Breast Augmentation: Subfascial vs. Submuscular

Success in the In-Between: Subfascial Placement

The subfascial breast augmentation technique involves placing the implant beneath the fascia, a thin layer of connective tissue covering the chest muscle, while keeping it above the pectoralis major muscle. This approach provides more soft-tissue coverage than placing the implant directly beneath the breast tissue alone, while avoiding disruption of the chest muscle.

One advantage of subfascial placement is that the implant is less affected by chest muscle movement during exercise or upper-body activity. Recovery can also feel somewhat easier for certain patients because the muscle itself is not elevated during surgery.

Subfascial placement may be a good option for patients who already have adequate natural breast tissue coverage and are looking for enhanced fullness with minimal interference from muscle movement. However, because there is less muscle coverage over the implant than with submuscular placement, thinner patients may be more likely to have visible implant edges or rippling over time.

Dr. Landford evaluates each patient carefully to determine whether subfascial placement will provide sufficient soft-tissue support to maintain a smooth, natural appearance long term.

Going Deep: Submuscular Placement

Submuscular breast augmentation involves placing the implant beneath the pectoralis major muscle. This remains one of the most commonly performed and trusted implant placement techniques, particularly for patients seeking a soft, natural-looking breast contour.

Because the muscle provides additional coverage over the upper portion of the implant, submuscular placement can create smoother transitions along the chest wall while minimizing visible implant edges and rippling. This approach is especially beneficial for patients with thinner natural breast tissue.

Although many patients assume recovery is significantly more difficult with submuscular placement, modern surgical techniques have made downtime much more manageable than many expect. Most patients are surprised by how quickly they are able to resume light daily activities.

Patients are sometimes concerned about animation deformity or implant distortion with muscle movement, but Dr. Landford’s surgical approach is designed to minimize these issues while maintaining natural-looking support and contour.

For many patients, submuscular placement remains an excellent option for achieving elegant, balanced, and natural-looking breast augmentation results.