One of the most significant decisions to be made when undergoing a cosmetic breast augmentation surgery is to decide the most appropriate placement for the breast implants themselves. Many patients are unaware that breast implants may be placed in different positions along the chest wall.
Proper placement of the breast prostheses will vary from patient to patient according to a variety of factors that include preoperative anatomy as well as patient expectations. However, your aesthetic surgeon at Esteem Aesthetics must choose the most appropriate implant placement to achieve the best results and most natural-looking breasts.
Here at Esteem Aesthetics in Sydney, we will tell you a bit more about each of the available breast implant placement techniques.
Over And Under
Aesthetic breast surgeons typically distinguish between two general placement categories for implanting breast prostheses: The subglandular plane, and the submuscular plane.
The subglandular placement, which puts the implant directly behind the breast’s glandular tissue but entirely in front of the pectoralis major, is one of the most popular techniques for implanting breast prostheses. It is typically recommended in patients with sufficient breast tissue to conceal the implant. The benefits of this placement technique are that it requires minimal dissection during surgery, it reduces the duration of the procedure, and generates significantly less postoperative pain.
Some disadvantages of this technique include the potential for developing a rippled appearance on the breasts if some of the patient’s glandular tissue is displaced during the surgery. Subglandular placement also has a higher incidence of capsular contracture when compared to other techniques. Furthermore, some patients with subglandular implants receive less accurate mammogram results.
The submuscular placement technique places the prosthesis under the pectoralis major muscle. This technique is generally indicated for patients with small breasts and insufficient glandular tissue. Because the pectoral muscle provides increased concealment of the breast implant, better coverage is achieved, which makes the prosthesis significantly less visible.
Submuscular placement of the breast implant incurs a much lower risk of developing capsular contracture. Furthermore, an implant placed behind the pectoral muscles interferes very little with mammograms since the implant is out of the way of the tissues that need to be studied.
As a downside, the continuous movement of the pectoral muscles increases the chance that the implant rotates over time. This is typically not a problem if round prostheses were used; however, if anatomical oval prostheses were used, the oval shape of the implant may cause disfigurement of the breast if rotated.
Another drawback of this type of implant placement is that it causes significantly worse postoperative pain and a more extended recovery period.
There are other placement techniques, such as placing the implant behind the pectoral fascia but only partly behind the muscle itself. Each method has its own distinct set of advantages and disadvantages; therefore, it is crucial to have a long and thorough discussion with your cosmetic surgeon at Esteem Aesthetics in Sydney to ascertain the option most conducive to positive results.
Related Breast Augmentation Blog:
3 Reasons Why Women Choose To Get Breast Implants
Finding The Right Surgeon For Your Breast Augmentation Surgery
Breast Augmentation Surgery - KNOW The Risks & Always Be Fully Informed
How Long Do I Need To Wear A Sports Bra After Breast Implants Surgery