How to Determine The Appropriate Bra Size?
What Does A Bra Size Mean?
What are “band sizes (underbust sizes)”, “bust sizes”, and “bra sizes (cup sizes)”, how are they measured, and what do they mean? People are very curious about the answers to these questions, but there is a confusion of terms due to different information. It is of great importance to have the necessary information about bra size before and after mammoplasty (breast aesthetics) operations, as well as to use an appropriate bra after the surgery.
A bra size is represented by a number, such as 75B or 90D, and one (or two) letters. The number portion of these, such as 75, 80, indicates the upper “bust size,” that is, the circumference of the rib cage, but does not give direct information about the breast size. The portion of the bra size code represented by letters such as A, B, or C directly indicates the breast size; this is referred to as the “cup” size. The letter A indicates the smallest breast volume, while the letter E indicates the largest.
How to Determine The Bra Size?
Band size (underbust size): First, the circumference of the rib cage is measured by placing a soft tape measure on the line that runs just under the breasts, where the band of bra normally sits. This circumference is measured in centimeters and recorded somewhere.. This number represents the band size (size of the bra’s band).
Bust size: The circumference of the rib cage is measured by placing a tape measure passing over the level of the most prominent part of the breasts (at the level of the nipples, if the breasts are not too saggy), and the size is recorded in cm.
Cup size: The previously measured band size (underbust size) is subtracted from the bust size, and the difference is recorded in cm. This value is the cup size, and it is determined which letter corresponds to this value by looking at the relevant charts. Cup sizes are represented by letters such as A, B, C, D, and E,
getting larger as the letters go up in the alphabet.
The images below show how to take your bra size and what these measurements mean.
In some charts, the cup size is determined by directly using the bust size as the bra size. These charts may differ slightly from country to country or from brand to brand. Because bra manufacturers use their own chart, it is best to try on the bra before buying.
Bra Sizes:
The term “bra sizes” refers to the body measurements used when buying a bra, i.e. the bra size as a whole including both bust size and cup size (size of a breast). The method for calculating bra sizes is explained in detail above.
Breast Size Calculation:
As previously stated, bust size and band size are measured to determine the breast size. The difference between these two measurements is shown in the chart, and the bra size is then calculated accordingly. Since there may be differences between the bra sizes of the companies depending on their own patterns, determining the bra size alone is not enough to find the ideal bra.
Ideal Bra Sizes:
| BODY SIZE | Chest circumference (cm) | |
| Turkish | Foreign | |
| 70 | 32 | 68-72 |
| 75 | 34 | 73-77 |
| 80 | 36 | 78-82 |
| 85 | 38 | 83-87 |
| 90 | 40 | 88-92 |
| 95 | 42 | 93-97 |
| CUP SIZE | Chest circumference – Under-chest circumference difference (cm) |
| A | 12-14 |
| B | 14-16 |
| C | 16-18 |
| D | 18-20 |
| E | 20-22 |
Bra Use After Mammoplasty:
It is of critical importance to wear bras of appropriate sizes and features after mammoplasty operations. The first thing to know about this matter is that you shouldn’t rush into buying a new bra. After a mammoplasty procedure such as breast augmentation or breast reduction, generally, special-purpose wireless medical bras are used, starting before discharge from the hospital. These bras are designed to fully cover the breast, provide proportional support, and prevent pressure on the surgical incision sites.
The breasts will be edematous and swollen in the first postoperative days, and the corset bra to be worn after the operation will be of a size determined considering these dimensions; therefore, the patient should not rush into measuring the bra size and buy a bra accordingly in this period. As swelling in the breasts gradually subsides from the 2nd week after surgery, a decrease in bra sizes will be observed.
In some cases it may be necessary to switch to a smaller size of these special bras. For this purpose, athlete bras in the form of a half-undershirt can also be used. It is necessary to wait at least 2 months after a mammoplasty operation before switching to a regular bra. There may be some differences in bra sizes depending on the bra brands. Therefore, the bra to be purchased after surgery should not be ordered remotely; instead, it should be bought after being tried on.
Another point that patients who have had silicone implant surgery should pay attention to is the use of bras that push the implants upward and inward from the bottom and sides, making the cleavage area look fuller and the breasts closer together. It should be kept in mind that long-term use of this type of bra will cause permanent displacement of silicone implants and visual deformation of the breasts.
Because of the weight of the silicone implant used in patients who have had breast augmentation surgery, the effect of gravity and loosening of the breast skin and breast tissues increase the risk of sagging of the breasts over the years. Therefore, wearing a bra after breast augmentation surgery should be considered as an auxiliary factor in reducing the risk of sagging.
A bra with the ideal size will both fully cover the breasts and embrace the upper body correctly. For some women, it can be difficult to find a bra that has both the ideal bust size and cup size.
In general, a bra with a suitable cup size can have a small bust size. In such cases, it is best to buy a bra in the appropriate cup size, and then buy an extension piece sold separately, which are placed between the hook and eye.
How to Choose the Right Bra?
It is known that more than half of women wear unsuitable bras with improper size, which can cause breast pain as well as lumbar pain, neck pain, and back pain. As a result, irritation on the breast skin, deep grooves on the shoulders, and permanent breast deformities can still be observed.
To avoid all of these problems, the band size and bust size must first be measured and the proper size should be determined accordingly. In addition, the bra should definitely be tried on before buying, and care should be taken to make sure that the bra is not excessively tight. The band of the bra that surrounds the rib cage should not be too narrow or too wide. The strap should not be too tight.
Air permeable cotton fabrics, which absorb moisture, are recommended as bra fabrics.
How Can I Know If I Wear A Wrong Bra?
If your bra is so tight that it causes marks on your rib cage or shoulders, you’re wearing a wrong size bra. If you wear a bra that is smaller than it should be, your breasts will overflow from the sides and your nipples will come out of the bra. If you have irritation on the breast skin due to friction, and/or pain in the breast or neck, you should also take into account the possibility of wearing a wrong bra.
You can get information about Mammoplasty (Breast Aesthetics) at: https://en.cengizacikel.com/breast-augmentation-surgery/
