What Problems Are Possible with Breast Implants Placed Under the Muscle?

Breast implant surgery is one of the most frequently performed aesthetic surgical procedures worldwide, and many women have breast augmentation as a means of improving their look when the breasts remain small or do not develop well. Other reason may be for recreating a fuller appearance of breasts that may have been lost after stopping the breast feeding or due to weight loss or aging. When one is considering breast implant surgery in Thane or anywhere else, one of the big decisions that need to be made is whether the implants are to be placed above or under the chest muscle, pectoralis major. Though the placement of breast implants under the muscle is required when the upper pole and breast tissues are less than 2 cm in thickness to cover the implant adequately, it does possess some risks and disadvantages for which one needs to be aware.

This blog will discuss the potential complications of placing breast implants under the muscle and lead you to make a more informed decision as to your surgical procedure.

Why Place Breast Implants Under the Muscle?

Many surgeons and patients prefer to have their breast implants placed under the muscle. There are several reasons why submuscular placement, in which the breast implants lie under the pectoralis major muscle, is favoured

Natural appearance:

When the breast tissue available is very thin there is no option to cover the implant with muscle. In a saggy breast this gives a bad waterfall effect, because the breast hangs below the implant. In a well chosen candidate with good skin quality, the muscle helps hide the upper border of the implant which is tell tale sign of implanted breast.

Lower Risk of Capsular Contracture:

This is an adverse effect where scar tissue forms in which the implant hardens, and this causes pain and distorts the shape of the breast. Implants placed under the muscle have a lower risk of developing this condition compared to those placed on top of the muscle. One should also know that it among Indian patients, the incidence of capsular contractures is low any way, irrespective of the plcements. So this may not be a good reason to use submuscular placement.

Readability of Mammogram:

Placement under the muscle often facilitates clearer mammograms since the muscle layer provides an additional separation layer between the implant and the breast tissue, thus making potential abnormalities more easily visible.

Away from the breast tissue– This is truly the most important advantage of submuscular placement. The breast tissue is not at all in contact with the breast tissue as happens in sub glandular placement.

Common Issues with Breast Implants Under the Muscle

There are rare but few complications that may arise due to the placement of implants beneath the muscle. Knowledge of these complications would help you have a more realistic expectation of surgery.

Post-operative pain This is fairly severe and debilitating pain for first few days in almost each and every patient who undergoes submuscular placement of the implant.

Animation deformity:

One of the significant problems with submuscular breast implants is animation deformity, in which the implant moves or distorts with contraction of the muscle. Because the pectoral muscle covers the implant, contraction of the muscle will cause it to move very apparent problem that gives a squishy appearance to the breast.

Obviously, women who are very active, especially in doing activities that entail much pulling or pushing through the upper body like those that involve the use of the pectoral major may experience this symptom more so. Though it is not painful, this can be fairly aesthetically displeasing to some women-particularly in exercising the upper body.

Longer Recovery Time:

Since the surgeon has to shift the breast tissue and muscle to insert an implant, recovery is generally longer for under-the-muscle breast implant procedures. Patients are also more likely to experience pain and discomfort, especially in the upper chest and arms, as the pectoral muscle is involved.

For those women considering breast implant surgery in Thane, this longer time to recover means that they would likely be out of work for more days and, in some cases, avoid heavy lifting and other strenuous exercises for weeks to months on end, depending on the surgeon's advice.

Implant Displacement:

The implant may turn out the wrong way after the operation, which could cause displacement. This is because the pectoral muscle could pull or push the implant out of place, leading to unevenness in the abnormal shape of the breast. The risk is higher with patients who are very physically active due to frequent contraction of the muscle might push the implant downward or even sideways in the future.

In other instances, displacements could require revision surgery to rectify the problem.

Risk of Muscle Weakness or Atrophy:

The pocket of the implant stretches the pectoralis muscle such that some women could endure temporary weakening or wasting of the chest muscle after surgery. Though this is not generally a clinical concern usually long enough for most patients, it may be a concern for athletes or women who are heavily exercising.

Immediately postoperatively, strict adherence to recommendations and the stepwise return to exercise should result in minimally adverse long-term effects on muscle strength.

Conclusion

For women patients with breast implants in Thane, this procedure of placing the implant under the muscles has its benefits like a very natural look in patients with poor breast tissue and less chance of capsular contracture. In addition, some side effects of the procedure are not to be overlooked, like animation deformity, a longer time for recovery, and the possibility of displacement or rippling of the implant.

Because each woman's body is one of a kind, the ideal placement will then be determined by your body type, activity level, and other aesthetic desires you may have. Because of this, you must have an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon discuss with you the risks and benefits of under-the-muscle implant placement so you can weigh those factors to make an educated decision that meets your goals.