In breast augmentation surgery, the implant can be placed over the muscle or under the muscle. A number of factors affect the ideal implant placement for each patient, including patient health history, implant type, implant size, and the patient’s body type.
If you are considering breast implants, you may have heard that you can choose to have them placed either on top of or under your chest muscles. The best choice for you depends on several factors: your age, your existing breast anatomy, your activity level, and the amount of downtime you can tolerate after surgery.
Although the best placement of her implants should be determined by an experienced plastic surgeon, breast augmentation patients should know the pros and cons of each technique. Learn more about the best breast implant placement for you, whether it is over the muscle or under the muscle.
Breast Implant In Dubai
Breast Implant in Dubai provides women with various implant placement options, with the two most common being over-the-muscle and under-the-muscle. Over-the-muscle placement places the implant directly beneath the breast tissue, which may result in less discomfort and a faster initial recovery. Under-the-muscle placement places the implant beneath the chest muscle, providing additional tissue coverage and potentially creating a more natural appearance, especially in women with limited breast tissue. The best option is determined by your body structure, natural breast tissue volume, implant size and type, lifestyle, and aesthetic goals. During a consultation, a qualified plastic surgeon can evaluate your anatomy and explain the benefits, limitations, and potential risks of each approach. Choosing the appropriate placement can help achieve balanced, natural-looking, and proportionate breast augmentation results.
Over The Muscle (Subglandular) Breast Implant Placement
If a breast implant is placed “over the chest muscle,” it is placed under the glandular tissue of the breast. This method is sometimes called subglandular placement. Because the procedure does not require manipulation of the chest muscles, or pectoral muscles, recovery is usually quicker and less painful.
If you already have a lot of breast tissue and you want a modest, natural-looking enhancement, you might choose to place the breast implants over the muscle. The breast implant will be covered by your natural glandular tissue, which will reduce the chances of it showing through and wrinkling, rippling or folding.
Over the muscle implants are less at risk of distorting as your pectoralis muscles develop if you lift weights or take part in activities that strengthen your chest muscles.
Pros Of Over The Muscle Placement
Over-the-muscle placement may result in faster recovery, less initial discomfort, and improved implant visibility or adjustment during subsequent procedures.
Potentially Quicker, Less Painful Recovery
The surgery is much easier and less invasive than placement under the muscle. In this procedure, your pectoral muscles are not disturbed, allowing your body to heal more quickly and usually with less discomfort.
Larger Implants Are Possible
When implants are placed over the muscle, the breast implant pocket can be made as large as desired. This procedure means that larger implants are possible. So this method is preferred by those who want dramatic change and are already at least a B cup.
Avoids Dynamic Distortion
Dynamic distortion is a side-to-side movement of the breast with some implants when the chest muscles are flexed. This type of movement will not happen with implants placed over the muscle.
Better Cleavage
Usually this means that you can get more cleavage, as the implants can be placed a little closer together.
Can Lift Slightly Sagging Breasts
Another method, instead of a lift, is to place a shaped implant over the muscle.
Natural Looking Results That Age With You
That said, an implant over the muscle will subtly descend as your breasts descend with age. It helps you to look natural as you grow older.
Cons Of Over The Muscle Placement
Over-the-muscle placement can increase implant visibility, rippling, and capsular contracture risk, particularly in patients with thinner breast tissue.
Implant Visibility
Placing the breast implant over the muscle increases the risk of visibility. This is especially true for women with very little natural breast tissue or very low body weight. This can also be a more dramatic or visible “step-off” at the upper pole of the implant, as the muscle does not smooth out the transition.
Rippling, Wrinkling And Folding
Increased visibility also means a greater risk of rippling, wrinkling or folding, particularly at the top of the implant, where natural tissue is thinnest.
Capsular Contracture
Capsular contracture is an immune reaction where the body recognizes the implant as a foreign object and forms scar tissue around it, separating it from the rest of the body. Why some develop this condition and some do not is not known, but it is more common in those over the muscle implants.
Bottoming Out
Bottoming out is a rare phenomenon in which the implant sits too low on the chest wall. This occurs when the skin’s elasticity is insufficient or the implant was improperly placed during surgery. It is much more likely to happen with implants placed over the muscle.
Mammogram Issues
While it is possible to have a safe and effective mammogram after any type of breast implant surgery, over-the-muscle placement can obscure breast tissue visibility.
