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What is the Dual Plane Method for Breast Augmentation or Breast Implants?

asked 5 months ago by anon
Latest answer by Daniel P. Markmann, MD
Question viewed 344 times
Tags: dual plane, technique

I am doing homework, I see over the muscle (subglandular?) under the muscle (submuscular?) and was curious what the dual-plane is and when it is used. Thank you

20 answers to What is the Dual Plane Method for Breast Augmentation or Breast Implants?

Dual Plane Breast Augmentation

Different surgeons may apply the theory of the dual plane procedure in a variety of ways. Basically it refers to a technique that covers the top of the implant with the muscle and breast tissue and the bottom half of the implant just with breast tissue. After doing this for almost a decade, I find it gives a very natural and beautiful shape to the breast after a patient has had a pregnancy, allows a good placement of the implant behind a sllightly low nipple with no need for a breast lift,... more

Ronald V. DeMars, MD
Portland Plastic Surgeon

Breast Augmentation - Dual Plane

Most patients and even surgeons don't really know what is meant by " dual plane ". The simple way to think of it is yes, that implant is under the pectoral muscle up top and below the breast tissue on the bottom. Otherwise known as partially under the muscle. What is actually meant by " dual plane " is that in addition to making the pocket in this location dissection is also performed above the muscle. This plane of dissection is taken up for several... more

David E. Kim, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Dual Plane Breast Augmentation

The term “dual plane” is used to describe an operation when the implant is placed beneath the pectoralis major muscle superiorly but lies directly under the breast tissue inferiorly. This technique requires dissection in both planes and is best for thin patients with moderate amounts of ptosis (i.e. drooping of the breasts) that would be difficult to correct with subpectoral or subglandular implant placement alone.

Jaime Perez MD
Tampa Plastic Surgeon

"Plane" talk about breast implant placement

While we usually think of breast implants as going either under or over the muscle, is is a bit more complicated in reality. In order to make room for an implant under the pectoral muscle, it is partly cut where it attaches to the rib cage. The muscle then retracts upward, so only the upper part of the implant is covered, leaving the lower and lateral parts under the breast. So two planes, hence dual plane. But there are problems that can develop from the way the muscle is cut, known as... more

Richard Baxter, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

"Dual Plane” Breast Augmentation?

Thank you for the question. Dual plane breast augmentation refers to the technique where breast implants are placed under the muscle superiorly and in the sub glandular position inferiorly. I think this is the best way to go for most patients. On the one hand, patients benefit from the sub muscular position with increased tissue coverage of the breast implant, less chance of encapsulation, less potential for rippling/palpability of the implants and less interference... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

What is a Dual-Plane Technique in Breast Augmentation?

The dual-plane technique is a relatively new technique that places the breast implant under the pectoralis muscle and then releases the breast from the upper surface of the muscle allowing the breast to "rise over" the mound of the implant. In breasts where the nipple is slightly below the ideal level, the dual-plane technique may obtain a more aesthetic appearance that a standard "under the muscle technique" cannot alone achieve. There are many different... more

Herluf G. Lund, Jr, MD
Saint Louis Plastic Surgeon

What is the dual plane method for breast Augmentation?

We commonly choose to place the implant under the pectoralis muscle in order to provide more coverage over the upper portion of the implant and hide potential implant edges and wrinkles from being visible. The pectoralis muscle does not extend all the way down to the inframammary crease, where the bottom of the implant rests. Therefore, the muscle may only cover the upper 2/3 to 3/4 of the implant, depending on your anatomy, but this is where the extra coverage is most important.... more

Robert M. Grenley, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

www.seattleplasticsurgery.com

Dual plane breast augmentation is a submuscular one

Dual plane and submuscular are two terms for the same operation in most surgeons hands. Some use the dual plane term to sound fancy and modern but this has been around for a long time and is the best way to do it in my opinion.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Breast Augmentation

The "dual-plane" technique of breast augmentation is often used to allow for greater expansion of the lower part of the breast while still maintaining upper implant coverage with the pectoralis major muscle. The reason we began to use the sub-muscular plane for placement of implants was in reaction to firmer, "round" appearing saline implants, as the muscle helped to blend in the upper part of the breast implant, particularly in women after breast feeding. We have... more

Douglas Leppink, M.D.
Grand Rapids Plastic Surgeon

Dual Plane Breast Implants

With dual plane breast implants, the implant is still placed under the muscle. However, the breast tissue is partially divided from the muscle in the lower part of the breast to help give a more natural shape. This is not require in all patients but is a useful technique when required. If you post pictures, we may be able to give you more specific advice. Good Luck.

