to ask about your 34C boobs?

[SnoozyGiraffe]

So I'm considering a breast reduction and surgeons generally recommend a C cup size. I haven't been a C cup since puberty and I can't imagine it at all! Anyone who's a 34C - I'd really appreciate some info :-)

For example....
Do you feel completely secure in a strapless bra, or can you even go braless occasionally? (on holiday or if a special outfit demands?)
Is it easy to find flattering swimwear?
Can you wear shrug-type cardigans and do they look nice?

I'm pretty tall, no hips but a bit of a muffin-top - is my tummy suddenly going to be bigger than my boobs? I'm used to being voluptuous, but part of me wants the novelty of a boyish figure. Is this a nice compromise or a neither-here-nor-there middle ground?

All advice gratefully received!

No Harticus I do not cruise around trying to find reasons to be offended. Quite the opposite in fact. But I do spend a lot of time trying to help women who are struggling with bras and a lot of them have serious body image issues about their breasts. Part of this is due to retailers and the media telling them a D+ cup size is bloody enormous, plus sized, ridiculous etc but descriptions like that don't help. Women see that and think "if a d cup is fugly huge and pendulous then what the heck are my J, K, L cups then" and it makes them feel shit.

I appreciate you were talking about your own boobs but it didn't come across well. I'm not offended cos I'm perfectly happy with my boobs. All I'm saying is that the way you put it was a bit inappropriate for a thread filled with (and read by even more) women who are so unhappy with their bodies that they are considering major surgery.

If anyone saw me you would think me a lanky streak of piss with a flat chest and no curves

I am a DD cup

Snoozygirafe have you seen this site? It might help to give you an idea of what different sizes look like when fitted correctly. A lot of people who class themselves as 34C aren't when fitted properly. Funnily enough the smallest 34 back on that page is a D but it should give you an idea.

Plus how tall are you? I'm a 30ff post intervention, (32dd before) and 6ft, they don't look big at all, just average...

Lanky streak of piss - my brother used to call me this when we were teenagers.

Really Anyfucker? You may be right as very rarely get measured.

Mizu, if your measuring has even involved M&S it's wrong

Don't go to M+S to get measured.

Have a look at the Bra Intervention threads or follow a handy guide

measure rib cage, pulling tight

measure fullest part of boobs when you are leaning forwards

eg, for me 29/34 = 5cm difference =DD cup (difference between the two A/B/C/D/DD)

Inch not cm. But yes. Is a pain for me because I measure 27" which according to bra manufacturers nobody is ever. Happily in the rest of Europe they have more realistic bra sizes, so I can actually find things to fit me here and a 65 band (cm, so equivalent to 26") actually fits. I can take a 65C or 70B but British bras don't fit me properly at all.

When I got married I made a bra out of sellotape because I had no hope of finding a strapless one in time!

I'm a 34C and an 8-10 too. I certainly couldn't wear a smaller back size or larger cup.

They're fine. Obv much less perky than pre- children.but I can just about wear no bra. They wouldn't hold up a strapless dress any more though

sorry, yes inches

yy to height/frame size making a difference
i am 5'9" and size 12, and my 34Cs definitely look boyish on my frame.

Bertie, the EU bands don't (generally) work like that.

Way back when god was a boy, they used to add 4-5" to get your band size. The UK decided that you would add the inches to your measurement to get your band size - so a 30" measurement would have worn a 34 band. Conversely, in the EU they built it in to the band size. So someone measuring 75cm (30") would wear a band labelled 75, but that band would be the equivalent of a UK 34. You had to add these inches because the fabrics had very little give

Once fabrics improved the sizing never changed. So now, a UK 30" should wear a 30 band. But they would wear a 65 in EU sizes. I have a bunch of Ewa Michalak bras - they're 65HH.

There is one which is different - France I believe does something different.

I'm an 8-10 and thought I was a 34C, I'm not, I'm a 32D.

You definitely need more information about the size of these alleged "34 Cs". I'm a 30D and it is a small handful only.

Bue

Agree there. As a 32D, they look big on my frame but actually aren't when erm...measured in my own small hands.

I had a reduction 3 months ago from an H cup, I'm still waiting to discover my final size but I asked for a D cup.

Your surgeon should take into account your proportions and will measure you etc. I'm a 32 and not a size 8/10 so I doubt you're a 34 unless you have a very wide back.

It's a big op and no matter what I researched I was t prepared for just how it would affect me. I absolutely love my new boobs however psychologically I'm still getting used to not having to buy a size 16 top to just fit the girls in.

Wish I'd done it years ago, do your research speak to the surgeons past patients and good luck!

Glad to see that Stats and others have already made the point that most of you on here are almost definitely in the wrong size.

Key points: Cup size is relative to band size. So yes, you probably can wear a bigger cup but only in a smaller band! A size 8 will really never be a 34 band. A DO isn't a big cup.

Please, visit the link that Stats gave up thread and measure yourself properly.

Should point out that when I had my surgery done I was a 34C but having gained an inch round my torso due to weight gain, but nothing on my bust, I'm now a 36B and still happy.

I'm a 34c and pretty happy with that size.

Yes I feel secure in a good strapless bra, but I would never go braless.

Clothing and swimwear are all easy to find :)

I don't wear shrugs maybe they would look nice but I don't know.

HOWEVER I am a size 10 and I have to watch my stomach as if I put weight on there I do look out ofproportion. I have a couple of friends who had breast reductions (not sure what their sizes were/are) and they unfortunately do have a tendency to look barrel shaped. I think their natural breast size helped them be more balanced proportionally. So if you are concerned that you might have this barrel shape issue post reduction I would go for a larger cup size.

What clothing size are you?

I'm a 34C or sometimes 32D (??) I wouldn't dream of going braless. They're really saggy and wobbly. But perhaps that wouldn't be the case where you've had a reduction??

I think clothes look better on smaller breasts. Certainly easier to pad up a bit than try and look smaller.

Please, all you size 10s, you almost certainly aren't a 34! Please re-measure (send not according to M&S guidance either!)

Sorry op I just saw your clothing size. I would definitely go for a bigger cup size if I were you. Sorry!!

I find my size 10 tummy can look out of proportion with my 34c boobs and I have to be careful not to put on too much weight in this area. In fact I actually need to use chicken fillets sometimes with certain clothes to pad out my boobs so I don't look pregnant/odd. Sorry if this offends anyone.

I am a 34 back and in-between C and a D but i will answer

Do you feel completely secure in a strapless bra, or can you even go braless occasionally? (on holiday or if a special outfit demands?)*

Yes to the strapless No to the braless, but i feel fine going out in a crop top/sports bra type thing (intact their is a bloody amazing one in the pound shop)

Is it easy to find flattering swimwear?
yes, very. My last cossie was from Asda and it is extremely flattering

Can you wear shrug-type cardigans and do they look nice?
I don't wear shrug-type cardigans very, so i don't have much experience with them.

Wanted to add, I'm actually thinking of having an enlargement to go up 1.5 cup size. I can never find a bra that properly fits.

No way is anyone in a size 8-10 a 34 anything.

I'm a pudgy 14 and take a 32FF/G. I even have a 30GG.