Dr. Broadway Breast Augmentation Blog

Friday, May 30, 2008

Denver, Colorado Breast Augmentation-Over The Muscle vs. Under The Muscle

When deciding to have breast augmentation with Denver, Colorado triple board certified plastic surgeon Dr. David Broadway, the final outcome, or your desired result, is greatly determined by the relationship of the implants to the pectoralis muscle of the chest wall. Breast implants can either be placed above the pectoralis muscle, or beneath the pectoralis muscle. Most of Dr. Broadway’s breast augmentation patients choose to go beneath the pectoralis muscle because it tends to look and feel more natural.

Subglandular Breast Implants-Over The Pectoralis Muscle
The photo to the left is an example of placing the breast implant in the subglandular position, or over the pectoralis muscle. The result of the implants over the muscle will give patients a more round, augmented look, but many women prefer a less natural look. There are advantages to placing the implants over the muscle, and these include ease of the surgery, avoidance of a full breast lift if a patient has mild droppiness (however droppiness can become worse later in the future), and less post operative discomfort since only skin and fat are cut. Disadvantages include interference with mammograms, the edges of the implants are more visible, higher rate of rippling, higher rate of capsular contracture, and higher rate of implant “bottoming out.” Dr. Broadway seldom recommends placing breast implants over the muscle because of the above disadvantages.

Subpectoral Breast Implants-Under The Pectoralis Muscle
The photo to the left is an example of placing the breast implant in the subpectoral position, or under the pectoralis muscle. The result of the implants under the muscle will give patients a more natural look and a softer transition from the flat upper portion of the chest wall to the round edge of the implant. The advantage to placing the implant under the muscle include less visibility and feel of the implant, lower risk of rippling, lower risk of capsular contracture, and less interference with mammograms. Disadvantages include more discomfort post operatively, & patients who have ptosis (droppiness), will receive a slightly less breast lift than if they went over the muscle. This is Dr. Broadway’s preferred approach for his Denver, Colorado breast augmentation patients.

Both options can be discussed with you at your initial consultation with Dr. David Broadway. Please feel free to call our office with any other questions and one of Dr. Broadway’s patient coordinators will be happy to assist you. Our goal is to give you the beautiful result that you desire!

Labels: Breast Implants over the muscle, breast implants under the muscle, Colorado Breast Augmentation surgeries, Denver