Does going under muscle make breast implants look smaller?

Hello,
I recommend if you like the look of 500cc to size up 25cc. Once the muscle is over the implant you do lose about 25cc.

Yes, placing breast implants under the chest muscle (submuscular placement) can make the implants appear slightly smaller compared to placing them above the muscle (subglandular placement).

This is because when the implant is placed under the muscle, there is an additional layer of tissue (the muscle) covering the implant which can compress and slightly flatten the implant, leading to a slightly smaller appearance. This effect can be more pronounced in certain positions or when the chest muscles are flexed.

However, the overall size of the implant will not change, and the difference in size between submuscular and subglandular placement is typically only a matter of a few millimeters.

The decision of whether to place the implant above or below the muscle will depend on several factors, including the patient's anatomy, the type of implant being used, and the goals of the procedure. It's important to discuss the pros and cons of each approach with your plastic surgeon to determine which option is best for you.

Best of luck !

When performing a submuscular breast augmentation, your chosen implant size will look slightly smaller after surgery. Therefore, I do recommend sizing up one size larger in your implants as that will compensate for the distance. Book a consult with a board certified plastic surgeon like myself to discuss the best treatment/surgical plan to achieve your desired results.

500 cc is quite a large implant. I would make sure that your surgeon fully explains the risk of using a very large implant in a breast augmentation. I would not recommend using an implant this large in a subfascial/subglandular pocket. I would not recommend an implant this large in general. I would go see a board-certified plastic surgeon (with 6 year integrated plastic surgery training and 1 year The Aesthetic Society accredited fellowship).

Hello, thank you for your question. We typically advise going up by 15-20cc when we have found the "right" size because the implant when placed under the muscle or the breast tissue may appear slightly smaller in the size visually compared when you are trying an implant on in the clinic. Of course this is a patient to patient base. Speak to your plastic surgeon about your options.

Dear fixmybewbies,
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.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Yes, you should size up a little bit if you like 'the look' of a certain implant above the muscle. The same implant will look a little bit smaller below the muscle than it will above the muscle.

The right question to ask in this setting is: how 'natural' do you want your implants to look? The sub-muscular plane provides the most harmonious and natural looking result. It is also the placement with the least risk of capsular contracture. Many patient's are focused on a number when often the best results happen when your surgeon understands your aesthetic goals and you select an implant and surgical plane together. hope this helps!

Implants placed under the muscle may look a little smaller versus those placed subglandularly. There are some benefits to going under the muscle such as disguising the upper portion of the implant and lower occurrence of capsular contracture. Your surgeon will advise you if it is recommended for you to increase your implant size further.

You still have the same volume if the implant is placed behind or in front of the muscle. Behind the muscle, you may have some upper implant compression, but you gain more upper breast fullness from the muscle. I would suggest reconsidering such a large implant. for most women, it is too large and heavy for their frame and tissue and will sag over time.