By: Scott Green, MD

A great breast augmentation result begins with smart implant choices, and implant placement is one of the biggest decisions you will have to make. I think most women who come to my cosmetic surgery office near Sacramento for breast augmentation consultations have a basic idea of the differences between below-the-muscle (submuscular) and above-the-muscle (subglandular) placement, but still need to learn how exactly their decision will affect their results.

Top Questions for You: Aesthetics

1 – How “dramatic” do you want your results to be?

Most of my breast augmentation patients want a bit of that “wow” factor but still want to avoid an obviously “fake” look. I can’t go into every aesthetic choice that factors into natural-looking results, but roundness is certainly one of the most important, and is definitely affected by placement choice:

• Under the muscle: Because the pectoralis muscle is pressing slightly on the top of the implant, this option tends to create a more natural slope to the breast with fullness distributed more naturally in the lower portion.
• Over the muscle: Without the muscle to shape the implant curve, this option creates more noticeably “round” breasts unless the implants are teardrop-shaped.

2 – What level of cleavage looks natural to you?

Some women don’t necessarily want huge breasts, but they would like a very clear, deep cleavage line from their breast augmentation near Sacramento. The width of your rib cage and the type of implant can influence your results somewhat, but implant placement also makes a big difference:

• Under the muscle: Deep cleavage is possible, but even with larger or higher-profile implants this option tends to create a smoother and subtler cleavage fold.
• Over the muscle: Dramatic cleavage is very typical of this option.

Remember: Every decision you and your surgeon make has to center on what will look and feel right for your body. My next post will get into some specifics to help you recognize which placement option makes sense for you physically, but in the meantime, I recommend finding out more about your implant choices at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ breast augmentation surgery page.