Breast Implant Placement Options To Suit Every Woman's Needs

Breast augmentation surgery varies greatly depending on the individual's personal preferences and body type. One of these variations is the placement of the implant. Not all breast implants are the same, just as not all are positioned in the same manner. Different women, different bodies, and different aesthetic preferences will require specific implant placement options.

Researching the different types of placement options available can help you make a more informed decision; however, you'll also want to consult with a qualified plastic surgeon that can help you review your options and choose the best placement for your implants.

There are many different factors that can affect the outcome of the surgery and its placement will best suit the individual, so don't be surprised if your surgeon recommends something other than what you had in mind.

In order to insert the device, a pocket must be created to hold it in place. There are many different placement options available for this pocket, each of which has benefits and downfalls. Some women may have the luxury to choose the placement option of their choice, while physical limitations may limit other women's options.

Many women and plastic surgeons believe that subglandular placement achieves the most natural-looking results. The pocket is created above the pectoral muscle and beneath the breast tissue, mimicking the natural slope of the breast.

Women with little existing tissue or thin skin have a greater risk for developing visible rippling. Some surgeons also believe that this particular placement option may have a greater occurrence of capsular contracture, a condition where the body attacks the device as a foreign object, resulting in a "squeezed" and unnatural appearance of the breasts.

The subpectoral implant placement is partially located between two planes, the subglandular and the pectoral. With this option, some of the muscle attachments in the pectoris are cut away and then the uppermost part of the device is placed beneath the muscle while the rest protrudes into the subglandular area.

This is one of the most popular and commonly used placement options among plastic surgeons and patients. It provides a fair amount of implant coverage while maintaining a natural appearance and feel.

For women concerned about breast implant shifting or movement, many plastic surgeons suggest the subfascial placement that provides more coverage than other techniques. The device is placed below the tissue, but rather than using part of the pectoral to cover it as with subpectoral, it is placed below the thick and gristly fascia that lies over the muscle.

The final implant placement option currently offered is submuscular. In this case, the device is placed entirely below the pectoral muscle. This provides the most possible coverage of any implant placement method; however, in primary surgeries it may result in the bust appearing smaller. It is more commonly used for reconstruction surgery.

Consult with your plastic surgeon about which breast implant placement technique will be safest for your individual situation and which will best suit your aesthetic goals. Some surgeons specialize with specific placements or women with certain characteristics such as little preexisting breast tissue or severe asymmetry.