How to Make (More Accurate) Breast Implant Sizers at Home

If you are thinking about having breast augmentation, you probably have a pretty good idea in your mind about how you want to look after your procedure. Translating that mental image into a physical description—and specifically in terms of “what size breast implants should I get?”—can be little more challenging.

Not only are breast implants sized by cubic centimeter (cc’s)—units that are unfamiliar to most people, but it can be tricky to know just what size of implant will work best with your natural breast contour to achieve the final result you want. Certainly, the best way to find out what size and shape of breast implants are right for you is to consult with a cosmetic surgeon who is well-versed in the array of FDA-approved breast implants; they can listen to your goals and help you narrow down your choices based on your anatomy.

That said, many patients like to do some homework ahead of time and come in with a few ideas about implant sizing. If this describes you, then making DIY implant sizers can be a cheap, fun way to start the implant sizing process, get excited about what’s possible, and prepare for a real sizing session with your cosmetic surgeon.

How to make breast implant sizers

While DIY implant sizers aren’t ever going to be 100% accurate, our “recipe” for rice implant sizers gets them pretty close, uses items you probably already have around your home, and takes just a few minutes.

What you need:

• A pair of pantyhose or knee-highs
• Dry, uncooked white rice (a 48 oz. bag is plenty)
• A set of dry measuring cups + measuring spoons
• Scissors
• Tall, narrow-mouthed drinking glass
• Food scale (optional, but most accurate)
• Sports bra (choose a bra without massive compression)

1. Cut each leg of pantyhose to make two, 12-inch long tubes. Don’t use the foot part; you want the hose to stretch into a free-form shape. If you are using knee-highs, skip this step!

2. Tie off one end of each hose segment. Again, if you are using knee-highs, skip this step!

3. Place the hose or knee-high into the glass, fitting the open end around the mouth.

4. Measure the amount of rice needed for the volume you wish to try. Use the chart below as a guide. We’ve highlighted the more common implant sizes, but also included measurements to be precise within 5cc, so you can adjust your sizers to closely match the volume options for the implant brands and styles you are considering. By weight is most accurate, but dry measuring cups and spoons work fine—just make sure you level off the measuring cup/spoon with a knife edge or ruler after scooping out the rice to ensure consistent measuring:

Wondering how many ccs are in a cup size increase? We generally discourage our Las Vegas breast augmentation patients from fixating on cup size when trying out implants. First, bra cup sizing is notoriously unreliable—the same patient may wear a C cup in one brand or style bra, and a DD in another, so mentioning a D cup to your surgeon may mean one thing to you and another thing to them. Second, the number of cc’s needed to achieve a one-cup-size increase can vary widely depending on the patient’s natural breast size and shape.

1. Tie off the other end of the hose, allowing just enough slack to let the rice conform around your breast.
2. Place the sizers inside your bra, over your breasts, and look in the mirror!

Helpful hints:

• The sports bra offers a “no-bra” look; try on sizers with underwire or push-up bras for a “wearing a bra” look.
• To try out different sizes, untie one end of the hose, dump out the rice into a cup, re-measure, and repeat.
• Try on different styles of tops with each “breast size” you try on: tank top, blouse, sundress, etc.
• Wear the sizers around the house for several hours to see how you feel with your temporary breast size increase
• Take selfies and jot down notes about your favorites, making sure to include the number of cc’s you liked best. This can help you articulate your thoughts to your cosmetic surgeon during your consultation.

While DIY implant sizers are a fun project, they’re not a replacement for the expert recommendations of an experienced cosmetic surgeon, nor are they a reliable substitute for the sizers you’ll use at their office. If you are considering breast augmentation, we encourage you to contact us for a consultation with Las Vegas cosmetic surgeon Dr. Samir Pancholi. A diplomate of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, Dr. Pancholi is fellowship-trained in cosmetic surgery and is one of the nation’s most highly respected cosmetic breast surgeons. He offers consultations in our Las Vegas office as well as virtual consultations for out-of-town patients. Call 702-363-0240 or contact us online anytime.