7 Important Dos and Nots Of Breast Implants Under the Muscle

Breast augmentation through implants is a popular option for individuals seeking to enhance their confidence or address their dissatisfaction with their breast size. When considering breast implantation, one crucial aspect to contemplate is the positioning of the implants: under the muscle or over the muscle. While there is no definitive approach that suits everyone, certain factors can guide your decision-making process, such as your body type and the specifics of each implant package. However, it is vital to adhere to certain guidelines like the dos and nots of breast implants to minimize the risk of complications in the future.

This comprehensive article aims to assist you in navigating the dos and nots of breast implants. By providing valuable insights and considerations, we hope to empower you to make informed choices. Let us embark on this informative journey together!

Difference Between Boob Job And Breast Implant

The boob job involves improving the shape and size of the breast with the help of breast implants. It also has to do with breast enlargement and upliftment. But, a breast implant is the saline or silicone placed inside your breast while doing your boob job.

There are two types of boob jobs. One is breast enlargement and the other is reshaping the breast. Breast enlargement focuses on increasing the size of the breast from the former size to a larger size while breast reshaping attempts to improve the look of a fallen breast.

Different Types Of Breast Implants

There are different types of breast implants that you must know to help you decide on what you want to do with yours. 

Teardrop implants

This implant makes your breast look more natural. As the name suggests, it curves down like a tear, a little slim at the top, and thick down. This looks more like a slope.

The Round Implants

This implant gives an equal proportion to your breast. Though this implant makes your breasts look less natural, it gives you a curvy figure. 

The Dos And Nots Of Breast Implants Under And Over The Muscle

You will agree that having an internal injury is more painful and complicated than an external injury. So it is with a breast implant under the muscle. The stitches will be on the muscle and tissue to create a space where the implant will be. Thus, the implant under the muscle is more painful than over the muscle.

When the breast implant is over the muscle, the recovery is usually a lot easier and less painful. With under-the-muscle breast implants, you will have a longer recovery time.

For several days, you may experience quite a bit of discomfort. Following this, it may take several months for any swelling to subside.

There is a higher chance of rippling when smooth implants is set over the muscle especially when the woman has a smaller breast. The risk of rippling is at a minimum when smooth implants is set under the muscle.

Over the muscle implant, you will get your results in a matter of weeks. If your implant is set completely on top of the muscle, you will not experience muscle tightness or breast deformity when the muscle contracts during exercise or day-to-day activities.

For under the muscle cases, you may see an indentation along the edge of the muscle.

Additionally, if you have a moderate amount of breast tissue to start with, then in time, you may get a “waterfall deformity” from sagging.

The Healing Stage: Caution

After the first week of surgery, you have to ensure you do not sleep on your stomach to avoid lying on your breast. Since the process involves the movement of tissue and skin and stitches you will feel sore.

Also, your breasts might swell after concluding the surgery. Thus, you will still have to wear your surgical bra or expect to put on bandages. Stick to pain relief medicine from your surgeon.

While trying to heal, avoid any strenuous tasks because this can lead to swelling. Usually, you should be able to return to work within a week and to full activity within a month. Sensation in your nipples may reduce, but it could return as your breasts heal.

Breastfeeding will still be normal after most breast lift surgeries because the connecting glandular tissue of the nipple and areola will be intact during the procedure.

Reasons For Pain After The Breast Implant

As with any surgery, there is a chance of things going south either through infection or a negative reaction to anesthesia given to the patient during the surgery.

It could also result in skin death, scars after the healing, excessive bleeding after the surgery, or even while at it, hematoma. The following can also be part of your negative experience after the surgery: 

1. Strenuous Exercise

You will feel pain even years after the implant has been done. The reason could be that you’ve strained your muscles doing physical exercise.  After this surgery, there is an extra weight on your chest which can lead to muscle strain.

Also, these implants take up more space than the normal space designed for your breast.

Stressing your chest muscles during your exercise can cause the muscles to protest and as a result, you begin to experience a sore feeling.

Note that exercise is good and if you feel light pain while at it, you should continue as long as it is not too demanding or strenuous. You should be exercising as this will help train your chest muscles in the long run. 

Before you work out do the following;

• Stretch your muscles before and after the workout.

• Warm up for at least 10 minutes before the workout.

• Don’t increase your workout intensity until the pain fades.

• Take a warm bath.

• Take a muscle relaxant.

2. Cough

You can have soreness or pain after coughing for a period or coughing so hard. Any illness that comes with lots of coughing will cause breast soreness as coughing stretches your muscles. It is advisable to avoid smoke or anything that will trigger coughing. 

What to do to relieve coughing;

• Channel your energy into getting rid of the cough.

