Subfascial Breast ImplantsSubfascial breast implants are a compromise in placement between submuscular and subglandular positioning. This newer technique, also called sub-fascia placement, combines many of the benefits of the 2 primary placement options while trying to eliminate the drawbacks associated with each.
This anatomical location for placing
breast implants
closely resembles a subglandular approach, with one major exception. While the chest muscles are not disturbed, the fibrous fascia tissue is dissected away from the front wall of the pectoralis muscles and the implant placed beneath this fascia layer. This step adds considerable time and effort to the simpler subglandular approach, but still is less complicated than
subpectoral
or submuscular placement.
Placement beneath the pectoralis fascia might help minimize
capsular contracture
occurrence. The fascia helps to isolate the implant from the glandular breast tissue, possibly aiding in
mammography
testing clarity. The implant is in front of the muscle, so no athletic restriction or interaction should occur. The surgery is shorter, as is the
recovery
time, and this approach demonstrates less chance for significant
complications
when compared to submuscular implant placement. The aesthetic is very
natural looking,
as far as breast contour and movement, but with the added benefit of added support from the strong fibrous fascia. This extra organic layer helps to conceal the implant, prevent visible
wrinkling
of the shell and maintain the high anatomical position of the prosthesis.
Drawbacks of Subfascial Breast ImplantsThis procedure is not as good for preventing contracture as submuscular placement. The fascia can experience support problems leading to an eventual asymmetry condition. Some surgeons question whether the fascia actually provides significant verifiable benefits to justify the extra effort involved in the procedure. The surgery is more expensive than traditional subglandular placement and can be more painful postoperatively.Recommendation on Subfascial ImplantsThis procedure is a good compromise for women who want subglandular placement, but would like some benefits of submuscular positioning as well. The operation works especially well for thin, small breasted women who have little natural tissue to cover their implants during traditional subglandular placement. The addition of the covering fascia layer helps to smooth and contour the implant shell, blending the prosthesis into the chest wall more convincingly. The added benefits are better test results during mammography screening, possibly fewer incidences of contracture and significantly more implant support. Talk to your cosmetic surgeon if you are interested in learning more about sub-fascia implantation procedures.Subfascial Breast Implants to Breast Surgery 11/23/07 Revised 6/9/11 |
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