Breast Implant Sizes: Size Chart in cc and How to Choose
Implants are measured in cc, not cup sizes — and the same 300cc or 400cc implant looks different on every chest. Here is how sizes, widths and profiles work.
Medically reviewed by Op. Dr. Murat Yaman, Plastic Surgeon
Breast implant sizes are measured in cubic centimetres (cc), not in cup sizes, and that is where most confusion starts. The same 350cc implant can look modest on a tall woman with a broad chest and large on a petite one. This guide explains what the numbers mean, what the common sizes usually look like, how width and profile matter as much as volume, and how surgeons and patients choose a size together.
How breast implant sizes are measured
One cc is one millilitre, so a 300cc implant holds 300 ml of silicone gel — roughly a mugful. Implants are made in steps of roughly 20–30cc, from under 150cc to 800cc and above. Every implant has three measurements that matter:
- Volume (cc): how much the implant adds.
- Base width (cm): how wide the implant is where it sits on the chest.
- Projection (cm): how far it stands out from the chest. Width and projection together are called the profile.
Two implants with the same volume can have different widths and projections, so "300cc" on its own does not describe a result.
Breast implant size chart: what the cc ranges usually look like
There is no fixed conversion from cc to cup size. Bra sizes differ between brands, a cup is larger on a wider band, and what you see afterwards is your own breast tissue plus the implant. Surgeons often quote a rough rule of thumb of about 150–200cc per cup size, and it is no more than that. Use the chart as a starting point for the consultation, not as a promise.
| Implant volume | Typical effect on an average frame | Often chosen by |
|---|---|---|
| 150–250cc | Subtle; about one cup size | Petite or athletic patients; correcting a difference between the breasts |
| 250–350cc | Moderate; about one to two cup sizes | Patients who want a natural, proportionate change |
| 350–450cc | Full; about two cup sizes or more | Taller patients or those with a wider chest who want a clearly fuller look |
| 450–550cc | Very full | Broad frames with enough tissue to cover the implant |
| Over 550cc | Large and obvious | Rarely advised for a first operation |
300cc implants vs 400cc implants
These are two of the sizes patients ask about most. The difference is 100 ml — less than half a cup of water in each breast — but it is visible.
- 300cc implants usually give a moderate, proportionate result on a slim or medium frame: clearly fuller in a bra or bikini, easy to dress down, and within the limits of most patients' tissue.
- 400cc implants give a noticeably fuller upper breast and more cleavage. They suit a wider chest or a patient who already has some breast tissue. On a narrow chest a 400cc implant may be wider than the breast base, or need a high profile to fit.
Looking at photos of other women with "your" size helps only if their height, chest width and starting breast size are similar to yours.
Width first: why your chest decides the range
A surgeon begins with measurements, not with a volume: the width of your breast base, the distance from the nipple to the fold under the breast, the thickness of the tissue in the upper breast (the "pinch test") and how much your skin stretches. The implant should be no wider than your breast base. If it is wider, its edge can be felt or seen at the side or in the cleavage, and the two implants may sit too close together.
These measurements give a range — for example, implants 11.5–12.5 cm wide — and the choice of volume and profile is made inside that range.
Profile: low, moderate, high and extra-high
| Profile | Shape | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Low | Wide and flat | Wide chests; a very gentle increase |
| Moderate | Balanced width and projection | Most patients who want a natural slope |
| High | Narrower base, more forward projection | Narrow chests; more upper fullness and cleavage |
| Extra-high | Narrowest base, most projection | A deliberately round, prominent look |
On a narrow chest, a high-profile implant can give the volume you want without being too wide. On a wide chest the same volume in a moderate profile fills the breast better. The profile names are not standardised between manufacturers, so compare the measurements in centimetres.
Round vs teardrop implants
Shape changes how a given size looks. Round implants add fullness to the upper part of the breast and look the same if they rotate; they are the most common choice. Teardrop (anatomical) implants are fuller in the lower half and slope more gently at the top, which can look natural in slim patients with little tissue, but the breast can look distorted if the implant turns, and they are made only with a textured surface — the surface that regulators link with the rare lymphoma BIA-ALCL. More on shapes is in our page on teardrop implants.
How to choose your breast implant size
- Describe the look, not the cup size. Bring photos of results you like and results you find too large.
- Try sizers. Sample implants worn in an unpadded bra under a fitted T-shirt show the change better than any chart. Some clinics also offer 3D simulation.
- Think about your daily life. Sport, work clothes, your back and shoulders, and how visible you want the change to be.
- Listen to your measurements. If the size you like does not fit your chest width or tissue, a good surgeon will say so.
- Decide on a range. Many surgeons confirm the final implant during the operation with sizers, within the range you agreed.
Whether the implant goes over or under the muscle also changes how a size looks, especially in the upper breast.
Risks of going too big
Large implants are heavier and stretch the skin and the fold under the breast. The possible consequences are thinning of the tissue, visible rippling, implants that sit too low ("bottoming out") or drift to the sides, stretch marks, and neck or shoulder discomfort — and a higher chance of another operation. Implants are not lifetime devices in any size: the FDA states that about 20 in 100 augmentation patients have their implants removed within 8–10 years, and a wish to change size is one of the reasons it lists.
If you want a small increase only, fat transfer breast augmentation is an alternative without an implant, with a limit of about one cup size per session.
Choosing your size from abroad
For a breast augmentation in Turkey, the size discussion starts before you travel: you send photos from the front and both sides, your height, weight, current bra size and examples of the look you want. The surgeon gives a provisional range, and the final choice is made at the consultation in person, with measurements and sizers. Ask for the manufacturer, model, volume and profile in writing, and take the implant card home. Prices at the hospitals on our site start from €4,870 and do not normally change with the volume of the implant, although anatomical implants can cost more. Other breast and body operations are listed under plastic surgery in Turkey; you can send your photos through the free quote form.
Send your details and a coordinator will prepare a free, written plan with verified doctors.
Frequently asked questions
There is no exact conversion, because cup sizes differ between brands and depend on your band size and your own breast tissue. Surgeons often quote about 150–200cc per cup size as a rough guide, so the answer depends on where you start.
On a slim or medium frame, 300cc implants usually give a moderate, proportionate increase of about one to two cup sizes. On a tall woman with a broad chest the same implants look more subtle.
They are on the fuller side. On a wide chest with some breast tissue, 400cc implants can still look proportionate; on a narrow chest they look large and may be wider than the breast base.
It varies by country and clinic, but most first-time patients choose between about 250cc and 400cc. The right size for you depends on your chest width and tissue, not on what is most common.
Neither is better in general. High-profile implants have a narrower base and project more, which suits narrow chests and gives more upper fullness; moderate profiles are wider and flatter and give a more natural slope.
Start from your surgeon's measurements of your breast width and tissue, try sizers in a bra, bring photos of results you like and agree on a range. Choose the look you want for daily life, not a cup size.
Yes, but it means another operation with its own risks and cost, and going larger a second time stretches the tissue further. It is better to take time over the first decision.
