Can Galaflex be placed over the muscle?

Hello. It can as it is often used as soft tissue support. Nonetheless, it really depends on why you are using it, how much breast tissue you have, etc. Galaflex can be awfully stiff and when placed in the wrong thin patient, they may be actually able to feel the mesh which is less than optimal. Good luck!

Yes, GalaFLEX can be used in selected breast surgery cases when the implant pocket is over the muscle, but the exact placement depends on the goal of the operation. It is usually used as an internal support scaffold to reinforce weak tissue, help support the lower pole, or improve pocket control. It is not simply placed “over the muscle” in every case; it has to be secured in the correct tissue plane and designed around the implant position, breast tissue thickness, and whether a lift is being done.

The main questions are whether you actually need added internal support and whether your soft tissue coverage is thick enough. Potential downsides include added cost, longer surgery, infection risk, palpability or visible edges in thin tissue, and it does not replace a lift when significant sagging is present. A board-certified plastic surgeon can tell you whether mesh support is helpful for your anatomy or whether implant choice, pocket control, and/or a lift would be more important.

Dear BCollins2109,
yes, generally speaking, it is possible to use Galaflex mash over the muscle. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination, you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Yes, most be attach to the muscle to work properly, could be under or above the muscle depending of what your doctor want to achieve whit the mesh

Thanks for your question!
Yes, Galaflex and other dissolvable meshes are commonly used for supporting implants placed in all planes. These planes include submuscular (beneath muscle), subfascial (above muscle, below fascia) or subglandular (above muscle, above fascia). These meshes are a valuable tool for breast augmentation and augmentation revision. They help maintain the implant's position on the chest wall and can increase the longevity of the result and avoid malposition as the soft tissues are healing.

Yes, mesh can be placed over the muscle, however, support is usually needed for the lower half of the breast and muscle is in the upper portion. Usually mesh over the muscle is not helpful unless a specific problem, like a hernia torn through the muscle, is present.

Absolutely. I use soft tissue support in the majority of my cases, regardless of whether the implant is above or below the muscle. I would note that in my experience galaflex, especially 3D, has some risk of palpability and more firmness in very thin patients. I typically use OviTex or Durasorb in these patients.
Hope this helps!
Best wishes,

There are no direct country indications for how this mesh can be used. It’s primarily surgeons discretion.
For most breast augmentation, the lower pole of the implant pocket tends to not be covered by pectoralis muscle, even if the implant is sub pectoral. That sounds the placement of the mesh is fairly similar whether the implant was sub pectoral or sub glandular.
I suggest you talk to your provider if you have questions about upcoming procedures.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD