What is the Difference Between over the Muscle and Under the Muscle Breast Implants?

asked 5 months ago by chelsey
Latest answer by J. Jason Wendel, MD
Question viewed 228 times
Tags: under muscle, comparison, over muscle, pros and cons

9 answers to What is the Difference Between over the Muscle and Under the Muscle Breast Implants?

Under muscle vs Over muscle

I would say that most plastic surgeons in the United States place breast implants below the muscle or submuscular. I favor this position as well in most cases. The muscle under the breast does not completely cover the implant. It covers the top half or maybe the top third of the breast implant in most cases. Some plastic surgeons refer to this position as partially submuscular, which is more accurate. In some cases, it is referred to as "dual plane" which is... more

Ralph R. Garramone, MD
Fort Myers Plastic Surgeon

Breast Implants over or under the Muscle?

The positioning of breast implants above or below the pickles muscle is a decision that will likely influence the outcome of surgery from most patients who undergo breast augmentation surgery. The submuscular positioning allows for more complete coverage of the breast implants leading to generally more natural feel/look of the implants in the long-term. This position will also decrease the potential for rippling and/or palpability of the implants (which may increase... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Difference between Over and Under the Muscle Breast Augmentation

No breast implants are perfect. A common weakness of ALL breast implants is their forming folds and rippling. To hide these ripples well, the woman's chosen implants are measured to be f a diameter which is covered by her current breast tissue. If this is ignored and an "A to a full D" augmentation is performed, ONLY the top of the impant is covered by breast tissue and te entire periphery and it's ripples are visible and palpable along the entire 360 degrees circumference... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Breast implants over or under the muscle

Thank you for your question. Breast implants under the muscle make it somewhat easier to get mammograms and have a slightly lower incidence of developing a hard scar. The muscle can also pad the implant in thin women to avoid severe rippling. Women who have enough of their own breast tissue may be a candidate for over the muscle because their own tissue will pad and cover the implant making it less noticable. Both techniques are acceptable but selecting the right technique for the... more

J. Jason Wendel, MD
Nashville Plastic Surgeon

www.mc.vanderbilt.edu

Breast Implants Over or Under the Muscle

Should breast implants go over the muscle or under the muscle - which is better? An implant placed above the muscle is referred to as 'sub-mammary' (or 'sub-glandular'), while an implant placed under the muscle is referred to as 'sub-pectoral' (or 'sub-muscular'). The muscle in question is the pectoralis major. The term 'sub-pectoral' or 'sub-muscular' is somewhat misleading, as implants placed under the pec major are only partially covered... more

Michael Law, MD
Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon

michaellawmd.com

What is the Diff Between over the Muscle & Under the Muscle Breast Implants?Answr

I usually tell my patients that under the muscle gives you a more "natural" look and over the muscle gives more of a "wow" look. Under seems to have less hardening issues but it does have the "Animation effect" where the bottom of your breast tightens with pec flexion. Here in the states we do mostly below and in Brazil mostly above. There are some cases that really do need above the muscle but they are not as common.

John J. Corey, MD
Phoenix Plastic Surgeon

Placement Of breast Implants Over/Under Muscle

I place almost all breast implants below the chest muscle as do most US plastic surgeons. This provides an extra layer of tissue to help prevent implant visability. There also seems to be a lower rate of capsular contracture when implants are placed below rather than above the muscle.

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Why a submuscular breast implant

It seems that the best place for an implant is within the breast itself, subglandular. Most breast implants are placed under the chest muscle (upper portion only) for two reasons. First, capsular contracture is much reduced by submuscular placement. Second, the upper edge is smoothed by the muscle and the implant edge and artifact such as ripple do not show through giving better coverage and a natural look. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd.com

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

www.peterejohnsonmd.com

Pocket position for implants

Some implants are placed above the muscle and under the gland. This is better in larger breasted women. Under the muscle in the majority are really dual plane meaning that the muscle is divided inferomedially and the implant is placed below the muscle superiorly but is only covered by the gland inferiorly. Uusaly this is better in thinner patients.