Breast Augmentation and Bra Size - What is the Connection?

Jul 19
08:10

2011

Aaliyah Arthur

Aaliyah Arthur

  • Share this article on Facebook
  • Share this article on Twitter
  • Share this article on Linkedin

Before you have breast augmentation surgery, you'll want to decide what bra size you'd like to become. Before you can determine that, you might want to make sure you're wearing the right size bra now.

mediaimage
If you’re considering having breast augmentation,Breast Augmentation and Bra Size - What is the Connection? Articles you’ll want to make sure you have your information right, before you talk about ideal size with your plastic surgeon. In order to do so, you should first make sure that you’re actually wearing the right sized bras, right now. As made famous by Oprah Winfrey in 2005, research shows that the vast majority of women wear incorrect bra sizes. Some studies show that up to 95% of women may be wearing the incorrect bra size. 

Most incorrectly sized bras are loose around the band and too small in the cups, so if the average bra size is currently 36C, that doesn’t mean that that’s the size most women should be wearing; most should probably be wearing a 34DD, instead. Just a few years ago, the average bra size was said to be 34B; perhaps the change is due to growing numbers of breast augmentation surgeries.

Bra sizes are alphanumeric combinations of a woman’s bust, or cup, size and the circumference of the rib cage, or band size. In order to correctly ascertain your bra size, you should have someone measure both your correct band size and your cup size. 

To properly measure band size, a measuring tape should be placed just under the bust line, parallel with the ground, after exhaling. The measurement should be rounded to the closest whole number; that is your “under” number. If that number is an even number, add 4 inches; if it is an odd number, add 5; the result will be your band size. For someone for whom a 36C bra would fit properly, the under measurement would be 32 inches, and because it is an even number, that person would add 4, for a band size of 36.

In order to measure the cup size, make sure you’re wearing an unpadded bra, and hold your arms loosely at your sides. Ask someone to use a measuring tape parallel with the ground, and measure the fullest part of your bust. Like you did before, round the number to the closest full number; this is your “over” number. Now take your over number and subtract your band size (not your under number!) from it. The resulting number will then convert to an alphabetic cup size, according to the chart below:

1.0 inches A
2.0 inches B
3.0 inches C
4.0 inches D

A person with the average bra size of 36C would have an over number of 39. Because 39 less 36 is 3, the cup size would be a “C.” Note that this method of determining bra size is less accurate for plus-size women or those with cup sizes over “D.” Part of the reason for this complication is that with cup sizes “D” and larger, the actual size of the cup varies greatly, depending on the band size. 

Once you’re certain of your current correct bra size, you’ll be in a better position to decide what bra size you’d like to be after your breast augmentation surgery.