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Under The Muscle (Submuscular) Breast Implant Placement
Submuscular placement is where the implant is placed under the pectoralis muscle, or ‘under the muscle.’ The pectoralis muscles are split during implant insertion. This makes for a longer, and perhaps more painful, breast augmentation recovery experience.
If you have little natural breast tissue, we recommend the under-the-muscle method because the muscle covers the implant for a more natural-looking result. If your natural breasts have sagged due to age, an under-the-muscle implant may look unnaturally high and in this case, over-the-muscle placement is preferred or a breast lift (mastopexy) may be added.
Saline implants are usually placed under the muscle because they are firmer than silicone implants. The muscle wall provides protection against puncture and reduces the visibility of the implant.
Pros Of Under The Muscle Placement
Under-the-muscle placement may result in better implant coverage, a more natural appearance, reduced visibility, and potentially lower rippling risk.
Natural Looking Results
Because the pectoralis muscle covers the implant, this method is preferable for women who have little natural breast tissue or are extremely thin. The muscle effectively pads the implant, resulting in a more natural appearance. This results in a smoother upper pole and reduces the “step-off” that is possible (especially with higher-profile implants).
Reduced Risk Of Capsular Contracture
Under the muscle implants, the risk of capsular contracture is reduced from nearly 20% to less than 12% in primary augmentation patients.
Reduced Risk Of Visibility
When implants are placed beneath the muscle, the risk of visible rippling, wrinkling, or folding decreases.
More Visible Mammograms
Although it’s perfectly ok to get a mammogram with any type of implant, under-the-muscle placement leads to less distortion and a more easily readable mammogram.
Cons Of Under The Muscle Placement
When compared to over-the-muscle implant placement, under-the-muscle placement may result in more discomfort, longer recovery times, muscle movement, and more complex surgery.
Longer Recovery
The recovery period for breast implants placed under the muscle is longer. Your breasts may also feel more painful in the days following surgery.
Dynamic Distortion
Lateral breast movement is more common when implants are placed under the muscle. Breast implants move sideways when the pectoral muscle contracts. Implants can also become displaced if extreme changes in musculature put pressure on the implant.
Snoopy Deformity
Snoopy deformity refers to a situation in which the breast tissue sags beneath the breast implant. The muscle keeps the implant in place, but the breast may continue to sag due to lax tissues or aging. This condition is not common with subglandular placement because the implant sags alongside the breast. Snoopy deformity is typically treated with a breast lift (mastopexy).
Double Bubble Deformity
Double bubble deformity can occur when implants are placed subglandular or submuscularly. This typically occurs when the breast implant pushes through the breast’s natural inframammary crease, creating a new crease beneath the natural one. This can happen when the implant settles or when the fold is surgically lowered to accommodate the implant that the patient and surgeon have selected. Double bubble deformity can be treated surgically by restoring the natural fold’s adherence to the chest wall (capsulorrhaphy), or by fat grafting procedures if the new fold position is required for the implant size.
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Which Breast Implant Placement Is Best For Me?
The best placement is determined by your anatomy, natural breast tissue, implant size, lifestyle, and desired results; therefore, consult a qualified plastic surgeon for personalized advice.
Over The Muscle Breast Implants
You are more likely to choose over the muscle breast implant placement if any of the following are true:
- You’re already a B cup or higher
- If you are looking for more dramatic change (choosing large implants)
- You are active and you work your chest muscles regularly
- No familial history of breast cancer
Under The Muscle Breast Implants
More likely to choose under the muscle implants if one or more of the following are true:
- You want to minimize the risk of capsular contracture, visible rippling or visible step-off at the upper pole of the breast implant.
- You have little natural breast tissue
- You’d want saline implants
- You don’t do strength training, really
- You want your mammograms to be clear and readable
Best Plastic Surgeon In Dubai For Breast Implant
Best Plastic Surgeon in Dubai for breast implant is available at the Perfect Doctors Clinic, where Dr. Perfect Celebrity can explain the differences between placing breast implants above or below the chest muscle. Implants placed over the muscle, known as subglandular placement, may provide a faster recovery and are appropriate for patients with sufficient natural breast tissue. Under-the-muscle placement, also known as submuscular placement, can provide more coverage over the implant and result in a smoother, more natural appearance in patients with thinner breast tissue. The ideal placement is determined by your anatomy, existing breast tissue, implant size, lifestyle, and desired results. During consultation, your surgeon can assess your requirements and recommend the best implant position for your objectives.