Rippling of saline implants may be noticeable, particularly in small breasted women with little body fat. When breast implants are placed below the pectoralis major muscle, only about half of the implant surface is actually beneath the muscle -- the medial/upper half -- while the lateral/inferior half is immediately below the breast.
Sub-pectoral placement is advantageous in patients who are slender and very small-breasted preoperatively, as the pectoralis muscle helps to conceal the implant in the most important place aesthetically: the cleavage area.
However, the lateral area of the breasts is covered by skin and breast tissue, not muscle. For some women, this makes the idea of silicone implants more appealing. A plastic surgeon with considerable experience with both silicone and saline implants can help you determine what makes most sense for you based on your goals and your anatomy.
