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How Do Saline Breast Implants Look if Placed over the Muscle?

Asked 28 months ago by sarah0208 in pa
Sort 26 expert answers by:
+3

Don't put saline breast implants above the muscle

I have spent the last 20 years implanting thousands of saline and silicone implants. I have been universally disappointed with saline implants over the muscle. If you feel you want to go above the muscle, use a textured, silicone implant. This will give the best anatomic shape with the least chance of ripples. The incidence of scar/contracture above the muscle is too high with smooth saline to make it a less than desirable procedure. Good Luck.
David A. Dreyfuss, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Saline Implants over the muscle

I typically do not recommend implants to be placed directly under the breast tissue unless a previously placed submuscular implant is causing problems (scar contracture, etc.). Their are surgeons who will place implants under the gland to compensate for dropping/ sagging tissue...I think this results in an elongated (rock-in-sock) appearance that I personally do not care for...But I have heard patients say, when you see 10 different plastic surgeons, you may get 10 different opinions on what nee more
John Philip Connors III, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Implants placed above the Muscle

You need to go to a Plastic surgeon with experience.  I have had very nice success in a select group of patients.  First and foremost, you need good tissue coverage to avoid rippling.  The new silicone implants are more ideal for the subglandular pocket.
Blane T. Shatkin, MD
Ft. Lauderdale Plastic Surgeon
+1

Saline Implants on Top of the Muscle are NOT for Most Patients

I like saline implants above the muscle when the patient... ...already has a fair amount of breast tissue. Saline implants tend to ripple more than silicone. Hence, those implants need some sort of coverage to camouflage that rippling. That coverage can come from the muscle or from breast tissue. If a woman's breasts are already big, but she would like them even bigger, placing implants on top of the muscle is usually OK. ...wants the most natural results when she exercises (nearly) naked(!) more
Michael C. Pickart, MD
Ventura Plastic Surgeon
+1

Saline Implants above the muscle

For most patients seeking breast augmentation, a saline implant looks better if it is under the pectoralis muscle. Most of the augmentation patients don't the enough soft tissue coverage to camouflage the rippling effects of the saline implant on the upper breast pole noted when the patient is in the upright standing position. It takes at least 2.5 to 3.0cm of soft tissue coverage to be able to use a saline implant in the sub glandular position and then over time as hormonal, metabolic and... more
Paul Rottler, MD
Saint Louis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Saline breast implants placed over the muscle

As you can see from the varied responses, most of us agree that saline implants placed over the muscle can potentially give you a full but somewhat unnatural look. If you have a lot of your own breast tissue to camoflauge the edges of the implant, it will look more natural. Some patients do want it to be obvious that they had implants placed, but for those that want a natural look and prefer saline implants, I would recommend placement under the muscle. Good luck, /nsn....
Nina S. Naidu, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Saline or any breast implants "above the muscle"

Saline implants placed above the pectoralis major muscle will look ripply, noticeable, obvious, and unnatural. With thick enough skin or enough breast tissue this may not be the result at first, but the experience has been that skin doesn't stay thick and breast tissue doesn't always stick around over time. Usually short term but nearly always long term, saline breast implants will look obvious. Gel-filled breast implants can initially look natural above the muscle if they are sized and... more
Scott L. Replogle, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon
+1

Saline implants above the muscle

The good thing about saline implants above the muscle is that they move like normal breasts and have a quick recovery. The bad thing is that they often exhibit more wrinkling and rippling in the upper part of the breast. There is also a higher incidence of excessive scar tissue, or capsular contracture. I do this approach for patients who may be a bit droopy and don't want a lift, are professional bodybuilders, or are looking for a quicker recovery.
Anthony Youn, MD
Detroit Plastic Surgeon
+1

Subglandular breast augmentation: breast implants over the muscle

Breast implants placed over the muscle will have less distortion by the muscle, though the upper part of the implant will likely be noticeable. It can give a somewhat "unnatural" look and feel, though this depends on how much native breast tissue you have. Advantages include easier recovery, less implant movement with muscle contraction and maintenance of muscle strength. It is a valid option in the right patient.
Andrew P. Trussler, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

It depends on your soft tissues

Sarah, Saline implants placed over the muscle can look very natural. It is dependent on whether or not you have enough soft tissue (skin, fat and breast) to adequately cover and camouflage the implant. Consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon will determine if you are a candidate. Good luck!
Kenneth R. Francis, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Saline implants above muscle may not look natural

It all depends on how much breast tissue you have. If too thin, saline breast implants can take on a "grapefruit" appearance when placed over the muscle. Under the muscle is usually better with less complications.
Barry E. DiBernardo, MD
Montclair Plastic Surgeon
+1

Saline implants above the muscle

 Saline implants can be placed above the muscle as long as there is enough soft tissue coverage.  I prefer to place them below the muscle in most patients because they usually do not have enough soft tissue coverage.
Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Saline implants placed above the muscle

