Understanding Variation in Bra Cup Sizing Among Leading Manufacturers: A Current Guide for Patients and Surgeons

Brassiere (bra) size is commonly used when patients and plastic surgeons discuss breast procedures. Variations in sizing between manufacturers can affect patient-surgeon communication and postoperative satisfaction. This study quantifies bra cup volume across alphanumeric sizes and manufacturers to describe variance and improve preoperative communication for shared decision-making.

Bras sized 36A-DD from seven manufacturers were fit to a mannequin and filled using custom breast sizers. Sizers were weighed and converted to volume, and statistical differences in cup volume between manufacturers were assessed at each size.

Cup volume varied significantly between manufacturers at all sizes, with larger cup sizes showing greater variance. Standard deviation in mean cup volume (cc), across all manufacturers, was A: 30.9, B: 40.1, C: 62.2, D: 69.7, and DD: 122.8. Calvin Klein and Hanes ran small, while Wacoal ran larger at sizes C-DD. Wacoal was significantly larger than Hanes and Calvin Klein at sizes 36C (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01) and 36D (P < 0.05 and P < 0.005), and was significantly larger than Calvin Klein at 36DD (P < 0.005). Variation was observed at cup sizes A and B, though individual manufacturer trends were less clear. Soma was significantly larger than Victoria's Secret at size 36A (P < 0.005), and Victoria's Secret was significantly larger than Calvin Klein at 36B (P < 0.05).

This study provides a reference for surgeons and patients when discussing goal breast size after procedures. These data are especially useful for larger cup sizes, where variation in cup volume is greatest, enabling more accurate communication and greater patient understanding.

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .