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I am Thin but I Want Subglandular Implants. Is This a Bad Idea?

asked 1 year ago by brooklyn10 in New York, NY
Latest answer by Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Question viewed 1,105 times
Tags: silicone implant, bad, subglandular

I am very thin with little breast tissue, but desire subglandular silicone implants, mostly because I am afraid of the pain and object to the idea of cutting into my muscle. Is this a bad idea?

16 answers to I am Thin but I Want Subglandular Implants. Is This a Bad Idea?

Subglandular implants in a thin patient: Explaining why this is not a good idea

I offer patient's a simple analogy to illustrate what we mean: Q: If you take a baseball and you cover it with a silksheet, what will it look like? A: Like a baseball, you will even see the stitching. Q: Now if you take that same baseball and cover it with a comforter what will you see? A: It depends on how thick the comforter is but generally you will see a softly shaped lump. So now the question is what do you have on your chest, silk sheets or comforters? The... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Desire for subglandular implants

If you are very thin, you are probably better off having the implants placed in a biplanar pocket( partial submuscular). It will help minimize the risk of rippling in the upper portion of the breast.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Fear of submuscular implants

The key point to keep in mind is why you are having a breast augmentation. If you are not concerned about the visibility of the implant, the subglandular augmentation is fine. However, most women that I see are interested in a "natural" augmentation - larger breasts without the appearance that an implant is there. The pain and recovery associated with a submuscular implant placement may be longer but it is temporary. However, the visibility of the implant is a long term... more

David Bogue, MD
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

www.drbogue.com

Over the muscle concerns.

There are really great reasons to get breast implants over the muscle instead of under the muscle, but I have not noticed a big difference in the amount of pain the patient encounters. I would suggest Subglandular placement if you were a fitness professional or had another medical requirement. If you a fear of the actual incision you should talk that fear over with your plastic surgeon at your consultation. I usually choose to go under the muscle so it doesn’t interfere with the... more

Joseph G. Bauer, MD
Alpharetta Plastic Surgeon

Having Breast Implants placed Over the Muscle; Good OR Bad Idea?

Regarding: "I am Thin but I Want Subglandular Implants. Is This a Bad Idea? I am very thin with little breast tissue, but desire subglandular silicone implants, mostly because I am afraid of the pain and object to the idea of cutting into my muscle. Is this a bad idea?" Cosmetic Surgery, in general and Breast Augmentation, in particular, is not a binary choice (0 vs. 1, light vs. dark, yin vs. yang) or good vs. bad. Instead, it is a choice between compromises... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Its your body, its your decision

There is not a right or wrong answer for this question. You will find surgeons which will tell you that one or the other are best for you. My recommendation is to obtain several Board certified (by the American Board of Plastic surgery) surgeons consultations, before making a decision. Pain is something relative, some patients will have lots of pain, others will have none. Submuscular placement its more painful, however most patients (7 of 10) will be pain free in 10 days... more

Victor Manuel Perez, MD
Kansas City Plastic Surgeon

Re: Breast implant options for a very thin woman?

Since you are very thin with little breast tissue, it would be *a very bad idea* to have your implants placed in the sub glandular position. I have not performed a sub glandular augmentation in over a decade when the rational for it was volume replacement in a mildly ptotic breast. The evolution to a duel planar or biplanar approach has replaced the need for sub glandular augmentation. In your case, you are the least ideal candidate for a sub glandular augmentation, in that the transition... more

William F. DeLuca Jr, MD
Albany Plastic Surgeon

www.delucaplasticsurgery.com

Subglandular Implants in Thin Patients

You can certainly have implants placed in the subglandular position. However, if you are quite thin as you suggest, you must be willing to accept the "fake look" which is likely to occur in that situation. There is more pain with submuscular placement but most patients feel the improvement in the result is worth it.

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Thin patients and breast implant placement

Conventional wisdom states that if you want the most camoflouged edges to your implants and want to decrease the risk of capsular contrature then the implants should be placed under the muscle. This gives the maximal amount of tissue covering the implants. However, it is not a bad idea to place the implants in a subglandular position as long as you are willing to accept the trade offs. Silicone implants would be a better choice to minimize the risk of visible rippling... more

Jeffrey M. Darrow, MD
Boston Plastic Surgeon

How a subglandular implnat can become a bad idea

Breast implants were not always placed under the muscle, and even today perhaps one third are not. You are right in that the procedure takes a longer recovery, however submuscular implants are worth the effort for most because they dramatically reduce the 'show through' of the implant, and reduce the rate of capsular contracture as well. Only over time will you learn if the subglandular implant was a bad idea for you. A cohesive gel implant especially can look round... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

www.peterejohnsonmd.com

Above Muscle Placement of Breast Implant in Thin Person

I find no problem with a subglandular breast implant in a thin person. The conventional wisdom is that one wants as much coverage as possible. However, in a thin person, the muscle is also frequently thin. Placing an implant under it tends to make it even thinner. Therefore, in a year or so, there is no advantage. Also, when the implant is under the muscle, one tends to see the division between the implant and the breast tissue when the muscle contracts. To improve the long term aesthetics,... more

Robert T. Buchanan, MD
Highlands Plastic Surgeon

I am Thin but I Want Subglandular Implants. Is This a Bad Idea

Very hard to answer without a posted photo. Best to discuss with a boarded surgeon in person. Best of luck from MIAMI Dr. Darryl J. Blinski, 305 598 0091

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

In a thin woman usually under the muscle is better but under the breast can work with additional fat grafting

If there are good reasons for you to not want the implants under your muscles then you can have them put under the breast. Make sure you get cohesive gel implants and realize that there is a good chance of ripples or folds showing. These can be corrected with fat grafting to the areas to thicken the soft tissue coverage. This may be necessary more than once to get the final result you are looking for. If you are truly thin and still want the implants under the breast I would recommend going... more

Carl W. "Rick" Lentz III, MD
Daytona Beach Plastic Surgeon

Options for breast implant placement in thin women

Although the standard thinking about breast implant placement is limited to over or under, there are really 4 options. The traditional under muscle placement, called "dual plane," does involve cutting the muscle off of its attachment to the ribs, which can lead to a number of problems. Another option is a split-muscle technique, which preserves all of the muscle's natural attachments and function while covering the upper part of the implant where it is most beneficial.... more

Richard Baxter, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Above the muscle implants in thin people

It is in a thin person with minimal breast tissue where putting an implant above the muscle is an especially bad idea. You can do it but the result won't be as good as below the muscle.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Very thin, but want breast implants?

In general, the more coverage you can get over the implant, the better off you'll be. I would recommend that a thin woman with little breast tissue have her implants placed beneath the muscle. There should be less wrinking, rippling, and implant palpability with placement beneath the muscle. The muscle is not "cut through", as you indicate as one of your concerns. The implant is placed into a pocket created by lifting up the lower edge of the muscle. ... more