The appearance of implants placed above the muscle, in general, tend to provide greater fullness to the upper pole and a less natural, more "augmented" look. Depending on the amount of breast tissue you have, saline implants may be more prone to showing rippling of the implant and will be more prone to capsular contracture (hard, painful scar tissue around the implant). Although I place most breast implants behind the muscle, if I have a reason to place the implant in front of the... more
Sam Jejurikar, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Saline implants above the muscle

The choice between placing and implant above or below the muscle mainly involves how much breast tissue you have to provide adequate coverage for the implant. If you have enough tissue coverage, then you don't see the folds and ripples of the implant. Saline ripples more than silicone gel filled implants but coverage over the implant is the key. The other important factor is the size of implant. If you choose too large of an implant, no matter where it is placed, you will see the implant... more
Bahram Ghaderi, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Saline breast implants placed over the muscle

There is NO PERFECT breast implant out there and none on the horizon. All implants are made from a shell of silicone which ripples MORE when filled with salt water (saline) than when filled with silicone gel (but both ripple). In addition, the edge of the implant is felt as well. There in getting the best looking result, the implant has to be covered by as much tissue as possible. The more tissue covering the implant, the less its ripples will be visible and the less its edges will be... more
Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Saline breast implant appearance over the muscle

The answer depends on how much breast tissue you have to start with. If you have very little breast tissue, then you will most likely be able to see the implant and get the "implant" look. If you have a moderate amount of breast tissue, then you will most likely have a more natural look. Consider placing the implants under the muscle or silicone implants for a more natural look and feel. Good luck!
Jeffrey E. Schreiber, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
+1

Saline Breast Implants Above the Muscle

The look of implants - either saline or silicone - is dependent on your overlying skin. If you are able to pinch a significant amount of skin (more than 2 cm) then you may do well with subglandular (over the muscle) breast implants. Otherwise, you may do better with submuscular implants which would have that added coverage of the muscle tissue. Good luck with your surgery.
David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Implants Placed Over the Muscle

It really depends on the size of the implants and the amount of breast tissue. I often use an oversimplified analogy to demonstrate this. If you take a baseball and cover it with a silk sheet, you will see everything. If you cover it with a thick comforter, you may bareley notice it. However, if you change this to a volleyball, it will be a dramatic difference. Does this make any sense?
Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Saline implants over the muscle

The decision of whether to use silicone or saline implants is not based on how they look, but how they feel. Saline and silicone implants LOOK the same. If there is enough tissue covering them, they also feel the same. However, if there is only a small amount of tissue between the skin and the implant, the saline one feels more like a water balloon, while the silicone one feels more like natural fat. The only place I have been able to feel a difference is under the breast. This is where the... more
Robert T. Buchanan, MD
Highlands Plastic Surgeon
+1

Saline Implants on Top of Muscle

Saline implants are generally placed beneath the chest muscle which is accompanied by more discomfort initially. In some women with signicant amounts of breast tissue pre-op, a good result can be attained with saline implants over the muscle. In general, however, this is associated with a higher incidence of visible wrinkling of the implants.
John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Saline implants on top of the muscle

The best thing to say about saline implants on top of the muscle is that it is the least invasive of all the options. The incisions are smaller than gel implants and the pain is less than under the muscle. There are also some special circumstances where this technique may be the best option. The final result of a breast augmentation depends mostly on what percentage of the result is due to the implant and what percentage is due to the patient. So, the more breast tissue, fat or muscle and... more
John P. Stratis, MD
Harrisburg Plastic Surgeon
+1

Appearance of saline implants.

How saline implants will look on top of the muscle will depend in large part on the amount of breast tissue you have. Generally I place saline implants under the muscle in most people, in order to get the best appearance. However, I will be more likely to place silicone implants on top of the muscle in selected patients. This has to do with both the implant material and the breast itself. Saline implants tend to be a little firmer than silicone. So, in order to have the implant not look... more
David B. Reath, MD
Knoxville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Look of saline implants above muscle depends on many factors

Sarah, This is a good question. Depending on how much breast tissue and body fat one has depends on how the saline implants will look. Saline implants are filled with saline (sterile water) as a result, sometimes if there is not enough breast tissue or body fat to cover the saline implants, one could see wrinkles or ripples. If one has enough breast tissue and body fat, then the ripples or wrinkles are not visually apparent. Though on touch, one might be able to feel the wrinkle or ripple... more
Andrew Y. Kleinman, MD
Westchester Plastic Surgeon
+1

Saline breast implants above the muscle generally not recommended

I generally do not recommend saline implants above the muscle. It may be acceptable if you have enough soft tissue coverage, but the risk of palpable implant edges and rippling of the implant is higher. There are pro's and con's to any approach and breast augmentation is not a "one size fits all" operation. I would ask your doctor about the options you have and then decide which approach is best. Good luck!
Dean Fardo, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Unfortunately the typical wrong question

Saline or silicone implants do not have a specific opr characteristic look when placed above or below the muscle. The look is a function of natural, intrinsic anatomy and the specific choice of implant relative to size, dimension, and style. The real question should be: what do you want your breasts to look like, and what are you willing to risk or accept to get that look? Saline implants can look very natural or very unnatural dependent on these variables. Your surgeon can go over the... more
Robin T.W. Yuan, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
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