Which implant placement feels the most natural? Which one is the best breast implant placement?
Prior to getting a breast augmentation surgery, you will most likely go to a consultation appointment with your board-certified surgeon. In this consultation appointment, you will discuss your aesthetic goals, your medical history, and any concern you may have with your breasts. You will probably also discuss implant shapes and possible incision placements. Your doctor will mention the different types of breast implant placements, and which one is the best for your unique case and goal.
There are four main techniques and all of them are very different with pros and cons: submuscular plane, subglandular plane, dual plane, and subfascial plane. Which is the best or provides the most natural results? Let’s go over them! Breast Implants can be placed either directly behind the breast called submuscular placement, a hybrid partially under the chest with half of it covered by the chest muscle called dual plane implants, over the muscle but under a layer of tissue known as pectoralis fascia known as the subfascial placement and on top of the chest wall muscle, this placement is known as sub-glandular placement. The implants can also be placed behind the breast and chest wall muscle which is called a sub-muscular placement. When the implant is placed behind the breast it is considered by surgeons to be the simplest of the available augmentation surgeries, the least likely to cause any discomfort. This type of placement is practical and successful for patients with slightly or heavy sagging/drooping breasts also called tuberous breasts or other complex cases.
The placement of the implant behind the muscle provides more coverage and filling for the breast implant. This insertion type is recommended for more slender patients and/or those with little existing breast tissue as it reduces the chances of rippling, which is when the edges of the implant fold and wrinkles of the breast implant can be seen through the skin or being able to see or feel the implant under the breast tissue. About 75% of breast augmentations is done in the submuscular plane. Some studies show that a submuscular placement may reduce the change of scar tissue contracture and might be easier for mammography post-surgery. Generally, breast implants in the submuscular plane, under the chest muscle tend to look more natural.
Then there is the dual plane placement, we can consider this insertion technique a “hybrid” between submuscular placement or sub-glandular placements. The Dual plane insertion involves placing the upper part of the implant under the pectoral muscle while allowing the lower part of the implant to sit directly under the breast tissue over the pectoral muscle. Many Surgeons consider this insertion type the most natural looking since the breast implant sits in the most natural position. One of the major pros of dual plane placement is that it reduces severing the milk ducts, nerves, and breast tissue necessary to breastfeed. It is also recommended for women who get anatomical breast implants also known as teardrop breast implants.
Another acceptable breast implant placement is the subfascial placement. In the subfascial breast augmentation procedure, the surgeon places the breast implants beneath the pectoralis fascia which is the thin tissue covering the muscles on your chest. This implant positioning differs from the other three implant positioning, the results are considered natural, and it causes less injury to the breast tissue during the surgical procedure which results in a more comfortable healing and recovery process. This placement requires a very skilled surgeon with a very high degree of skill and experience.
These four implant placement types have their advantages and disadvantages. Discuss with your board-certified surgeon your goals, medical history, and lifestyle. He or she will examine and measure you to judge which implant insertion, volume, and shape are the best for you. Which type provides the most natural results or the best result for your case depends on your surgeons’ recommendations, your body type, your current health, your ideal implant size/volume, implant filling type, and your aesthetic goals. GCA® has the most comprehensive breast implant portfolio in the industry: different surfaces, gel cohesiveness, fill, and projection2 that work with any given approach. Discuss with your surgeon which would be the optimal breast implant placement option for you and discuss the pros and cons.
GC Aesthetics® has conducted 10 clinical studies1 and long-term follow-up patient satisfaction studies that have determined that our breast implants have high patient satisfaction rates at an average of 17 years. This study is the longest follow-up study regarding breast augmentation in a single center, single surgeon setting, using breast implants by GC Aesthetics® in a dual-plane or a subglandular placement. The results showed low revision rates and high patient satisfaction rates(3). GCA® also offers the most comprehensive lifetime warranty in the industry, the GCA Comfort Plus™ Warranty covered all GCA® breast implants with lifetime implant replacements in the rare care of rupture and capsular contracture grades III and IV, reoperation reimbursement in the rare event of BIA-ALCL and no time limitation, it is available for your lifetime.
GC Aesthetics®, A Confident Choice for Life™
Sources:
- Duteille F, Perrot P, Bacheley MH, Bell E, Stewart S. Ten-Year Safety Data for Eurosilicone's Round and Anatomical Silicone Gel Breast Implants. Aesthet Surg J Open Forum. 2019;1(2):ojz012. Published 2019 Apr 27. doi:10.1093/asjof/ojz012
- GCA® Internal Data, 2021.
- Kooiman L, Torensma B, Stevens H, van der Lei B. Single Center and Surgeon's Long-Term (15-19 Years) Patient Satisfaction and Revision Rate of Round Textured Eurosilicone Breast Implants. Aesthet Surg J.2022;42(5):NP282-NP292.GCA® Internal Data, 2021.
https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/where-will-your-breast-implants-be-placed
https://www.bapras.org.uk/public/patient-information/surgery-guides/breast-augmentation/implant-techniques#:~:text=Breast%20implants%20can%20be%20placed,which%20is%20appropriate%20for%20you.
https://chauplasticsurgery.com/benefits-subfascial-breast-implant-placement/
https://www.liniacosmeticsurgery.co.uk/under-the-muscle-breast-implants-vs-over
*GCA does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment