Advantages And Disadvantages Of Subpectoral Breast Implant Placement
By: Dr. Sean Younai
The main advantages of submuscular or Subpectoral implant placement as compared to subglandular placement are:
1. Lower Risk of Capsular Contracture: (3% vs. 30%) The body builds a scar capsule around any foreign material including a breast implant. This capsule is usually very thin and soft in the submuscular/subpectoral pocket. On the other hand this capsule can become very hard and thick in the subglandular pocket causing the implants to become very hard and spherical. In severe cases, this can cause much pain and deformity, requiring removal of the implant from the subglandular pocket and placing them in the subpectoral/submuscular pocket.
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2. Less Sagging of Breasts: The Pectoralis Muscle tends to hold the breast implants up and prevents them from sagging.
3. Less Visible or Palpable Rippling: Although all saline implants do ripple, their placement under the muscle will better camouflage them.
4. Better protection of the Implants: In case of the need to perform breast biopsy or surgery on the breasts.
5. More Natural Shape: Pectoralis Muscle pads the upper pole of the implants, therefore, making the upper breast slope appear more smooth and gradual.
6. Less Obstruction of the Breast Tissue with Mammogram. Placement of the implants away from the breast tissue and under the muscle interferes less with mammography and breast examination.
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Disadvantages of submuscular or subpectoral implant placement as compared to subglandular placement is:
1. Implants take longer to drop or settle after surgery.
2. Possible creation of a Double-Bubble deformity in sagging or ptotic breasts. Because implants are held up by the muscles, the sagging breast tissue can hang over the implant as a separate entity. This can give the appearance of a double-bubble. This can be avoided by lifting the sagging breast tissue and centering it on the breast implant.
3. More post-operative pain. As a rule, the difference in the degree of pain is insignificant.
About the Author
Dr. Sean Younai is a Board Certified Cosmetic Plastic Surgeon with experience in all aspects of breast enhancement surgery, including breast augmentation with saline or silicone breast implants, breast lift or mastopexy, correction of breast asymmetry, breast implant revision surgery, breast implant exchange, and capsulectomy. Dr. Younai practices at the California Center for Plastic Surgery (http://www.beautifulfigure.com ) and recieves patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Hollywood, Burbank, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Calabasas, Woodland Hills, Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Pasadena, Glendale, Valencia, Palmdale, Fresno, Bakersfield, and Oxnard.
