How can I really know my implant was placed under and not over the muscle? I can feel bumps that can move around?

Hi,No cause for alarm.  It is common to feel some irregularities of the saline implant edge, even is it is submuscular.  You can ask your doctor the next time you visit to actually feel and hold and implant, and you will see it is engineered to have some folds.  But, please talk to your doctor about the placement, since a submuscular implant usually has a part of the implant (the lower outside) that is NOT covered by muscle.  This is standard.  So discuss this part with your surgeon, but it sounds like his/her advice is right on target.  Also, if you are only two weeks postop, some shooting pains to the areola can be expected, so again, relax and enjoy the new you.  Good luck.

It is difficult to tell what you may be feeling without an exam.  If you place your hands on your hips and try to flex your chest muscle like a body builder, if the the implant moves then it is under the muscle.Earl Stephenson, Jr, MD, DDS, FACS

Your surgeon is the person to answer your question - not an online forum.  Assuming you chose a board certified plastic surgeon you should have confidence in your surgeon.

I think that your plastic surgeon, as opposed to online consultants, will be your best resource to answer questions precisely. He/she will be able to tell you whether breast implants were placed and what the “bumps” you are feeling are. Online consultants will not be able to do so. Generally speaking, if you place your hands on your hips and flex your pectoralis major muscles,  you will likely be able to see the breast implants move when they are under the pectoralis major muscle. At this point, I would suggest that you remain emotionally even keeled, continue to exercise patience, and continue to follow-up with your plastic surgeon.  Don't be surprise, despite the current emotional “ups and downs” if you are quite pleased with the outcome of the surgery performed several months from now. Best wishes.

The simplest way to tell if your implants are under the muscle is to flex your pectorals muscle and if your breasts seem to contract and move, it is most likely that the implants are under the muscle.  If your surgeon has told you that the implants are under the muscle, I have to say that I can't figure a reason that he or she would mislead you.  The bumps you are feeling are likely the implants, particularly if they are saline.  Saline implants do sometimes have rippling that can be felt below the tissue in thin people.  Also please remember that you are very early in the healing process- try to remain calm, discuss any concern with your surgeon, and I'll bet you are very happy after a few more months of healing and getting used to your new implants.

Thank you for your question.  Forceful contraction of your pectoralis muscle should obviously contract and push  or displacer implant  downward.  This can be done by cupping your hands  placing the heels of your hands together and pressing hard.  This maneuver typically causes the pectoralis muscle to contract and cause an obvious displacement and depression of the breast implants.