Is a mammogram less effective after 'under the muscle- breast implants'?

Implants, regardless of plane, should not necessarily impact the effectiveness of a mammogram. They have become so ubiquitous/common that most breast radiologists have grown increasingly comfortable evaluating films in their presence.That being said, a submuscular implant sits behind the breast mound. Thus, the impact on imaging is even further reduced. It should also be noted that, MRI (the most sensitive and specific breast imaging modality) is unaffected by implants.As always, discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).Donovan Rosas MD
Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
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Hi Abigrisk, Although a subpectoral implant would not obscure the view of the breast on a mammogram it is often more difficult obtaining good images after breast augmentation given the breasts can not be flatten in mammography. It is often recommended to use Ultrasound and/or MRI for screening if this is the case. You should discuss this with your doctor.

When placing  breast implants behind the chest muscle, the implant interferes less with your mammogram than in front of the muscle. With over 300,000 women having breast augmentations each year, most radiologists have experience reading these mammograms. Likewise, the placement does not interfere with a manual breast exam by you or your gynecologist.Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and AuthorRealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee

Thank you for sharing your question.  Additional views may be taken with any implant placement but if performed at a breast cancer speciality hospital, and read by dedicated breast radiologists, any benign micocalcs should be able to be followed.  If for some reason they can not, then MRIs would be the next course of action.

Dear Dreamingofchange31,
I almost always place implants submuscular. It lowers the rate of capsular contracture significantly. In addition, it looks much more natural because the muscle provides covering over the implant so its not as round on the top. I've also noticed the implants drop less over time when they are protected under the muscle. If the implants are placed under the muscle,they won't interfere with mammograms. 
Daniel Barrett, MD

Hello and thank you for your question. Advantages of 
submuscular placement of the implant is less likelihood for capsule formation,
more natural look and less rippling/implant visibility. As there is a
layer of muscle separating the implant from the breast tissue, there will also
be less interference with mammograms. 
Best
wishes and good luck,
Pejman
Aflaki, M.D. Johns Hopkins-trained double board-certified plastic surgeon

In the plastic surgery word there is no true consensus on the beast plane for placement of breast implants. There are advantages and disadvantages of all the different planes, which if you follow this forum you can read about. In my own practice I use the subglandular plane, subfascial plane and the biplanar (subpectoral) plane depending on each patient's individual factors. While some might argue that a subpectoral plane is better for visualization, I would recommend that when you do have your mammogram performed, if you live in a rural area that you go to a larger medical center where the radiologists have extensive experience reading mammograms of patients with breast implants and not let the positioning plane be part of the decision tree on which plane to place your implant. Best of luck.