A breast augmentation with a breast implant remains one of the most requested aesthetic procedures in the world. Its continued popularity is due, in large part, to the fact that when performed correctly, a breast augmentation can be a fairly easy yet very effective method for transforming your entire body contour. Restoring and/or creating your ideal breasts may make your waist look narrower, and your abdomen appear longer and leaner. Furthermore, when you feel good in your body, you feel good in general! However, there is still a great deal of confusion about how to achieve an exemplary result. Most of the focus online and in the media is on the size of the breast implant. But increasing volume is only one part of the procedure.
My goal as a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon who specializes in breast surgery is to create the right shape breast for your individual anatomy. This involves choosing an appropriately sized breast implant, yes, but where we place the implant, either above or below the muscle, is also important. Figuring out whether or not you are a candidate for a subfascial breast augmentation should aways begin with an in-person consultation.
Breast Augmentation Consultation in Boston
Thanks to the internet, there is considerable information about the breast augmentation procedure that you can discover in the comfort of your own home. While I am a big fan of the fact that social media and the web have allowed patients to educate themselves on breast surgery options, the downside is that no aesthetic procedure is one-size-fits-all. Just because a celebrity looks good with one procedure, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you will as well. In order to achieve a great, long-lasting and safe breast augmentation result, it is smart to schedule an in-person consultation. During our meeting, I will listen to what it is that bothers you about your body contour. We will discuss your medical history, family history, lifestyle, any prior procedures, aesthetic or not, that you may have had as well as how your body recovered. Then, I will conduct a physical exam to assess:
- Native breast volume
- Skin tone & texture
- Nipple position
- Degree of sagging skin, if any
Together, we will go over the treatment plan options that will deliver your desired result, and that suit your unique anatomy and lifestyle.
Explicit content – Discretion advised.
Explicit content – Discretion advised.
What is a Subfascial Breast Augmentation?
As mentioned, an important component of any breast augmentation treatment plan is implant placement. Generally, I use a smooth, round, silicone gel breast implant that is placed under the muscle. For many women, this will reduce the risk of post op complications and deliver a result that is:
- Natural
- Safe
- Long Lasting
However, there is a subset of patients who are going to be better candidates for a subfascial breast augmentation. In this procedure, your implant is placed below the thin fascial layer that covers the pectoral muscle, yet above the body of the muscle itself.
Ideal Candidate for Subfascial Implant Placement
The best candidate for a breast augmentation in which the breast implant is placed above the muscle instead of below is any woman who has very strong pectoral muscles. These are patients who do a lot of upper body work with:
- Yoga
- Pilates
- Weightlifting
In order to be a candidate for a subfascial pocket, you must have enough of your own tissue to cover the implant. That is what upper pole fullness is — fullness in the upper breasts from your own fatty and glandular tissue. Otherwise, a subfascial placement will create an unnatural looking step off that neither of us want.
Benefits of Placing a Breast Implant Above the Muscle
In terms of implant placement, it is not that above the muscle is better than below the muscle. Both have their pros and cons. The key, as mentioned, is choosing the placement that is best for your body’s needs. In the right patient, the benefits of a subfascial breast augmentation may include:
- More soft tissue coverage in very thin patients
- Reduced risk of implant visibility
- Less chance of rippling
- Lower risk for muscle irregularity with movement
- Less compromising of upper body muscle function
- Faster, less painful recovery
The latter is an obvious selling point for many. But just because the recovery may be quicker since I am not cutting the muscle, there is still a recovery. The pectoralis muscle is still irritated by lifting the fascia. Furthermore, every person heals at her own rate. One of the reasons that I spend so much time during our initial consultation and meetings discussing how your body has recovered from procedures in the past, even minor ones, is to establish your unique baseline of healing. This will help ensure that you have realistic expectations when it comes to your breast augmentation downtime.
To find out more about a breast augmentation, or any other surgical or non-surgical procedure with Dr. Sean Doherty at his Boston or Brookline office, contact us today or call (617) 450-0070 to schedule a consultation.