Breast Implant Surgery - Above and Below the Muscle
in Denver, Colorado
Should the Breast Implant be Placed Above or Below the Muscle? Sub Glandular or Sub Muscular
During your initial breast enhancement consultation in our Denver office, one of the first decisions you and Dr. Squires must make is where to place the breast implant. There are two choices: below the gland of the breast and above the pectoral muscle, or below the pectoral muscle. Each has its advantages and disadvantages and the needs of each breast enhancement patient must be considered on an individual basis.
Originally, in breast augmentation surgery, the breast implant was placed beneath the gland of the breast and above the muscle. This worked well for most patients, however a significant number of, perhaps as high as one in four, developed hardening of the layer of scar tissue around the implant.
Experience with placing the implant beneath the pectoral muscle significantly reduced the risk of hardening of the capsule around the implant. In addition saline filled implants seem to be less likely to cause hard capsule formation as compared to silicone implants.
The submuscular implant position does have some problems of its own. There is a change in shape of the breast whenever the pectoral muscle contracts, for example when working out. While placing the implant under the muscle reduces the chance of wrinkling, it does not totally eliminate the possibility.
In the case of significant drooping of the breast (ptosis) an implant above the muscle may better fill out the breast tissue and give a better result.
Many other factors need to be considered when deciding on the position of the implant these include: the size of the implant, the possibility of wrinkling of the implant and the patient's choice of incision.
Ultimately the choice of implant position must be tailored to the patient's needs. Each surgeon will have a different experience and develops a technique with which he or she gets their best results. There are no fixed rules or clear-cut answers when it comes to implant position. However if you already have laxity of breast skin, or you are a body builder, placing the implant below the muscle may not be the best choice for you. Most people, however, will get the best result with smooth implants under the muscle. As always, your best decision is made in consultation with an experienced board certified plastic surgeon like Denver breast enhancement surgeon John Squires, M.D.
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3003 East Third Avenue, Suite 206 Denver, CO 80206
phone :: 303.321.3210 || fax :: 303.321.6056
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Denver, Colorado breast implant surgeon Dr. John R. Squires has provided this website to keep you informed of the latest in breast implant surgery and placement of breast implants above and below the muscle performed at The Squires Clinic for Plastic Surgery in Denver, Colorado. It is intended for informational purposes only. If you are considering breast implant surgery in the Denver, Colorado area, please contact us to schedule a consultation with Dr. Squires. Click here to see before and after photos of Denver Breast Augmentation.
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