• Consult your doctor for effective medication.

• Take anti-inflammatory medication.

• Take a muscle relaxant.

3. New Physical Activity

Another thing that can cause pain years after a breast implant is a new routine that your body is yet to get acquainted with.  Any activity that your body is not used to will most likely cause a strain on the breast implant.

Let’s not forget that it’s an artificial substance placed on the muscle so definitely there are high chances of a reaction.

Introducing new outdoor activities like hiking, cycling, and yoga might strain your chest muscles and cause soreness. Running around the house with the kids or pets, and straining to care for them could also cause pain. It is advisable to avoid strenuous house chores done daily.

What you can do if you are having pain due to physical activity:

• Identify any new, repetitive physical activity that you’ve taken up recently.

• Try to limit that particular activity for a while until the pain subsides.

• If you can’t do that, think about which parts of the activity could strain your chest muscles, and how you could avoid that movement.

If you notice that your pain or soreness is not due to any of the above-listed reasons, then it could be your body’s protective reaction towards the artificial substance which is the implant. This protective reaction is called Capsular contracture.

The body is structured in a way that once it detects a strange object that it is not familiar with, it forms a protective layer of organic tissue around the strange object to restrict movement or circulation.

This restriction makes the implant shrink leading to pain and discomfort. The contracture may also cause your implant to move and flip.

Capsular Contracture Meaning and Causes

This is when your body reacts to your breast implant showing signs of rejection. This reveals how sensitive our bodies can be and are ever ready to fight foreign bodies. Here are some of the conditions that can cause this rejection:

1. An Infection

From the initial stage of the surgery, you could have been infected by a careless surgeon who doesn’t follow all the procedures for good hygiene.

2. Hematoma

A hematoma in your breast is a blood-filled swelling that forms right under the skin and looks like a bruise. Hematomas, usually form after trauma or surgery. If untreated, the hematoma can cause inflammation and fever, which can also contribute to the contracture of your implant.

3. Seroma

Seromas are pockets of fluid that form within your body after an injury (or a surgical procedure.) The fluid is of pale yellow, transparent color and contains no blood cells. Seromas dissolve after a few weeks, but sometimes the condition persists, causing a defensive reaction in your body. The condition is common after breast surgeries (15-18% incidence rate.)

4. Saline vs Silicone Implants

Saline implants are considered less likely to cause capsular contractures than their silicone counterparts, although the evidence is not strong enough to form a definitive claim.

Signs and Symptoms of Capsular Contracture

It takes a slow pace for capsular contracture to effectively manifest and because of this, you might not notice the changes in your breast. This is the reason you should pay close attention to the signs and symptoms.

Apart from the pain, the following are strong symptoms of Capsular Contracture

1. Breast Gets Strong

This is the main symptom of capsular contracture and will be present in all cases. If you feel like your breasts are firmer and harder than usual, it’s an obvious sign you might be experiencing capsular contracture.

2. The Breast Becomes Higher Than Usual

Due to the nature of the contracture, the tightening of the protective capsule often causes the implant to move up your chest. If it looks like your breasts are higher than usual (significantly high), do not take the chance to consult with your surgeon.

3. Distorted Breast

The tightening of the protective scar tissue around the implant may cause the implant to deform. 

4. Smaller Breast

Capsular contracture shrinks the implants in your breast and as a result, makes the breast smaller than it ought to be. It can also cause the implant to bust and leak. 

Does Breast Implant Need To Be Replaced After A While?

It is a common myth that breast implants have a lifespan of 10 years, and several patients successfully live well over 20 years without ever experiencing complications. Unless there is a problem with your implants, they don’t need to be replaced.

According to a recent FDA report, only about 20% of all breast augmentation patients need to go through a repair surgery within the first 10 years after the procedure. 

Several factors can cause your implants to “wear out” sooner than usual:

• If you’re an athlete or exercise frequently

• If you went through motherhood with your implants

• If you frequently expose your body to hot temperature

From the above, you can be at ease knowing there is no particular timeframe for the expiration of your implant. You could be lucky to get an implant with a long lifespan or one that might need a change after a few years. So keep your fingers crossed.

Last words

When it comes to choosing between placing breast implants over or under the muscle, it’s crucial to consider the factors discussed earlier. However, to ensure optimal results that align with your body, it is highly recommended to consult with your surgeon. They possess the expertise and knowledge necessary to guide you through the decision-making process and help you achieve the best possible outcome. By engaging in open and informed discussions with your surgeon, you can ensure that your breast implant placement aligns with your unique needs and desired results. Remember, their professional insight is invaluable in making a well-informed decision tailored to your circumstances.