Subpectoral breast implant removal: What happens to the muscle that was cut?

I have read questions regarding breast augmentation and if you are unhappy with the results, you can always take them out. Of course, doctors warn the more your skin stretched the less youll look like your original self, but that they CAN return to normal. I however am wondering, if you get implants under the muscle and somehow or someday decided to remove them without replacement, what happens to the muscle that was cut to fit the implant underneath? Can that be fixed, or does it heal itself? Does the muscle disintegrate?

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7 answers to “Subpectoral breast implant removal:...”

A: Subpectoral breast augmentation

By Brent Moelleken, MD - Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

This is an excellent question, what happens to the pectoral muscle after breast augmentation What was done at the initial surgery will determine what happens after the surgery. If large implants were placed, the muscle is often separated from the breast bone (sternum), in order to produce more cleavage... more

A: Muscle function should not change

By Armando Soto, MD - Orlando Plastic Surgeon

Hi- I agree that larger implants and greater degrees of muscle dissection from the sternum increase the risk of muscular deformity with contraction, but this is something that generally is seen with the implants in place. If this occurred while your implants were in place, then you are likely to have the... more

A: This is a great question that deserves to be discussed at length with an experienced plastic surgeon

By Stephen A. Goldstein, MD - Denver Plastic Surgeon

Thank you for your great question? First allow me to say that it is imperative that you see a board certified plastic surgeon that is experienced in breast surgery. Your physical examination is essential in estimating what will happen to the pectoralis muscle and skin following implant removal. Other key... more

A: It depends on how the initial surgery is performed

By Richard P. Rand, MD - Seattle Plastic Surgeon

It is generally best to place implants in the subpectoral position because of better mammographic visualization of the breasts when compared to subglandular placement. They also look more natural and are less easy to feel because they are covered by more tissue. Finally, the capsular contracture rates seem... more

A: Very little

By Kenneth R. Francis, MD - Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Dear Mom, That is very well thought out question. By the time you would consider removing your implants, you would know what functional deficits you had incurred from the cutting of your pectoral muscles. From a cosmetic point of view, you probably would not see any difference. If you are a... more

A: Will not notice much after implant removal

By Bahram Ghaderi, MD - Chicago Plastic Surgeon

If you get to the point or age where you would just like to have your implants removed, the shape of your breasts with not be significantly distorted other than normal aging. That of course also depends on your pre-augmentation breast size and how large your implants are. These few points of discussion with... more

A: Leave the breast muscle alone!

By Robert M. Freund, MD - New York City Plastic Surgeon

Depending on how the implants were placed, it is extremely likely that the muscle has contracted and changed shape according to the type of cutting that the doctor performed to put the implants behind the muscle. There is no good way to correct this. Just forget about it and enjoy your body without the implants.

Comments

angela kaip
unregistered guest

1 Apr 2009

i am wondering who will pay for the my ruptured implants to be removed

Kate-o
1 post
20 Jul 2009

As a woman who had sub-muscular implants and explanted two years ago, yes, you can have muscle distortion after explant. I do. No one warned me about it prior to implanting, and apparently, there is no fix for this issue. My right breast muscle pulls away from my sternum at an angle for about halfway up my breast area when I flex. My implants were only 360 cc, not really large by today's standards. However, I was very small prior to having implants, which is why I got them. Women should seriously consider this complication before having this surgery. Implants are not real breast nor do they feel normal. They were fun for awhile, tho.

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