Surgery Plastic Surgery Breast Surgery Find the Right Breast Implant Size With the Rice Test Use the rice in your home to choose the right size By Natalie Kita Updated on June 08, 2022 Medically reviewed by Mary Choy, PharmD Print Deciding to undergo a breast augmentation is a big decision that requires you to make a lot of choices. Choosing the best implant size for your body is particularly important, especially because a large percentage of all breast revision surgeries are performed just to change the implant size. Fotosearch / Getty Images In a study published in 2019, researchers found that: 41% of revision surgeries were performed on women who regretted their chosen implant size38% wanted bigger implantsJust 3% wanted smaller implantsIn 26% of revisions, the primary reason was complications but the women also opted for bigger implants Additional painful and invasive surgeries can be avoided simply by choosing the best-fitting implant size for your body frame the first time around. The same implant size may end up as a C cup on one woman's frame and a B cup on someone else's. Managing Pain After Breast Augmentation The Rice Test A simple experiment called the rice test can help you figure out which size breast implant, by cubic centimeters (cc), is the best fit for you. The goal is to help you adjust to the look and feel of larger breasts before you make a permanent decision. You'll need: Uncooked riceA food scale or measuring cupAn old pair of nylon stockings or plastic baggiesA fitted sports bra (or a traditional bra in your "goal size") Make the "shell": Plastic baggies make for a quick and easy solution, but nylon stockings have a more natural, comfortable feel. Just cut a 12-inch length of nylon. Use the foot portion or a piece of the leg portion tied off on one end. Measure or weigh the rice: There are several versions of the rice test that use different measurements, and achieving an accurate measurement is challenging because of the way implants are sized. If you're using a food scale, all you need to know is that 1 ounce of rice is equivalent to 30 cc. For example, 5 ounces of rice is roughly the same size and weight as a 150 cc implant. If you're using a measuring cup, use the following as a guideline: 1/8 cup rice = 30 cc1/4 cup rice = 59 cc1/3 cup rice = 78 cc1/2 cup rice = 118 cc2/3 cup rice = 156 cc3/4 cup rice = 177 cc1 cup rice = 236 cc Fill the shell: Fill the bag or stocking with the amount of rice you have decided on. Close the bag or tie off the other end of the stocking. Try them out: Place the sealed bags full of rice into the bra and wear them as you go about your typical daily routine. Pay close attention to how they look and feel. Change it up: The great thing about the rice test is that it lets you try everything out before making a final decision. If you don't like the first size you try, just dump out the rice and remeasure. Can Breast Implants Cause Lupus? Sizing Tips and Tricks The rice test is entirely unscientific. It only provides a rough guideline, and it is not endorsed by any medical group. Still, it's helped some women make the right decision for them. Ask your plastic surgeon if they recommend the rice test or other methods that can help with your decision. Breast implant sizers are also sold specifically for this purpose. If your implants will be placed underneath the muscle, you may need to increase the size of your implants by about 15% over what you like in the rice test to account for the pectoral muscle's compression of the implants.Wearing a sports bra for the duration of the rice test may actually help simulate this compression effect, thereby giving you more accurate results. What to Know About Breast Implants Rupturing and Deflating 1 Source Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Montemurro P, Fischer S, Hager S, Hedén P. Secondary breast augmentation: Is there a trend for bigger implants? Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2019;43(1):59–69. doi:10.1007/s00266-018-1244-5 Additional Reading Interview with Adam Tattelbaum, MD; Rockville, MD. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit