Best Breast Implant Placement for Better Look and Feel?

asked 2 years ago by merrymm in boston ma usa
Latest answer by Steven Wallach, MD
Question viewed 384 times
Tags: breasts, 300-349cc, B cup, over muscle

My question is regarding going under or over the muscle for my breast augmentation. I have had two consultations with my Dr. and during the second one, he said he might want to go over the muscle since I have plenty of breast tissue. I am a B cup and will be putting in 300 cc silicone breast implants. I am aware of the pros and cons but still am not sure. At the end of the day, what is a better choice and what will look and feel better?

9 answers to Best Breast Implant Placement for Better Look and Feel?

Natural look

Implants can look natural above or below the muscle, but I prefer below the muscle in the majority of cases because the upper pole will have another layer of coverage.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

NAtural looking breast implants

I offer patient's a simple analogy to illustrate what we mean: Q: If you take a baseball and you cover it with a silksheet, what will it look like? A: Like a baseball, you will even see the stitching. Q: Now if you take that same baseball and cover it with a comforter what will you see? A: It depends on how thick the comforter is but generally you will see a softly shaped lump. So now the question is what do you have on your chest, silk sheets or comforters? The... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Breast Implant placement

When deciding the optimal placement for breast implants, many factors must be considered including saline vs silicone implants, your body frame, how much breast tissue you have, the diameter of the implants, and the volume of the implants. What I tell my patients is that placing the implant behind the muscle will give added support to the weight of the implant. In a sense, the muscle acts like an internal bra. This will help support the weight of the implant and likely prevent your... more

Amy T. Bandy, DO
Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon

Placement of Breast Implants

Majority of breast implants are placed behind the muscle these days. I generally place my implants behind the muscle and in select patient opt to place them in a dual place position which utilizes the benefits of both being under the muscle and being over the muscle. Placement of subglandular implant (I feel) are a bit passe', especially with the dual plane technique. Good luck.

Farbod Esmailian, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

>90% Below the Muscle

Dear Merrymm, While I place >90% of primary breast implants beneath the muscle, every patient deserves a customized evaluation. Some patients have thick breast tissues that enable subglandular placement (on top of the muscle). Other patients have very well-developed muscles that preclude submsuscular placement, even if they have thin overlying soft tissues. Ultimately, you will have to weigh the pro's and con's and decide based upon what will work best for you. I would recommend that... more

Michael C. Pickart, MD
Ventura Plastic Surgeon

Over or under the muscle

In your case with silicone gel implant you could go either way. Under the muscle may have a bit of an advantage but not by much. Ultimately it will be a choice based on primarily a bit more pain in recovery(under) vs more potential to see or feel the implants on a long term basis(over). I place 95% under the muscle.

John P. Stratis, MD
Harrisburg Plastic Surgeon

Breast implants are best under the muscle

I place 100% of my implants under the muscle unless they are replacing ones that are already above the muscle. You will look better, have better mammograms, and less capsular contracture under the muscle.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Best Breast Implant Placement

I place 95% of my implants below the muscle. You do describe 2 variables which can give a good result with implants above the muscle. Silicone implants and the amount of breast tissue you have are both pluses. There are some disadvantages to submuscular placement (more initial pain and a higher incidence of some asymmetry). You might ask to speak to some former patients of each surgeon.

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Breast implant under or over the the muscle for best look and feel?

You can have an excellent aesthetic result with the implant in either position, over or under the muscle. If you have enough tissue to cover the implant if it is over the muscle, then consider the pros and cons of each position. Some plastic surgeons prefer one position over the other. Keep in mind however, that if one were so superior to the other, we would not even be discussing this. In other words, both can be excellent. Personally, I prefer to place the implant over the muscle... more