Breast Implants: Q&A

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Any Way to Tell Whether My Breasts Are Submuscular or Subpectoral Without an MRI?

12 years ago I had a breast augmentation with 450cc saline supposedly sub-pectoral. Well, the time has come that I need to upgrade them due to rippling. I have had consultations with 5 different plastic surgeons and 3 of them say that my implants are sub-muscular and 2 of them say they are sub-pectoral since they move slightly when I flex my chest. I can feel the bag through my breast tissue... Is there anyway to tell without an MRI?

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12 years post-op placement

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8 Doctor Answers | Asked by mystmoon in Florida

Doctor Answers (8)
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Implant positioning and feel.

Submuscular and subpectoral mean the same thing. There are several ways to tell - old operative reports, palpable implant in the upper pole (clinical exam), or an MRI. Submuscular implants will move more with activation of the pectoralis as the capsule is attached to this muscle. The bottom line is that it doesn't matter all that much for an exchange.

David Bogue, MD

6 reviews

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

www.drbogue.com

Implant exchange

It really is not that important.The best choice you are making is to go with silicone.This will make a big difference.

Implant Pocket Sub Muscular vs Sub Glandular

Your implants are sub muscular because 5 plastic surgeons out of 5 said they were sub muscular (because sub pectoral means sub muscular). To double check this, stand in front of the mirror, look at your breasts, place your hands on both hips and push inward towards the hips. If the breasts distort, especially rising up, than they are sub muscular. Changing your implants because of rippling is a great idea. Also, saline implants tend to leak, so... more

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Sub muscular or Sub glandular Breast Implants?

Thank you for the question. Sometimes, it can be difficult to determine whether breast implants have been placed in the sub muscular or sub glandular physician based on physical examination alone. Either way, your plastic surgeon will be able to determine the location of breast implants in the operating room. If at all possible, if your breast implants are found to be in the sub glandular position, they should be replaced in the sub muscular position ( dual plane) given... more

Submuscular implants?

If your implants move with flexion of the pec muscle it is likely that they are partially submuscular.

Steven Wallach, MD

13 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

How to tell if implants are under or over the muscle

If flexing your chest muscles distorts your breasts then chances are the implants are at least partially under the muscle. Look at the medial aspect of the breasts near the upper pole: that will be the location for maximum distortion with pectoralis muscle contraction.

Submuscular or Subpectoral??

I believe all 5 surgeons are saying the same thing. "Submuscular" means under the muscle, and the muscle under which we place the implant is the pectoralis major muscle. "Sub-pectoral" also means under the pectoralis muscle. Your surgeon should be able to tell with high reliability (though not 100%) whether the implant is above or below the muscle. A radiologist reading a mammogram can usually tell the implant position. At any rate, if you are going to have your implants... more

Changing from submuscular to subglandular breast implants

Chances are that both sets of doctors are correct. You may have a combination implant placement known as a dual plane, in which part of the implant is below and part above the pectoralis muscle. I would begin the consultation with the steps you can take to improve your breast implant aesthetics with regards to the current positioning.

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