Is it harder to remove breast implants under muscle?

Question

i saw many picturs about breast implants removed and i noted that after implant removed breast results better when implants are over muscle then unders...am i wrong?i have implant unders and i want them out

Thomas Fiala, MD, FACS, FRCSC · Answer

From a technical point of view, both "overs" and "unders" are about the same difficulty to remove, in an uncomplicated case.  "Overs" tend to have more association with capsule formation and tissue stretch to deal with, though.

George Bitar, MD · Answer

You are correct that removal is slightly more tedious if the pocket is submuscular.  Results can be comparable with both procedures.

Richard H. Fryer, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  No it is not necessarily harder to remove the implants under the muscle.  The procedure should not be as painful as the original augmentation was for you, unless you have a lot of scar tissue in the breast pocket that needs to be removed.  In that case you have may some more pain involved in the recovery process when removing a lot of scar tissue.Good luck.

Payman Danielpour, MD, FACS · Answer

No.  It does not make a difference whether the implants are under or over the muscle when they are being removed.  It is relatively a straight forward and very easy operation for the patient.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question. I do not think that removal of breast implants placed under or over the  pectorals major muscle is easier either way. Generally speaking, it is a relatively straightforward procedure associated with a relatively well-tolerated recovery. You may find the attached link, dedicated to breast implant removal surgery concerns, helpful to you as you learn more. Best wishes.

Is it harder to remove breast implants under muscle?

Answers (5)