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Why Don't All Surgeons Offer Dual Plane Placement of the Breast Implants?

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dual plane pros and cons

17 Doctor Answers | Asked by dwmensik in dallas tx usa

Doctor Answers (17)
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A patient really can't differentiate between the procedures

Despite all the information available on the internet, it really isn't a good idea for a patient to become fixated on a "named" operation. There are many ways to do an excellent breast augmentation, facelift, tummy tuck etc. No one procedure is right for every patient. What you should focus on is finding the best surgeon who can offer multiple ways of doing a procedure and can help determine what version is going to give you your own best result.

Dual plane breast augmentation offers many advantages and few risks

Honestly, I think most doctors who do breast augmentation do the dual plane procedure, and always have, but have never called it dual plane. In other words, dual plane augmentation mammaplasty is primarily a marketing term. The standard modern teaching and text books all recommend that the lower insertions of the pectoralis muscle be detached to allow the bottom of the implant to be in the subcutaneous or subglandular position, and the upper pole to be beneath the muscle. This does allow an... more

We do--we just don't don't "advertise" it!

It is quite frustrating that common surgical procedures can become marketing terms, making the non-physician believe they are something new and essential. Dual plane augmentations have been done for a long time. We just didn't know the technique was a nuance the patient actually needed to know about---it's kind of like wanting to know what kind of knot your surgeon chooses to tie her suture. It doesn't make a difference to you regarding your final result,... more

Carmen Kavali, MD

11 reviews

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Dual Plane Breast Aug Technique is not "new"-only the terms are "new"

Most plastic surgeons that have a large practice with a diverse experience in cosmetic breast surgery, i.e., breast augmentation,breast lift, breast augmentation with simultaneous breast lift, and breast reduction, are well trained in dual plane surgery of the breast. The term "Dual Plane" is much newer than the actual techniques, and was recently "coined", but truly, most plastic surgeons are quite familiar and practice this technique. When patients ask me this... more

This is a matter of semantics and less technique

So first let's answer what a "dual plane" augmentation is. This is a fancy term for a standard submuscular agumentation. The pectoralis muscle does not cover the entire implant and the lower half to third is under the skin. that is all that a dual plane is. I like to assess the patient and see what would look best in them and then where should the implant go. With the silicone implants back on the market, I have been happiest with sub-glandular silicone - especially if the patient... more

Dual Plane

Let me clarify some terminology that many plastic surgeons themselves misuse. Submuscular = the implant is COMPLETELY under the muscle with no release of the muscle (rarely done). Subpectoral = the implant is placed under the pectoralis major muscle, with the inferior edge of the muscle released so that the lower portion of the implant is covered by gland. This is what most people refer to as "submuscular"; however, they are technically incorrect. A classical subpectoral... more

What dual plane really means - Breast Augmentation

Problem is most patients and surgeons don't really know what the term dual plane means. As I mentioned in another post , a pocket is created beneath the pectoralis muscle , the muscle covers the top part of the implant and the bottom half of the implant is covered by your breast. Then there is an additional plane of dissection above the muscle for several centimeters. Thus " dual plane ". This procedure has been described to be used in patients that have somewhat... more

Dual plane breast augmentation is nothing special.

Breast implant placement is a decision based on the anatomy of the patient, the type of implant chosen, and the biases of the surgeon. "Dual plane" may sound like some procedure that has just emerged by it descibes only a very common type of augmentation. Your surgeon should be able to perform all types of breast augmentation and have a good reason for recommending one over the other.

Dual plane breast augmentation

Funny, I was doing dual plane breast augmentation before it was named such. There really is no one right way of doing it. Some go over the muscle, some go under, some release the gland from the underlying muscle a bit to go under, etc..

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

If you're searching for a specific technique, you may be looking at the wrong factors

Dwmensik, Your question is simple and many other surgeons have posted an answer. I think most surgeons in practice do such a procedure, with variations. The use of "dual plane" placement of breast implants is not as important a decision as many, many other factors that a patient and surgeon should discuss during the consultation process. If you are searching for a specific technique, you may be looking at the wrong factors. Seek an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon... more

Good breast augmentation results can be obtained with different techniques

There are different ways to approach problems in plastic surgery and get good results. That is one reason it's a fun specialty. Although I like the dual plane approach for many patients, other plastic surgeons may not use it and also have very good outcomes. Don't let a surgeon convince you it's the only way to go.

Bruce K. Barach, MD

6 reviews

Schenectady Plastic Surgeon

drbarach.com

All breast surgeons should be offering this approach

I am surprised to hear you say that. Any Plastic Surgeon who performs Breast Augmentation with any frequency should be offering a Dual Plane approach when it is needed. Generally, this approach is used when the breast exhibits any element of sagging that needs to be corrected with the augmentation procedure. This approach would not be necessary if gel implants are being placed under the glandular tissue i.e. subglandular or subfascial.

Dual Plane breast implant placement depends on the surgeon

Dwmensik, There are several ways to do breast implants. Every year at every meeting all the experts fight/debate about the best way. There is no "best way" that fits every patients body. You should be more interested in a surgeon that will customize your surgery for your body. Good luck with your surgery.

Different answers to same problem

Hi there, While I cannot speak for all of the surgeons who do not perform the dual plane procedure (I do), I would say that the most likely reasons any particular surgeon does not offer this technique are because they either: Never learned the technique; and/or They are experienced in an alternative which gives them the results they want for their patients (in other words, if there is no problem in their outcomes, they may not feel it necessary to learn a new procedure). One of the... more

Every plastic surgeon offers a technique that works best in their hands.

I prefer to use a dual plane, partial retropectoral technique for most of my breast augmenation patients because, in my hands, I feel it offers the nicest, most natural results. I feel it offers benefits of both the submuscular technique and subglandular technique.

Most patients don't need Dual Plane breast augmentation

To dwmensik, Hi! I think many surgeons have no experience with the dual plane approach. I use it in selected patients and it's been very useful for them. On the other hand, you have to be careful of surgeons who will use anything with a new name as a marketing ploy.

Out of the ordinary

This is an uncommon request. I have been in practice for over 15 years, and no one has ever asked this question of me. Obviously, I have not performed one. I would speculate that the rarity of the request, coupled with the fact that the result will be a very large breast may make many doctors reluctant to take it on. Just my speculation.