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Can Under the Muscle Implants Be Moved to Over?

asked 3 years ago by jodieQ in NS, CAN
Latest answer by Chad K. Wheeler, MD
Question viewed 19,873 times
Tags: under muscle, 1 year post-op, 400-449cc, position

I am 5'8" in height and weighing 138 lbs. I'm in good shape--I jog, do push ups, and light weights. I've nursed 3 children for the last 5 years. I have 425 cc implants placed partially submuscular a year ago. The slightest flex of chest muscle makes my breasts appear unnatural. It makes the implants move upward while the bottom part ripples out. It's becoming more obvious over time. Overall, my breasts look natural and pleasant the muscle is relaxed. But to keep this from worsening, can one go from under the muscle implants to over?

13 answers to Can Under the Muscle Implants Be Moved to Over?

Animation Deformity and moving implants from under muscle to over muscle

Yes you can move the implants from under the muscle to over the muscle, and yes, this could help your problem, but it's not usually that simple. You have what is called "animation deformity". It is not really a deformity but results from the contraction of your Pectoralis Major muscle which elevates the muscle and breast tissue on top of the implant when you contract the muscle. This might be more noticeable for you as you sound like you are athletic. Placing the implant on... more

Braden Stridde, MD
Federal Way Plastic Surgeon

Breast Implants and Muscle Distortion

Thank you for the question. Yes it is possible to move the implants from the sub muscular to the sub glandular position. However, there are many potential downsides to having implants in the subglandular position. These include potential for rippling/palpability of the implants, increased rates of encapsulation, and increased interference with mammography. The better option may be to attempt to release the muscle attachments inferiorly. This... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Moving Breast Implants Under Muscle to Over is Risky

Thank you for your question. It is technically possible to move under the muscle breast implants to over the muscle. But it is a difficult procedure because the breast tissue and skin over the muscle have been stretched and are thinner. Dissecting the overlying breast tissue can be difficult and if any breast tissue is damaged it can cause a visible deformity. Personally I would not recommend moving your implants because Risk of contour deformity or rippling in overlying breast... more

Brooke R. Seckel, MD
Boston Plastic Surgeon

Move breast implants from under muscle to over?

Yes, you can have your implants from under the mucle to over the muscle. This is the only way to totally rid the breast of distortion with muscle contractions. The drawback is that, if your breast tissue is thin in the upper portion of your breasts, you may see a more prominent upper edge of the implant, and if thin enough, may even see some breast implant wrinkling in some positions. Saline implants require more tissue thickness to hide edges and wrinkles, silicone gel implants... more

Robert M. Grenley, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

www.seattleplasticsurgery.com

As with everything, there is a trade off.

The simple answer to your question is yes. It is relatively easy to change the position of your implants to subglandular. This should diminish or stop the distortion you are experiencing with muscle contraction. The more involved answer is not so simple. There may have been a good reason why your surgeon placed the implants under the muscle. Maybe he/ she thought that your soft tissue layer was too thin and by placing the implants on top you may have been more prone to seeing... more

Leslie H. Stevens, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Implants can be moved from under to over the muscle

Placing an implant under the muscle puts it at risk for an animation deformity but the increased soft tissue coverage makes rippling less of a problem. I like a muscle split operation which gives you the best of both worlds, increased upper pole coverage and minimal animation deformity. Some one with animation deformity can have the implants swapped to a sub glandular position. There is more restrictions during the recovery. The surgery has to get the muscle to lay... more

Chad K. Wheeler, MD
Spokane Plastic Surgeon

Elevation of subpectoral breast implants

Absolutely! There have been many situations in which a very active subpectoral implant placement can lead to a distortion in the appearance of the implant, with significant elevation with each contracture of the muscle. This can be seen in very muscular individuals or very physically active patients. In cases such as these the implants could be positioned in a submammary or subfascial position. Your Plastic Surgeon should be able to appropriately... more

Francis (Frank) William Rieger, MD
Tampa Plastic Surgeon

Correction of animation deformity from under muscle breast implants

The pictures you have posted show a very typical situation that occurs with breast implants under the muscle using the dual-plane technique. What happens is that the portion of the pectoral muscle that attaches to the ribs is cut, and the cut edge heals into the scar capsule as it develops. You can see right where this is by the pulling there when you flex. It can be corrected by converting to a split muscle technique that preserves muscle coverage over the upper portion of the breast... more

Richard Baxter, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Repositioning to Breast Implants to above the muscle

Yes you can move breast implants from under the muscle to over the muscle or vice versa. You have two options to correct the deformity you describe: 1. You can change the position of the implants from under the muscle to over the muscle. This would correct the animation deformity you have with muscle contraction. The downside is that the entire weight of the implant would be placed on the breast gland and skin, which can cause thinning of your breast tissue and accelerate the effect... more

Ankit Desai, MD
Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon

Repositioning Breast Implants

Implants can easily be moved from a submuscular position to a subglandular one, usually through the same incision. If capsular contracture has occurred, removal of the scarred capsule can be performed at the same time. This would alleviate the breast distortion that you are experiencing.

Jeffrey Weinzweig, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Yes, the implants can be repositioned

Yes, it is possible to reposition the implants over the muscle. In your relaxed state, the implants look great. In the contracted state, it appears that the muscle is pulling the skin and making an unaesthetic fold. You really have two options. First, your surgeon can try to disrupt the muscle attachments that are pulling the skin. Second, your surgeon can move the implants to the subglandular (above the muscle) position. Good luck.

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

A true dilemma

Jodie, This is very unfortunate because you look so fantastic in the relaxed state. It appears that the muscle has scarred to the skin over your breasts causing, not the implants, but the breast tissue itself to be pulled up resulting in what we know as the "double bubble" effect. Correction would involve releasing the muscle from the skin and possibly inserting a layer of material to prevent a recurrence or perhaps moving the implants to a position over the muscle. The kicker... more

Kenneth R. Francis, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast implants can be moved from under to over the muscle

Breast implants can indeed be moved from under the chest muscle into a subglandular location and from the procedural standpoint it is easily done. You do have to keep in mind that currently you have a very pretty augmentation, and keep in mind why the implants were placed under the muscle in the first place. Submuscular augmentation provides coverage for the upper edge of the implant which will withstand thinning over time, many years. A subglandular implant will tend to round up over... more