How Does Implant Placement Impact Breast Augmentation Results?

There are many factors that influence how a patient’s chest will look after breast augmentation at the Philadelphia area’s Cross Medical Group. Some, like the size and shape of the implants, are fairly obvious. Others, such as the placement of those implants, are not as familiar to patients considering their options.

How can implant placement help determine how the breasts will ultimately look? Read on to learn more …

There are two main positions that Dr. Kevin Cross and Dr. Jackie Lyons use for breast implant placement: One is directly under the breast’s glandular tissue, known as subglandular placement. The other is directly under the main chest muscle, known as submuscular placement.

Subglandular placement positions the implant above the pectoralis major muscle, which prevents contractions and movements from negatively impacting the movement of the implant itself. This placement also keeps the implant in a more visible place, since it is not covered by the thicker muscle tissue. As a result, the shape of the implant more significantly influences the shape of the augmented breast.

Submuscular placement “buries” the implant below muscle tissue, which allows for a boost in volume without being too obvious. The extra “camouflage” from the muscle is especially beneficial for patients who have little breast tissue to start with. Consider the different in the appearance of a balloon sitting directly under a sheet versus a balloon covered by a pillow and then a sheet. Both situations create visible contours, but one is more easily recognizable as a balloon.

Patients who are at a higher risk for developing breast cancer may opt for submuscular placement as well, as this implant position makes future breast cancer testing an easier task.

There are several pros and cons to consider for each implant placement, but patients will not be debating the merits of subglandular and submuscular positioning on their own. The Cross Medical Group team is ready to work directly with you to help you discover which option would work best for your own chest.

Contact Cross Medical Group online or call 215.561.9100 for the Philadelphia office or 610.688.9100 for the Villanova office.