With the increased interest women are having in pursuing a breast augmentation, there are several important aspects to discuss with your board certified plastic surgeon before moving on with surgery. It is not as simple as just dropping in a couple of implants and calling it a day, you have several different choices available to you! After all, it is your body so you should be able to customize it the way that you want. One thing to consider about breast implants is: should the implants be placed over or under the pectoral muscle? On Top of the Muscle Subglandular placement is the more common of the two different methods. With subglandular placement, the breast implant is placed beneath the breast tissue and over the pectoral muscle. The Advantages: When the implant is placed above the muscle, there will be less trauma to the breast tissue which will result in a shorter and more comfortable recovery period. This placement also allows for larger implants and in some situations, a slight lift may even be achieved when the implant sits above the muscle. The Disadvantages: Some may feel that the results are slightly less natural because when the implant is placed closer to the skin’s surface, the look and feel of the implant may be a little more noticeable. Silicone gel implants are often used in this placement because they provide a more natural look and feel and are less likely to cause rippling or folding. Under the Muscle Submuscular placement, when the implant is placed under the tissue and the pectoral muscle, has been gaining popularity because of its natural looking results. The Advantages: With the breast implant more covered than in subglandular placement, the breasts appear more natural and are less vulnerable to rippling or folding of the implant. The Disadvantages: Recovery time will typically take longer as you will have to allow time for your muscle tissue to heal as well. Also, larger implants may not be effective with this placement. Making a Decision So will it be over or under? The choice is really up to you. Breast augmentations have been the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure in the United State and are known for their high satisfaction rating. If you feel like you can benefit from getting breast implants, talk to your board certified plastic surgeon about how you can achieve the results that you desire.
