When patients come to Dr. Solesio’s surgery with the desire to have breast augmentation, they bring a slew of questions with them: what breast prostheses should I have, how many, where the specialist will make the incision, how the scar will look… but they sometimes forget something crucial: what the prostheses’ placement plane will be.
Today, we provide you with the greatest information to understand the distinctions between inserting breast augmentation prostheses in front of and behind the muscle.
Placement: breast prosthesis in front of the muscle
This placement is known as subglandular placement. It is commonly used when the breasts are thick enough to cover the breast implant, which is usually more than 3 cm. The major advantage of placing breast implants subglandularly in a breast augmentation is that there is less postoperative discomfort or agony.
Because no muscle is handled, only skin, fat, and breast tissue, invasiveness is reduced and recuperation time is reduced (about 7 days). In addition to being speedier, the postoperative period when the selected plane is subglandular does not have as many mobility constraints, thus driving following breast augmentation surgery, for example, is frequently allowed.
Another significant advantage of putting the breast prosthesis in front of the muscle is the simplicity with which the cosmetic look of the new cleavage may be perfected or defined when there is adequate subcutaneous tissue. Furthermore, because there is no dynamism while contracting with breast implants in the subglandular plane, the effect of breast augmentation is completely natural. Breast augmentation in front of the muscle, on the other hand, has a higher risk of causing apparent rippling if there is little volume in the breast or the skin is not particularly flexible (roughness).
Furthermore, because the breast implant is in close contact with the mammary gland, it might interfere with mammograms, hence it is advised that they be performed by qualified personnel in breasts with breast implants. Prostheses tend to fall more in front of the muscle, thus choose a moderate volume or light prostheses in these circumstances.
Placement plan: behind the pectoral muscle
This plane of implantation is typically used in individuals who have limited tissue covering to hide the prosthesis. Placing the implant behind the pectoral muscle in breast augmentation will result in a lower risk of visible rippling, as well as a lower incidence of breast ptosis (drooping of the breast) caused by the weight of the prosthesis, because it will be the muscle that holds it rather than the skin of the breast, so if a large prosthesis is chosen, it will normally be placed in this plane.
Finally, unlike those put in front of the muscle in breast augmentation, breast prostheses placed behind the muscle will not interfere with mammograms. The primary downside of this strategy is that the prosthesis put behind the pectoral muscle is more likely to produce discomfort or postoperative pain, and recovery time is slightly longer (about 15-20 days). Another disadvantage is that stringent movement limits must be enforced for the first few days after surgery, and there will always be dynamism when the muscle is flexed.
Which positioning is best for breast augmentation?
There are several technical and physiological considerations that will decide each of the difficulties to be considered while having breast augmentation. As a result, and with the professional judgment of a plastic surgeon specializing in the area, the placement plan that provides the least danger to the patient and is fitted to the attainment of the primary goals of breast augmentation surgery should be chosen.
As we’ve seen throughout the article, both placement planes offer advantages and downsides. As a result, the medical team must consider the benefits and drawbacks before deciding on the best placement plan with the patient. In general, the subglandular plane is recommended for patients with adequate tissue coverage and good skin quality, who choose a moderate-size breast prosthesis, want a minimal postoperative period, and have functional reasons why they do not want to alter, atrophy, or have any restrictions on effort (very sporty people, for example).
The retromuscular plane, on the other hand, is recommended for patients with little breast and subcutaneous tissue, who choose an exuberant prosthesis size and are particularly afraid of the possibility of visible rippling, caring little about mammary gland atrophy and effort restrictions, with the possibility of complying with all the indications of a slightly longer postoperative period.
Find below some “before and after” photos, Dr. Solesio treated successfully.
Do you have any other questions? No worries. Click here and the medical experts at Solesio Clinic would be delighted to assist you and explain the difference between breast augmentation surgery with prosthesis in front of and behind the muscle.