The USFDA’s recent lifting of the twenty year ban on using silicone implants for cosmetic breast augmentation has increased your options for what type of implant – saline or silicone – you choose.
Subglandular placement refers to locating the silicone or saline implant beneath the breast tissue but above the pectoralis major chest muscle. Subpectoral or submuscular placement refers to locating the implant beneath the chest muscle. There are advantages and disadvantages to either placement.
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Pros of placement below the muscle:
Patients who start out with tighter skin or smaller breasts achieve the most natural look with submuscular placement.
If a saline implant is chosen, submuscular placement will achieve a more natural feel than above the muscle.
More volume can added without creating an “augmented look”.
Mammography is slightly more accurate; which may be a consideration if there is a strong family history of breast cancer or a concern about mammogram accuracy.
A submuscular placement seems to reduce the risk of capsular contracture
Cons of placement below the muscle:
More risk of implant movement during strenuous physical activities (and could be a problem for professional dancers or bodybuilders) than with placement above the muscle.
The actual surgery may taken slightly longer, be somewhat more painful and recovery may be a bit slower (this also depends on the incision site chosen).
