our photo gallery. We also offer more information about choosing the right implant size for you on our Breast Augmentation FAQ page.
Great Results Begin With the Consultation
I work with patients during the consultation to help them select an implant size and profile that will produce natural-looking results based on their unique proportions and long-term goals.
This process starts by taking precise measurements that will help guide the choice of implant size. Taking into account the frame of the patient’s body—is it narrow, wide, or something in between—I can zero in on a size that will create the fuller appearance she wants without looking unnatural.
In addition to discussing patients’ cosmetic goals, it’s also important to have a conversation about their lifestyles. For example, are they physically active? If so, overly large implants may interfere with their enjoyment of running, playing sports, or exercising. These conversations help me create a tailored approach specifically for a patient’s body and overall goals so she is happy with the outcome.
I often recommend the implant size that will provide my patients with the volume increase they desire but that will also provide them with long-term results. Larger implants are heavier, and this can lead to premature skin laxity and gravity-related changes. We want our patients to be happy with their results for years to come.
The Role of Vectra® 3-D Imaging
Our plastic surgery practice was the first in Vancouver to offer breast augmentation patients the opportunity to preview potential results using Vectra 3-D imaging technology. The system combines a series of photos to create a 3-dimensional representation of a patient’s body and demonstrate breast augmentation results with varying breast implant sizes. With Vectra, we can create 3D images of the different surgical outcomes. This allows patients the opportunity to see how they would look with different implant sizes.
Patients also have the opportunity to try on implant sizers at the consultation so that they can have a better understanding of the size and weight of the recommended implants.
Choosing Your Perfect Implants
Researching breast augmentation on the internet is helpful, but the consultation is the most crucial part of choosing your breast implants. At our Langley practice our goal is to give you the natural-looking, proportional results you want. You can request a consultation using the online form, or call us at (604) 888-9378 to schedule an appointment.
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