Under-the-muscle, or submuscular, placement positions the implant partly or wholly beneath the pectoralis muscle, adding a layer of cover over the top of the implant.
Potential advantages
- More soft-tissue cover, reducing visible edges and rippling, especially in slim patients.
- Often associated with lower capsular contracture rates in some studies.
- May make mammographic imaging of the breast tissue easier.
Potential disadvantages
- More initial discomfort and a slightly longer early recovery.
- Animation deformity — the implant can move when the chest muscle flexes.
In practice, fully submuscular placement is less common than a dual-plane approach, which combines the benefits of both.