does split-muscle implant placement give a more natural result?

The split muscle technique for breast implant placement is not really new. I have done more than 500 cases with this technique over the past 7 years, and Dr. Umar Khan in the UK has done a large number as well. It is designed to provide muscle coverage over the upper portion of the breast, where it is most advantageous, while minimizing the risk of what are called "animation deformities" that occur as a result of cutting the muscle as is  done with the traditional under-muscle technique. By cutting the muscle it heals into the scar capsule where it can exert traction when you flex your pectoral muscle. You will see this as a band pulling upward across the lower portion of the breast. With the muscle splitting method, the attachments are left intact so this effect is prevented.

Thank you for the question.

I would suggest that when you do your due diligence and plastic surgeon selection  you choose a surgeon who can show you significant experience achieving the results you are looking for. This method of research,  as opposed to trying to pick the technique that would work best for you,  is most likely to be successful  and  maximize the chances that you will achieve the results you're looking for.

Best wishes.

The easiest reply to this is- It all depends on what you consider a "natural result".  Placement of the implant under the muscle gives additional upper half fullness due to the thickness of the muscle.  A natural breast has tissue over the muscle not under.  Because breast surgery is a personal choice, showing your surgeon a picture of what you would like your breasts to look like will help to give you the look you want.

Dear suziesuzie,

This is not a technique that I use, although I have seen results using this technique and they have been good.  The problem that I have with it, is that the results that I have seen have been on patients who have a reasonable amount of breast tissue already - the sort of patient that I would do a subglandular placement of the implant. 

In my practice, I use the submuscular placement for people who have little breast tissue.  My worry with the split muscle placement is that, if used on patients with little breast tissue, there may be a ridge half way up the breast where the muscle split has been performed.  I am sure that the procedure is safe, but if you have concerns, it may be worth getting a second opinion.

Every few months someone comes up with a new name for the same operations.  However it is done, the implant is placed in  a full muscle coverage or partial muscle coverage.