During a breast augmentation procedure, a breast implant is placed behind the natural breast tissue, improving breast placement, size, and appearance. There are multiple options for the placement of the implant including submuscular, sub glandular, and partial submuscular.
Dr. Branman has provided many Little Rock, Arkansas women with the breasts they have always wanted and has guided women to the proper choice of breast implant placement. Although there are many different decisions that you must make when considering breast augmentation, the placement of the implant is one of the most important choices.
All of the breast implant placement options have their own advantages and disadvantages that must be appropriately weighed when deciding where your breast implant will be placed.
Over the Muscle
Placing the breast implant over the muscle, but beneath the breast tissue is the most common breast implant placement. In this method, the breast implant pocket is made just above the pectoral muscle.
By placing the breast implant above the muscle, a larger implant can be initially implanted because there is no muscle tissue limiting the size of the breast implant pocket. Also, the recovery time for breast augmentation where the breast implant is above the muscle is shorter because the surgery does not alter the muscle.
However, when breast implants are placed in the subglandular (above the muscle) position, the breasts may appear less natural because the transition from the chest to the breast is not as smooth. Also, the appearance of rippling and folding is more visible because less tissue covers the breast implant.
Under the Muscle
Submuscular placement of breast implants has become more popular as people have seen the aesthetically pleasing, natural results that can be obtained through this method.
When the breast implant is placed beneath the pectoral muscle, the muscle is cut and a breast implant pocket is made behind the muscle. It is believed that by placing the breast implant here, the chance of capsular contracture is lessened. The transition from the chest to the breast may also appear more natural, and the chance of visible rippling or folding is lessened because the muscle covers the implant.
The disadvantage of placing the breast implant behind the muscle is the extended recovery period necessary as the muscle tissue heals. Also, the size of the breast implant may be limited by this method.
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