What’s Right for Me? Under The Muscle or Over The muscle, Questions to Ask Your Surgeon

With all the options that exist for breast augmentation, how do you know what’s right for you? The simplest and easiest way is to go straight to your best source: a board certified plastic surgeon will always be your most accurate resource on breast augmentation surgery, so it’s always a good idea to get your most pressing and important questions answered during your consultation. While there’s no way to tell which breast implant placement is right for you just from reading an article, we can explain your options to prepare you to ask the right questions during your breast implant consultation. 

Breast implant placement options

When undergoing breast augmentation surgery, one of the decisions you and surgeons will discuss during your consultation are the placement of your breast implants: beneath the chest muscle or above the chest muscle. Beneath the chest muscle, or pectoralis, is known as submuscular placement. With this placement, the breast implant may be placed under just a portion of the muscle or the muscle will be used to completely cover the implant. Above the chest muscle is known as subglandular placement. With this placement, the breast implant is placed underneath your existing breast tissue.

Which breast implant placement option is best?

There really is no “best” when it comes to breast implant options, just what’s best for you, however for women without enough natural breast tissue, submuscular placement is the only option. That being said, there are advantages and disadvantages to each breast implant placement.  With submuscular placement, there is a reduced risk of capsular contracture, a complication that occurs when the scar tissue that usually forms around your implant to help keep it in place instead tightens and squeezes the implant, potentially resulting in chronic pain and a distorted breast shape, making the affected breast rise higher on the chest than the other. Submuscular placement may result in a longer-lasting result, as well as less interference during mammogram examinations.

Of course, there are some disadvantages as well. Since an incision will be required internally as well to create a space for the breast implants under the muscle, some women experience increased pain during the first few days following surgery. If you’re particularly active, you may also find the chest becomes distorted during strength training and other activities with this placement.

With subglandular placement, sagging breasts may be more likely as time goes on. Additionally, you may be able to see the edges of your breast implant if you don’t have enough natural breast tissue to conceal it.

Will breast augmentation leave a big scar?

Any time an incision is made in your body scarring is possible. One of the most important factors in whether you’re left with noticeable scars is your choice of a plastic surgeon. Dr. Barrett has developed detailed scar management protocols and closure techniques to reduce visible scarring for his patients. Additionally, his curated breast augmentation recovery kit sets his breast augmentation patients up for surgical success with the least amount of down time and discomfort possible. Things like red light or stim light therapy used right after surgery and beyond, can help significantly with swelling, bruising and even with scarring because it penetrates the body at the cellular level with specific wavelengths of light, reducing inflammation and supporting tissue repair and regeneration.

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