Any patient considering breast augmentation will undoubtedly want their results to be ideal—and we certainly want that, too! A breast augmentation can alter the shape, size, and/or fullness of your breasts. Also known as Augmentation Mammaplasty, this safe and effective surgical procedure gives you a natural-looking, higher, and fuller bustline. Many women undergo this surgery in pursuit of achieving “perfect” breasts.
Since the definition of “perfect” breasts is highly subjective, you can rest assured that Dr. Learn will strive to understand your personal definition of “perfect” breasts should you decide to pursue breast augmentation surgery. That way, when it’s time for you to make important decisions about how you want your breasts to look post-surgery, Dr. Learn can work with you to ensure that her work will meet your expectations. As a board-certified plastic surgeon who has successfully performed breast surgery on thousands of women, Dr. Learn can even make thoughtful recommendations based on her experience, attention to detail, and artistic eye.
Beauty standards and personal preferences vary greatly among individuals and cultures, but it’s natural to wonder if there are one or more commonalities between overall perceptions of “perfect” breasts. What does having “perfect” breasts mean? Is there a widely accepted standard when it comes to size and shape? Do “perfect” breasts speak to their symmetry, firmness, and shape? Are other factors—such as how the breasts appear in proportion to the rest of the body—also considered?
These are excellent questions to have, and the answers are worth plenty of consideration.
What Defines the Best Breasts?
The cheap and easy answer for what makes “perfect breasts” is: it depends.
There is no one ultimate size and shape of breasts that we have cast in bronze and demanded everyone have. If we gave everyone the exact same breasts, we’d be considered less like plastic surgeons and more like mass manufacturers.
But you likely already had a notion this was the case. The world isn’t full of carbon copies, after all. How boring would that be?
But if there isn’t one set of ideal breasts for everyone, might there be an ideal set just for you? What could those look like?
The Search for Perfect Breasts
Experts have studied what “perfection” for breasts may look like in terms of proportion, hoping to provide some foundational guidelines.
These studies typically involve showing a pool of random people – often a mix of men and women – different shapes and proportions of breasts and asking them which they found most aesthetically pleasing and attractive.
If we go by what the majorities say, a great breast shape includes:
- A volume ratio of 45% above the nipple meridian and 55% below.
- A nipple pointing at an angle of 20% above the nipple meridian.
What do we mean by “nipple meridian”? Imagine a horizontal line at the level of your nipple (you might have never thought of your nipple as a landmark, but here we are). According to the guidelines above, the breast would be somewhat fuller beneath the nipple (possessing more overall tissue there), and the nipple itself would have a slight angle upward.
So, these can be useful factors to consider, but are they the be-all, end-all for what constitutes perfect breasts? The answer is no because there’s simply not a one-size-fits-all definition of “perfect” breasts.
To emphasize our point, imagine playing a song for a group of your closest friends and family members. Is everyone in the room going to agree that the song is “perfect”? Probably not! Keep this in mind when you pursue breast augmentation surgery, or, for that matter, cosmetic surgery of any kind.
Perfection is subjective, and you owe it to yourself to prioritize your own goals and desires as well as avoid conforming to anyone else’s standards and expectations.
Who “Perfection” Matters to
We keep using the term “guidelines” to describe the results above because that’s exactly what they are: guidelines. Setting them as the gold standard for every patient would be doing many of them a disservice.
A majority of people pointing toward one selection does not mean all people have. The opinions of those who did not make that selection should often still be considered.
To see what we mean, let’s take a closer look at the results of one of the studies. This one was published in the September 2014 issue of the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
A clear majority of the more than 1,300 people surveyed showed a preference toward the 45:55 ratio discussed above, but let’s go a bit deeper into those figures.
According to the study, the 45:55 ratio was chosen by:
- 87% of women in their 30s
- 76% of women 40 and older
- 90% of men
So while these are high numbers in favor of a certain proportion, there were still a not insignificant number of people who preferred something else. And just because they prefer something else doesn’t mean they’re wrong!
It’s also quite interesting to note how the preference for the 45:55 ratio is lower in women 40 and older compared to those who are younger. An 11-point difference is nothing to sneeze at and can be a sign of how tastes change as we age or from generation to generation.
And that brings us to our ultimate point.
Who Decides Whether Your Breasts are Perfect?
If the answer is anyone other than you, you risk setting yourself up for disappointment.
What qualifies as “perfect,” “ideal,” or “optimal” can vary from person to person and from circumstance to circumstance. If you want to augment your breasts to please everyone around you, please understand your ambitions are based on opinions that may change outside of your control.
We are not saying that looks should never be considered. Appearance is a key reason for breast augmentation, but we want your breasts to have a shape and proportion that leaves you feeling comfortable and confident about yourself.
That may many times mean adjustments that match what others say they like, and that’s perfectly good. Ultimately, though, your personal needs and desires matter first and foremost. Don’t significantly increase your cup size, for example, because you want to please someone else. You could end up back in our office asking for a breast implant removal if your implants ended up being too big and uncomfortable for you.
Every patient who sees us has a different situation, story, and body shape. Before you schedule your one-on-one consultation with Dr. Learn, take some time to think about the breasts you want—what choices regarding your breast augmentation surgery can you make to get the results you most desire? Do you, for instance, want a round or shaped implant? How about projection—are you most interested in low, moderate, or high?
Our consultation process for breast augmentation and other procedures puts you firmly in the driver’s seat. We want to know exactly what you need and wish for before we make any recommendations for how we could move forward. Your consultation will take place in the privacy of Dr. Learn’s practice, located at 3536 North Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale. The consultation is an opportunity for you to ask Dr. Learn questions, express any concerns you may have, and be open and honest about your needs and expectations.
Might a 45:55 augmentation be recommended? It is quite likely. However, we might recommend alternatives based on the information you provide us, or because you simply don’t feel that shape is best for you. You will get a chance to visualize how many potential options might work for you. Giving you options helps you narrow down your goals for your surgery.
In the meantime, we invite you to look at our before & after photos of breast augmentation. The “after” does not all look the same for every patient, but there is one essential common thread between them: all these patients are happier and more confident with their results. You deserve to feel confident with your results, too, which is why we keep emphasizing that your aesthetic goals should be influenced by your personal definition of “perfect” breasts.
Are You Ready to Take the Next Step?
Whether you are seeking breast augmentation, a breast lift, a breast reduction, or any other form of plastic surgery, never go only by trends and public opinion. Your choices and your happiness are the only factors that should matter.
We will always be happy to discuss your possibilities with you. Schedule an appointment at our Fort Lauderdale office by calling (954) 380-8411. If you prefer to reach us electronically, please fill out our online contact form and a member of our staff will respond to you during our standard office hours.
Remember, your consultation is completely confidential, allowing you to gain a thorough understanding of what breast augmentation surgery entails. During your consultation, be sure to tell Dr. Learn how you define “perfect” breasts so she can tailor your surgery accordingly. Dr. Learn looks forward to meeting you and making your aesthetic goals a reality!
