Petite and athletic frame - I want something natural but don't want to regret choosing too small. 235cc or 275cc? (Photos)

Thanks for your question. This is a big decision, and I appreciate you taking your time to be thoughtful about the size you choose. The best way to choose is to try on sizers in the office. Some offices may even offer a sizer that you can wear at home and inflate to different volumes (ours is called the Dazzle) to try on in your usual clothes and take for a test drive. A 50 cc difference distributed over your whole breast is not a big change in size, so when my patients express anxiety about possibly going 'too small' I will encourage them to lean into the slightly larger size to avoid the most commonly reported post-op regret of not going bigger. Your anatomy is also important - and picking an implant that fits your 'base width' or measurement of the breast width should also be taken into account, and is something to discuss with your surgeon. You have great anatomy for a breast implant, and I wish you the best luck on your journey!

Sizers are implants you can fit into your bra to see and feel your predicted results. That is generally the easiest way for patients to determine what size would be most suitable. Please ask your surgeon about them.

I would recommend going to your surgeon's office one more time and trying on sizers again. Like other answers have alluded to, a 50cc difference is a very subtle change. If you feel like you are aligned the personality type like many other breast augmentation clients, after about 4-6 months, you will have wished you went slightly larger. If you are not aligned with that personality type and know that you tend to be more conservative in general, it will be a fine choice choosing 235cc. Neither is wrong, as they are a very similar aesthetic.

Choosing an implant size/style is an important decision which is best made in concert with your surgeon. Ultimately, options are based on a number of factors including:
-Chest dimensions: This point is crucial as the width of your breasts defines the available "real estate" on which the foundation of your augmentation is built. This "foot print" is the absolute limit with which you are dealing. Too "large" is not so much the risk as too "wide." You cannot build a 3 acre mansion on a half acre plot. An implant which is too wide (exceeding the available space on your chest) will generally over hang laterally making it more noticeable and occasionally contributing to discomfort and nerve symptoms (numbness or tingling). This will also contribute to a more unnatural look.
-Tissue quality: This relates to size in the sense that the implant will be suspended by your tissue. Too large an implant may place took large a stress on these suspending tissues leading to healing problems in the short term and bottoming out in the long term.
-Patient desire (what is the look you are hoping to achieve?)
My role as a surgeon is to manage expectations and guide you towards a prudent choice which can satisfy these reasonable goals. Often times, a surgeon can guide a patient toward a size/cc range and patients will make determinations on implant style/profile. Patient seeking more or less projection, or seeking a more pronounced or subtle upper pole volume increase can be guided toward an implant which will help them best achieve their goals. Additionally, technique variations (sub muscular vs. sub glandular) can also aid in obtaining the look you desire.
There are a number of tools available to help guide patient/surgeon decision making including sizers, 3D imaging and goal photos. Each modality can help better communicate your goals to your surgeon and vice versa.
Ultimately, it is important to not marry oneself to a particular "cc" as oppose to a particular "look."
With regards to your specific question, I would not struggle over small volume differentials (40 ml is less than a shot glass). This is unlikely to make or break a result. If the smaller option ends up being underwhelming, the larger option is unlikely to satisfy.
Communication is key as you and your surgeon create your custom surgical plan.
As always, discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon.

After I measure and discuss goals with my patients, we then look at pictures of women (my patients) with similar measurements with different size breast implants. They also get to see what they would look like when the breasts have fully dropped and fluffed and in clothes. You get to see actual results and the surgeon' s experience and not a virtual idea of what can be achieved. Women tell me that this process is very helpful in determining what is right for them. Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author. RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee. Philadelphia, Pa., USA

At size 32, each 100 cc of implant corresponds to 1 cup size change. 275 cc implants will take you up to almost a D. Your breasts are slightly low on the chest wall and you may benefit from a circumareola lift at the same time.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.