One of the most popular procedures that many women seek is breast augmentation, also known as augmentation mammaplasty. It is a transformative breast surgery that can enhance your feminine features and create a shapely silhouette. If you’re desiring a more defined breast shape, increased breast size, or restoring volume loss after pregnancy, then Le Contour Aesthetic Surgery can offer the breast enhancement you’re looking for.
When planning breast augmentation, choosing between saline or silicone implants is only a part of the process. Where the breast implant is placed can also influence your results. Two common options are placing implants under the chest muscle or over it. Understanding how these types of breast augmentation techniques differ can help you have a more informed conversation with Dr. Gonzalez.
What Is the Difference Between Under the Muscle and Over the Muscle Breast Implants?
The key distinction between placing breast implants under the muscle versus over the muscle is where the implants sit relative to the chest muscle.
Submuscular placement (under the muscle) means the breast implant sits beneath the pectoral muscle.
Subglandular placement (over the muscle) means the breast implant sits directly on top of the pectoral muscle and beneath your natural breast tissue and skin.
Breast implant placement affects how much tissue covers the implant, how the breasts may look and move, and certain aspects of recovery. Each approach has its own benefits, but the right option depends on your anatomy, lifestyle, and cosmetic goals.
Benefits of Under the Muscle Breast Implants
Under the muscle placement adds an extra layer of tissue between the breast implant and the skin. Potential benefits include:
- A more natural appearance: This technique achieves a softer, more gradual transition between the upper breast and chest wall.
- Less visible rippling: The additional tissue coverage can help camouflage visible edges and surface wrinkles of the implant, which is particularly beneficial for women with slender frames and minimal natural breast tissue.
- Lower risk of capsular contracture: Compared with over the muscle placement, submuscular placement has a lower risk of capsular contracture, when scar tissue hardens around the implant.
- Better camouflage in thinner patients: For women with thinner tissue, placement under the muscle can create a smoother look that ages more gracefully than over the muscle implants, which may become easier to see over time as tissues stretch and thin.
At Le Contour Aesthetic Surgery, Dr. Gonzalez prefers under the muscle breast implant placement because it provides a natural look and feel.
Benefits of Over the Muscle Breast Implants
Patients with enough natural breast tissue to cover the implant may benefit from over the muscle placement. Other potential benefits include:
- Less disruption to the chest muscle: The pectoral muscle does not need to be lifted to accommodate the implant.
- Potentially easier initial recovery: Patients may experience less muscle-related discomfort during early recovery, as the pectoral muscle is not manipulated during subglandular placement.
- No animation deformity: Because the breast implant sits above the pectoral muscle, it is also autonomous. Thus, flexing the chest or lifting heavy items won’t alter the implant.
- Appearance and shape: Over the muscle placement also enhances cleavage and creates a rounder upper-pole breast contour.
Patients with thinner breast tissue may be more likely to have visible implant edges or rippling.
Under the Muscle vs Over the Muscle: Which Is Right for Me?
No single breast implant placement is right for every patient. While Dr. Gonzalez generally prefers under the muscle placement, he will consider your individual anatomy, implant choice, and aesthetic goals when developing your breast augmentation plan.
Factors that influence implant placement include:
- The amount of existing breast tissue
- Skin quality
- Breast and chest wall anatomy
- Implant size and shape
- The degree of breast enlargement you want
- Your desired breast shape and overall appearance
- Your lifestyle
If you’re combining breast augmentation with a breast lift, Dr. Gonzalez will also consider how the implant placement works with the reshaped breast tissue and skin. The degree of sagging, available tissue coverage, implant size, and desired breast shape can all influence your surgical plan.
Want to Know More About Your Breast Augmentation Options in Orlando, FL?
Choosing the right implant placement is an important part of creating breast augmentation results that complement your body and natural features. Dr. Jorge Gonzalez is a board-certified plastic surgeon by the American Board of Plastic Surgery with more than 27 years of experience. He combines extensive surgical expertise with a personalized approach to care. He takes the time to understand each patient’s goals and develop an individualized surgical plan focused on safety, comfort, and natural-looking results.
Schedule a consultation at Le Contour Aesthetic Surgery by calling (407) 447-1628 or filling out our online contact form today!
