How to correctly measure your bra size
"Around 70% to 85% of UK women wear an incorrect bra size!"
The most common mistake is to choose a bra with a band size that is too large and a cup size that is too small. For example, a 36C bra is incorrectly chosen instead of a 34E bra size.
You could be one of these women! Have you been measured professionally recently?
This is certainly worth doing both before and after your breast enhancement surgery. You will want to know where your starting point is, bearing in mind that breast enhancement surgery usually enables you to go up to 2 cups sizes larger.
Bra Band Size Measurement
It is relatively easy to determine for yourself what bra band size you need. Measure the circumference of your ribcage in inches using a soft tape measure. The measurement should be taken just below the breasts, in the area of the crease; measure all the way around the body. Bra band sizes are available in even numbers of inches 32, 34, 36 etc. So if your measurement is in between band sizes i.e. an odd number, then add 1 to it so that it becomes the next available band size up. For example, if your under bust, chest measurement is 33 inches, then you will need to add 1 inch to round up to the next band size which will be 34 inches.
There is a slight caveat to this rounding, in that some bra fitters recommend women with bigger breasts to round down to the lower band size. This typically applies to women who have a cup size of D or larger who are in between band sizes. So if you have an E cup size, for example, and your under bust, chest measurement is 33 inches, then you may choose a band size of 32 inches, rather than rounding up to 34 inches. This approach is believed to be more comfortable and less prone to back pain caused by supporting larger breasts.
Bra Cup Size Measurement
Cup sizes are more difficult to get right. The actual breast size of a 38D cup is much larger than a 32D. The fact that both are D cups does not matter. There are several ways to measure cup size, however the best way is put a bra on and see if it fits!
First, get a rough idea of what cup size you are. Measure the loose circumference around the chest over the fullest part of the breasts, while standing straight with arms to the side. Measure in inches. This is your bust size measurement. From this measurement, now subtract your under bust, chest measurement taken earlier for your band size measurement. Use your actual measurement rather than any rounded up or down measurement. After subtraction, the number you are left with will be your rough cup size measurement.
| Cup Size | Bust Size - Band Size (unrounded) |
|---|---|
| AA | Under 1 inch |
| A | 1 inch |
| B | 2 inches |
| C | 3 inches |
| D | 4 inches |
| DD | 5 inches |
| E | 6 inches |
| F | 7 inches |
| FF | 8 inches |
| G | 9 inches |
| GG | 10 inches |
| H | 11 inches |
| HH | 12 inches |
| J | 13 inches |
| JJ | 14 inches |
| K | 15 inches |
Trying On Bras
Having determined your correct bra band size and rough cup size, now try on various bras with those measurements. Also, try on one cup size below and one cup size above what you have measured. If the bra is too small, your bust will double cup. Double cupping or double bubble is where the top of the bra cup appears to be squeezed into the breast and some of the top of the breast bubbles out over the top of the cup. This is because the bra cup size is too small. This is a common problem and many women who wear the wrong bra size exhibit double bubble. If the bra fits correctly, there will be no double bubble and the cup will fit snugly against the surface of the breast. In between the breasts, against the chest bone (sternum), the bra should also fit snugly and should not float away from the surface of the body. Again, if this happens the bra cup size is too small.
From my own personal experience, I had been wearing the wrong bra size for years up until just before my breast enhancement surgery. I though that I was a 32C when in actual fact I was a 30DD! Of course I was pleasantly surprised!
When buying a new bra, you should allow for it stretching over time, particularly across the band measurement. So when you buy it, it should fit you with the straps adjusted near their slackest. When the bra stretches over time, you will then have room for being able to tighten up the straps.
Get Your Bra Measured Professionally For Free
In order to be sure of your bra size, I recommend that are fitted professionally. They use the method described above, in conjunction with experience and a professional eye. You can be measured professionally for free in several high street stores, some of the most popular ones are:
- Bravissimo
- Debenhams
- La Senza
- Marks & Spencer
One important point to remember is that different bras from different manufacturers may differ in size. The same applies for different styles of bra, even from the same manufacturer. This is fairly standard across the clothing industry; jeans are a good example.
Breast sizes and the British woman
It's official! British women have the largest average cup size of any country in the world.
Yorkshire women have the largest breasts with 35% of them enjoying a DD cup size or bigger. The smallest average breast size belongs to ladies from London where 20% need a DD cup size or larger.
Provider |
Price Guide |
Initial Consult'n |
Location |
Overnight Stay |
Aftercare Period |
Post-op follow up |
Next Steps | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rubicon Medical | £3295 | Free | London | £290 | 3 yrs | 7 to 10 days and 3 months | 
| |
| The Hospital Group | £3295 to £3995 |
Free | Throughout UK |  |
3 yrs | 7, 30, 60, 90 days |
| |
| £700 off in March £3,295 (normally £3,995) with 3yrs aftercare. Save 30% on 2nd procedure booked at same time. Breast augmentation & liposuction £5,495. Breast augmentation & tummy tuck £7,495. | ||||||||
| Surgicare | £3450 | Free | Throughout UK | |
5 yrs | 6 to 10 days then bespoke |
| |
| Price includes current £750 discount offer. Interest free loan for up to 10 months (not available in conjunction with any other offer). | ||||||||
| Redrose | £3500 | Free | Bolton, Preston, Liverpool | |
Lifetime | 7 to 14 days then additional follow up |
| |
| £3500 offer until Feb 2010. Finance options available. | ||||||||
| Whygoabroad | £3595 to £4095 |
Free | Bromsgrove Nr. Birmingham |
|
6 mths | 7 days, 4 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months |
| |
| 3 years aftercare available for £400 extra. £4,095 applies for large implants. | ||||||||
| Transform | £3695 | Free | Throughout UK | |
3+ yrs | 2 weeks, 3 months then annually |
| |
| 3 yrs implant replacement with lifetime consultation aftercare. £500 to £15000 over 10 months interest free credit loan. 15.9% APR over 36 months. Daycare option available. £50 voucher with consultation. | ||||||||
| The Cosmetic Clinic | £3850 | Free | Throughout UK | |
5+ yrs | 1, 4 and 6 weeks |
| |
| 5 yrs implant replacement with lifetime consultation aftercare. Fixed price. Includes aftercare. Interest free credit over 10 months with £500 deposit or 11.49% APR over 24 or 36 months with £500 deposit. | ||||||||
| The Harley Medical Grp | £4200 | Free | Throughout UK | |
2+ yrs | 7 days then additional follow up |
| |
| 6 yrs capsular contracture cover. Finance options available | ||||||||
| Make Yourself Amazing | £4250 | Free | Throughout UK | |
5 yrs | 1, 6 and 13 weeks |
| |
| Up to £600 off. Interest free loan for up to 12 months; deposit required. | ||||||||
| MyBreast | £4250 to £4850 |
£25 | England & Wales |
|
Lifetime | Bespoke |
| |
| Lifetime aftercare and lifetime implant replacement against capsular contracture or rupture. | ||||||||
| London Bridge Plastic Surgery | £4500 to £5000 |
£150 | London | £450 | 1 yr | Bespoke |
| |
| £150 consultation fee refunded when procedure booked. Lifetime implant replacement for capsular contracture and rupture. | ||||||||