Use this expert guide to understand breast implant sizing. Includes cup size charts, profile comparisons, surgeon tips, and our popular calculator.
Choosing the right implant size isn't about chasing a cup letter—it's about proportion, profile, and personal anatomy. This guide helps you understand how sizing really works and avoid the most common mistakes patients regret.
Use our research-backed calculator for accurate breast implant sizing based on multiple plastic surgery measurement standards.
Breast implant sizing is not a straightforward cup-to-CC conversion. Unlike standardized measurements like inches or centimeters, bra cup sizes vary significantly between manufacturers and even between different bra styles from the same brand. This inherent inconsistency makes direct CC-to-cup size conversions imprecise at best.
Despite these complications, understanding approximate CC-to-cup size relationships can help you communicate effectively with your surgeon and set realistic expectations.
The following chart provides general estimates of implant volumes (in CCs) that typically correspond to specific cup sizes across different band measurements. Remember that these are approximations, and individual results vary.
| Band Size | A Cup (cc) | B Cup (cc) | C Cup (cc) | D Cup (cc) | DD Cup (cc) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 125-175 | 175-230 | 230-280 | 280-330 | 330-400 |
| 32 | 150-200 | 200-250 | 250-300 | 300-350 | 350-425 |
| 34 | 175-225 | 225-275 | 275-330 | 330-380 | 380-450 |
| 36 | 200-250 | 250-300 | 300-350 | 350-400 | 400-475 |
| 38 | 225-275 | 275-325 | 325-375 | 375-425 | 425-500 |
| 40 | 250-300 | 300-350 | 350-400 | 400-450 | 450-525 |
This chart assumes moderate profile implants and is based on average measurements. The numbers represent ranges rather than exact values. Your individual results may vary based on your anatomy, tissue characteristics, implant profile, and surgical technique.
For a more personalized estimate based on your specific measurements, try our interactive calculator. It takes into account your band size, current cup size, desired implant volume, and implant profile to provide a more tailored projection.
Our calculator uses data from thousands of real breast augmentation cases to provide more accurate estimations than static charts alone.
Launch Calculator →Several factors influence how many CCs you'll need to achieve your desired cup size increase. Use our comprehensive breast implant calculator for personalized guidance:
Women with wider chest walls need higher volume implants to achieve the same cup size increase as those with narrower frames. Your surgeon will measure your base width to determine the appropriate implant diameter. Using an implant that's too wide or too narrow for your frame can result in unnatural-looking results or complications.
Women with firmer, denser breast tissue may require larger implants to achieve the same visual size increase as women with more elastic tissue. Additionally, thin skin with minimal existing breast tissue provides less coverage, potentially making implants appear larger and more prominent than the same volume in someone with more natural tissue.
Implant profile dramatically affects appearance even with identical volumes:
The same 300cc volume will look dramatically different depending on the profile selected.
Implant placement significantly affects apparent size:
Under-muscle placement typically requires 30-50cc more volume to achieve the same apparent cup size as over-muscle placement.
Understanding what different implant volumes look like on various body types can help you visualize potential outcomes. Our CC to Bra Size Calculator can help with personalized estimates. Here are some general examples based on typical results:
| Body Type | Starting Size | Implant Size | Profile | Resulting Size | Visual Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petite (5'2", narrow frame) | 32A | 250cc | Moderate | 32C | Natural, proportionate enhancement |
| Petite (5'2", narrow frame) | 32A | 350cc | Moderate | 32D | More pronounced, potentially obvious augmentation |
| Average (5'5", medium frame) | 34B | 300cc | Moderate | 34D | Balanced, naturally enhanced appearance |
| Average (5'5", medium frame) | 34B | 400cc | Moderate | 34DD | Full, more obviously augmented look |
| Taller (5'8", wider frame) | 36B | 350cc | Moderate | 36D | Proportionate enhancement |
| Taller (5'8", wider frame) | 36B | 500cc | Moderate-Plus | 36DD/E | Dramatic, fuller appearance |
The same implant volume can look dramatically different based on height, frame size, and starting breast size. Taller women with wider frames often need larger implants to achieve the same visual impact as smaller-framed women. This is why consultations with sizing kits are so valuable—they allow you to visualize how specific volumes look on your unique body.
Based on surgeon surveys and clinical outcomes, here are the typical implant size ranges recommended for different body types to achieve natural-looking results:
Typical height range: Under 5'3"
Typical band size: 30-32
Recommended CC range: 175-325cc
Surgeon note: "For petite patients, staying under 300cc often provides the most natural results. High profile implants can be a good choice when wanting more volume within a narrower base width."
Typical height range: 5'3" - 5'7"
Typical band size: 32-36
Recommended CC range: 275-400cc
Surgeon note: "Most of my patients fall in this category. Moderate profile implants in the 300-375cc range tend to create the most natural-looking results while still providing noticeable enhancement."
Typical height range: 5'7" and taller
Typical band size: 36-40
Recommended CC range: 350-550cc
Surgeon note: "Larger-framed women often need larger implants to create a visually proportionate result. What might look excessive on a petite frame can look very natural on a wider chest wall."
While "wishing they went bigger" is a common post-surgical sentiment, implants that are too large for your frame can create complications including increased risk of rippling, palpability, accelerated sagging, back/neck pain, and a less natural appearance. The goal should be proportion and harmony with your overall body shape rather than maximizing size.
If you're unsure whether you're even a good candidate for breast augmentation, check out our guide to breast implant disqualifications.
They're approximate at best. Studies show that women with identical implant sizes often end up with different cup sizes due to variations in anatomy, tissue elasticity, and how bras are measured and manufactured.
Going up more than two cup sizes can look less natural, especially on a smaller frame. The larger the implant relative to your chest width, the more obviously augmented the result may appear. Many surgeons recommend a maximum of 1-2 cup sizes for the most natural-looking results.
Profile refers to how far the implant projects forward from the chest wall. High profile implants have a narrower base and more forward projection, while low profile implants have a wider base and less projection. Moderate profile offers a balance between the two.
Yes, most surgeons use sizers during consultation. These temporary implants are placed in a special bra, allowing you to visualize approximate results. Some practices also offer 3D imaging to simulate potential outcomes.
The most commonly used implant sizes range from 300-400cc. However, this varies significantly by region, with coastal areas trending toward larger sizes (350-450cc) and midwest regions often preferring more moderate sizes (275-350cc).
Studies show that approximately 30% of revision surgeries are performed because patients wish they had chosen larger implants. This 'wish I'd gone bigger' phenomenon is most common among women who chose implants under 300cc.
Each 100cc of silicone weighs approximately 0.23 pounds (105 grams). So 300cc implants weigh about 0.7 pounds each, meaning a pair adds roughly 1.4 pounds to your chest.
Yes, larger implants generally cause more tissue stretching and potentially more sagging over time due to their increased weight. This effect is more pronounced with over-the-muscle placement and in women with thinner skin or less natural breast tissue.
Try our calculator to convert CCs to cup sizes based on your specific measurements.
Calculate Cup Size →