Aesthetics in breast surgery is an elusive concept. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder".

The ideal breast exists for each woman in her own mind. The surgeon’s aesthetic judgement must incorporate her desires with the surgeons sense of what is beautiful and surgically realistic. Certain proportions and basic anatomical relationships need to be considered to achieve an aesthetic result.

The breast shape and volume should be in proportion to the body type, whether it is ectomorphic, mesomorphic or endomorphic.

Metric conversion
Ectomorphic people are linear and slender with usually small breasts – the contour of many professional models. If 5 feet to 5 feet 8 inches and weighing 100-120lbs, 150-200cc volume gives attractive breasts in proportion with their body proportions.

Mesomorphic women have more compact, muscular bodies. Their body lines are rounder and breasts should also be rounder with a suggestion of fullness below. If 5′-5’8”, 100-130lbs, a breast volume of 175-350ml is needed to give attractive breasts.

Endomorphic women have more pronounced body roundness. Their tendency to have full abdomens and wide chests causes their breasts to have less projection and require more volume of breast tissue to give an acceptable feminine shape. If 5′-5’8”, 120-160lbs, the breast volume should be 300-600cc.

When planning breast surgery the following measurements are used as a guide leading to a pleasing breast shape.

The nipple is usually situated 19 to 21 cm down on the nipple line, which begins on the midclavicular point and continues through the nipple to the inframammary fold. The nipple is usually 9 to 11 cm from the midsternal line and the midaxillary line.

Factors that influence any change in breast volume include the woman’s chest wall size, the existing breast tissue, the skin envelope, skin elasticity and body proportion.