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.ShaferPlasticSurgery.com

Dual plane breast augmentation

Thank you for your question, and I'm glad you are doing your homework about the procedure you are interested in. Dual plane implant placement is a partial submuscular and partial subglandular position. Thyis is the technique I use in 85% of my patients.

George Marosan, MD
Bellevue Plastic Surgeon

www.bellevueplasticsurgeons.com

The Dual Plane Breast Augmentation..... What is it Really?

This term is often misused and misunderstood! This term can be used referring to a position or a technique. It is often used interchangeably with the term subpectoral or partially submuscular, but this term also refers to a procedure. The true definition of the procedure, Dual Plane of Dissection was given by Dr David Kim from Beverly Hills, originally described by Dr Tebbetts. So, if you are slightly droopy and your surgeon suggested a Dual Plane... more

Daniel P. Markmann, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

DiscoverTheBeauty.com

For most surgeons, Dual Plane Breast Augmentation is the same as submuscular

Hi there, In the vast majority of practices, the terms submuscular and dual plane are interchangeable. As my colleagues below have said, this means the top of the implant is under your chest muscle, and the bottom under breast tissue. The real variability is what (if anything) is done to your muscle to create the best shape for you. Be careful not to allow yourself to believe that as long as the right words are used you are getting the same procedure in different offices... more

Armando Soto, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

Dual Plane Method for Breast Augmentation or Breast Implants

The Dual Plane breast augmentation involves having the implant partly covered by muscle on the top half of the implant and under the breast tissue at the bottom half of the implant. For this technique, the muscle has to be divided carefully to prevent the implant settling into the wrong plane. If you have not already done so, see two or more board-certified plastic surgeons in your area who are experienced in breast augmentation for a full evaluation to make sure you are a good... more

J. Jason Wendel, MD
Nashville Plastic Surgeon

www.mc.vanderbilt.edu

Dual plane augmentation

Funny, the term was coined by a surgeon a few years ago, but I performed the majority of my breast augmentation surgeries using this method for years. It has to do with developing a submuscular pocket and depending upon the patient's anatomy, releasing the overlying soft tissue in different increments to adjust the shape of the breast overlying the implant.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Dual Plane Breast Augmentation

There are three methods of breast augmentation. The first is sub-glandular which is above the muscle completely. The second is sub-muscular which is below the muscle completely. The third is below the pectoral muscle for the superior portion of the implant and above the muscle ( rectus) at the bottom of the implant..

Jay M. Pensler, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Dual plane breast augmentation

Dual plane breast augmentation refers to the fact that a submuscular implant is only covered by muscle in the upper half, and the lower half of the implant is covered by the breast tissue only. The anatomy is such that the chest muscle just does not reach the bottom of the breast. So under the muscle above, under the gland below, or dual plane is the norm. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd.com

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

www.peterejohnsonmd.com

Dual Plane Placement

Dual Plane simply means that the top half of the implant is covered by muscle and the lower half is under skin and tissue. This is a great technique for patients who are thin on top of the chest but actually have a bit of breast tissue that sits slightly low. I offer all three options in my practice as each and every patients breasts are unique.

Jeffrey Hartog, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

Dual Plane breast augmentation

Good to see you are doing your homework. There are 4 positions surgeons will use to place breast implants. The original operation used silicone implants above the muscle or immediately beneath the breast. This technique has a higher rate of a complication called capsular contracture than then next technique which places implants completely under the muscle. Although the capsular contracture rate went down when implants were under the muscle, there can be movement of the breast with... more

Robert W. Kessler, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Breast augmentation with the dual plane technique

The "Dual Plane" location/technique refers to the location of the breast implant with respect to the pectoralis major muscle and the soft tissue of the breast (parenchyma). The upper portion of the implant is covered by muscle and breast tissue (this is one "plane" or location), while the lower portion of the implant is covered by breast tissue only (the second "plane" or position). Together, these two implant locations are referred... more