Diagram of the under the muscle breast implant placement.
What Are the Benefits of Going Below the Muscle?
The benefits of going below the muscle are that the muscle acts as an extra layer of tissue camouflage for the breast implants, especially in the upper half of the breast. It minimizes the “fake” look by masking the edges of the implant better. In some studies, they report less incidence of capsular contracture, although that is becoming another topic of debate as well.
Breast implant surgeon Jonathan Dang, MD holding the largest and smallest breast implants.
What Are the Downsides of Going Below the Muscle?
The recovery from going under the muscle is slightly longer. As you can imagine, the pec muscle is fairly large, so you will feel the tightness and soreness for a longer period of time as it takes time to relax. The amount of cleavage is limited by where the muscle fibers insert on your sternum. For some patients, their muscle fibers insert far apart, so the amount of cleavage is limited. Animation deformity is another potential downside, as some patients report not liking the implants moving each time the pec muscles are contracted.
Considering Breast Implant Placement Options? Your implant placement can affect your recovery and final results. Schedule a consultation to discuss which approach may be right for you.
Breast surgeon Aldo Guerra, MD, FACS with three different sizes of breast implants.
Diagram of the above-the-muscle breast implant placement.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Above-the-Muscle Placement?
For me, the number one priority is having thick enough skin at the top half of your breast that can mask the edges of the breast implant. If that’s the case, going above the muscle means a much quicker recovery; your pec muscles are left completely alone, there is no animation deformity, and more cleavage can be obtained without being limited by muscle insertion. In my practice, I do about 80–85% under the muscle, or what we call “dual plane.” This is because most of my patients have had kids, breastfed, or gone through weight fluctuations where the skin in the upper half of the breast has thinned out or become too elastic. Like most things in plastic surgery, choose a board-certified plastic surgeon not based on a specific technique they do, but on the ability to produce good, consistent breast surgery results over a long period of time.
Find the Right Implant Placement for You. Your anatomy, skin thickness, and aesthetic goals all play a role in choosing implant placement. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Dang or Dr. Guerra to explore your options.
Patient Reviews
Daniela on Google
I had an amazing experience with Dr. Guerra! From start to finish, he and his team were absolutely incredible so professional, kind, and attentive. Dr. Guerra explained everything clearly at every visit and made sure I felt informed and comfortable throughout the entire process. I just had my 2.5 month check-up and I am beyond happy with my results. My results look amazing! I truly couldn’t be happier and highly recommend him.
AJ on yelp
Great doctors are hard to come by, and Dr Dang is one of them I’m so surprised he called ona Saturday to check in on me make sure I am doing alright after my surgery on Friday. You can tell he really cares. He’s very compassionate and soft spoken and tells you what you need to know and answers all your questions. He’s very gentle and just all around a great doctor!!!! I hope more people tell him how much they appreciate Dr dang. Thank you again.
Breast Implant Surgeons in Scottsdale Dr. Dang and Dr. Guerra.
Need help choosing which breast implant placement technique is right for you?
Contact us today for a personal consultation at Guerra Plastic Surgery Center. We specialize in breast implants in Scottsdale, Arizona. Call (480) 568-2523 or schedule your breast implant consultation online today.
