Bio-Dimensional Breast Implant Sizing
	By Dr. Robert Shenker B.Sc.(Hons), M.Sc., M.D., F.R.C.S.C. www.drshenker.com View Dr. Shenker's profile

Believe it or not, the most important determinant of the way a woman's breast looks after breast augmentation surgery is not based on the type of implant used, the incision location, the placement above or below the muscle, or even the skill of the surgeon. In fact, the most important determinant of the post operative "look" is the pre-operative "look". This simple truth is the basis of the newest and most powerful way of thinking about modern breast augmentation surgery. Simply put, the choice of implant and surgical technique must be in harmony with the patient’s pre-operative anatomy including chest wall size and shape, breast width, breast height and soft tissue coverage. These factors are the basis for the system of bio-dimensional planning that ensures a successful and natural looking breast augmentation.

Bio-dimensional planning means that the patient and the surgeon must make choices for the operation that don't exceed certain key elements of what mother nature has already given the patient. For example, a patient with a breast width of 12 cm may wish to have a very large implant with a base width of 15 or 16 cm. The system of bio-dimensional planning would show that such an implant would in fact cause unnatural and unattractive distortion of the breast rather than a pleasing change.

Bio-dimensional planning takes into account such measurements as breast width, breast height, breast shape, soft tissue thickness, nipple height, soft tissue stretch and pectoral muscle bulk. Unlike the previous method of focusing only on volume and cup size, it is these specific measurements, carefully examined pre-operatively, that provide the formula for success in modern breast augmentation surgery.