Saline Breast Implant Sizes

Home « Breast Implants « Saline Breast Implant Sizes

Breast implants come in all shapes and sizes. They even come in different textures. Generally, the larger the desired cup size, the larger the breast implant.

Most breast implants are made of a silicone shell filled with saline, a salt-water substance that is similar to the fluids in the body. Saline breast implants were designed to be compatible to the body so that they're safer if they leak or rupture.

Available Sizes 


Because breast augmentation surgery is customized to fit a patient's desired appearance, there are a variety of sizes to choose from. Breast implants are measured in cubic centimeters, or ccs. Breast implant sizes can range from 125 ccs to 1200 ccs. Breast implant sizes are not measured in cup size, as this will vary depending on the patient's original breast size. Additionally, because saline breast implant sizes are usually wider than natural breasts, many women will need to wear larger bras than they think are necessary.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Size


The best implant size for a woman depends on a number of factors:

  • height
  • weight
  • bone and muscle structure
  • desired result

Only the woman and her surgeon know what's right for her. However, depending on the width of a woman's chest and the strength and tightness of the muscle and skin, a saline breast implant size of 250ccs to 450 ccs may be the greatest size that can be implanted underneath the chest muscles. If this size is exceeded, the breast implants may take on a spherical shape, which makes the aesthetics of the breast seem too unrealistic.

It is important to have realistic expectations when deciding on the size of saline breast implants. Choosing implants that are too large could lead to post-surgery complications, which results in additional surgery, longer recovery time and higher cost. A good surgeon will not force an implant that is too large for a woman's body.

Determining Desired Implant Size 


Cup Size  Difference
 AA  .5"
 A  1"
 Full A  1.5"
 B  2"
 Full B  2.5"
 C  3"
 Full C  3.5"
 D  4"
 Full D  4.5"
 DD  5"
 Full DD  5.5"

To determine the appropriate size of the desired breast implant, the patient needs to know her “normal” breast size, as well as the size the breast implant is intended to create. Some women end up with an improperly sized breast implant because they are unaware of their proper natural breast size. Before discussing breast implant surgery, you may want to use the following chart to measure your bra size without breast implants. 

Use a soft tape measure to measure the circumference of the ribcage, just below the breasts. If the ribcage measurement is an even number, add 4, if it is odd, add 5. The resulting number is your “band width.” For example, a 28” ribcage would have a bandwidth of 32”.

Next measure around your body at the fullest part of the breast. Subtract the bandwidth from this number and use the chart to determine your current cup size.



ABCPSR