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?

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16 Doctor Answers | Asked by brooklyn10 in New York, NY

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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

33 reviews

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

12 reviews

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

6 reviews

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

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

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

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

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.

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

18 reviews

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