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Bra Sizing and Bra Measurements for Breast Augmentation Patients

Shopping for your new bras!

This sounds all exciting at first and it is, if you need bras that are a band size of 34 or higher and a cup size of D or lower. But a lot of women with larger than average breasts and smaller than average frames say the novelty of shopping for bras in their new size wears off fast.

woman measuring bra size

If you are small-boned and get medium to large breast implants you may dislike this part of your augmentation journey. Although bra makers are finally realizing that they need to make bras with bigger cups and smaller band sizes due to the popularity of breast implants, such bras are still sometimes hard to find.

Choosing a Proper Fitting Bra

Whether you have breast implants or not, it is absolutely imperative that you wear a proper fitting bra. If you don’t, you will eventually end up with sagging breasts sagging breasts and you might end up with backaches, shoulder aches, thinning skin on your breasts, and other problems.

There are a lot of methods and formulas out there that are supposed to help you determine your correct bra size. But it says something that these methods differ, sometimes a great deal. Most of them just give you an approximation of your size as a place to start trying on bras. While all these techniques can help start you on the right path, finding the best bra size for you is certainly individual.

You may have to try on a bra and wear it for a while before you know if it is too large or small or whatever. Finding the perfect bra after your surgery isn't impossible, it is just a little more difficult. But it is very important to find one that properly fits your frame and supports your breasts.

If your bra band is riding up in the back, the bra doesn’t fit. The back of a well-fitted bra is at the same level as the front. If you find yourself trying to lift your breasts by shortening your shoulder straps, the bra doesn’t fit. Your bra should support your breasts even if the straps are off your shoulders. If you have that horrible quadruple-boob look, where you look like your breasts have been split in two, you need a larger cup size. If your breasts fall out when you bend over, you may need cups that cover more of your breasts.

When buying a new bra it should fit snugly on the last setting (the loosest hook set) this way when your bra stretches with wear you can fasten it tighter on the next two settings.

If you find that your bras bag at the nipple area, try purchasing a bra with some Lycra in it, which will conform to the breasts.

To extend the life of your bras, you should either hand wash and line dry them or machine wash them inside a lingerie bag and line dry. High heat will weaken elastic and ruin your bras.

You should measure yourself again if you gain or lose weight, become pregnant, or simply as time goes by. Your bra size can vary over the years even if your clothing size doesn’t.

Measuring Your Bra Band Size

	The band size (also called frame size or back size) of a bra is the number part of the size. In the United States, the number is in inches and elsewhere it is centimeters. To determine your band size, measure around your ribcage with a tailor's measuring tape. Start by wrapping the measuring tape snugly around your ribcage, directly under your breasts.
Make sure the tape is horizontal all the way around you and doesn't sit too low or too high around your back. Check this in a mirror.

Once you have this number in inches, to get your band size, add 4 if your measurement was an even number and 5 if it was an odd number. For example, my ribcage measures 28 inches around. I add 4 to this measurement totaling 32. If your measurement was 29 inches, you would add 5 for a total of 34. Your band-size would be 34. This isn't an infallible system. It is an approximation that gives you a place to start your bra quest.

Determining Your Cup Size For Bra Fitting

To determine your approximate cup size, there are two common formulas. One way is to measure your body across the widest part of your actual breasts. Some say this measurement should be done while wearing a non-padded, thin fabric bra and others say to do it while you are not wearing a bra. I personally measure without a bra.

Center the measuring tape over the fullest part of the breasts (this usually is at the level of your nipples but not always) and around the back. Again, be sure that the tape is horizontal and level all the way around.

Now, find the difference in the two measurements by subtracting the band size from the bust size measurement. For instance, my band size is 32 and my bust-size measurement is 37. That is a difference of 5 inches. Now find that number on the chart below to determine your cup size.

Bust size Minus Band Size (inches)	Cup Size
0 to ½	AA cup
½ to 1	A cup
1 to 2½	B cup
2½ to 3½	C cup
3½ to 4½	D cup
4½ to 6	DD (or E cup for some bra makers)
6 to 7	DDD (or F cup for some bra makers)
7 to 8	G cup
8 to 9	GG cup
9 to 10	H cup
10 to 11	HH cup
11 to 12	J cup
12 to 13	JJ cup

According to the chart, I would be a 32DD. BUT I spill out of the top of a 32DD, I must wear a 32DDD/F. This is what I mean about being individual and not all formulas are going to work for you.

If you use this method, but have significant sag and redundant tissue, you may need a larger cup size than shown on the chart. So you may need to go up a cup size from the actual measurement. Redundant tissue still takes up mass and you will spill over a bra based on a measurement determined at the fullest part of the breast. Again, use these measurements as an approximation.

The bigger the band size, the bigger the cups attached to that band size. The cup in a 34D is going to be larger that the cup than a 32D. But if you wear a 32DD, don't get a 34D because you think it will fit correctly. Get the correct size for both parts of the equation. If you get the 34D because it fits your breasts better, but it fails to stay snug around your rib cage, your breasts are not going to get the proper support.

Some surgeons give you the option of getting a small D-cup breast, rather than a large D, also known as a full D. Be careful of getting a size that makes you in-between bra cup sizes. If you think finding a bra that fits is difficult now, try finding bras to fit in-between sizes.

Proper Fitting For Bra Straps

Bra straps should be comfortable. They should not dig trenches into your shoulders or irritate your skin. They should also not be the primary support for your breasts. The band should be the primary support feature. Bra straps may be thin or wide and may even come padded or clear. There are strap extenders for those who need more strap length if your torso is longer than average.

How Do I Know if My Bra Fits?

Bras and bra sizing vary a bit from manufacturer to manufacturer. You may find that you fit perfectly in one size of bras from Victoria's Secret, but need a smaller size in Warners bras. Different bra models from the same makers can also differ in the fit. Don't be surprised.

Here are some tips:

Is the band snug, but not too tight? Good!
Is the band horizontal or is it riding up your back? If it is riding up your back you need a smaller band-size.
Is the bra rubbing against or gaping away from your breastbone? If it is too tight, try going up a size. If it is too loose, try going down a size. You need to be sure that it rests firmly up against your breastbone.
Are the bra straps digging into your shoulders? Try lengthening them a bit, the support should primarily come from your band.
Are your breasts spilling out of your cups? If so, you need a larger cup size. If the cups are loose, try a smaller cup size.

Try wearing a bra around for a bit and do another check.

Does Your Band Size Increase After Breast Augmentation?

No, no, and no! If it did, it is because of your swelling or that you gained weight during your recuperation. Youris band size determined by your rib cage measurement under the breast lobe, not by your breast cup size. If you were a 34B before surgery and went up to a D cup, you are going to be a 34D, not a 36B or 36D.

The only exception is if your surgeon had to significantly lower your natural breast crease, which would mean that the bra band rests a little lower on your ribcage. Usually this means a smaller band size, but usually the difference is minimal.

Sleep Bras and Support Garments For Sleeping

I personally wear a bra to sleep every night. It is so much more comfortable for me because I have rather large implants for my frame. I find that standard sports bras push my implants into my armpits but that cupped models or regular bras keep them where they belong, on my chest.
Most sleep bras are soft cups and have no underwire and are very comfortable, which is a refreshing change if you wear underwire by day.