Question
Here are excerpts from a PS's article I found online about this issue:
"When implants are put behind the muscle, the inner attachment of the muscle must be cut to allow space for the implant. Not only does this increase the risk of bleeding, but also it severely weakens the pectoralis major, the main chest muscle. In the past year and a half I removed five sets of implants placed behind the muscle by other surgeons and put them in front of the muscle because they looked so abnormal. In all these instances, the pectoralis muscle was paper thin, having been destroyed either by the pressure of the implant beneath it, or by the detachment of the muscle. A muscle that is not attached at both ends cannot contract, cannot be exercised, and thus atrophies. Cutting the muscle also increases the risk of bleeding after the surgery.....
To summarize the disadvantages of putting the implant under the muscle (sub-pectoral): it virtually destroys the muscle; it can appear very unnatural; there is increased risk of bleeding; it is very painful for a week or two; the implant is only about half covered by the muscle. And in my opinion, it does not make the breast feel softer or prevent rippling. "
http://www.breast-expert-new-york.com/breastimplant.aspx
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Mary,
what an excellent article. I have added it to my database of info as I was not aware of the extent of this. One has to balance a lot of issues wiht unders and overs but it seems most still need unders.
Miki
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Here are excerpts from a PS's article I found online about this issue:
"... A muscle that is not attached at both ends cannot contract, cannot be exercised, and thus atrophies. "
http://www.breast-expert-new-york.com/breastimplant.aspx
OMG! My muscles are going to be atrophied? I know what atrophy means, but I looked up the EXACT meaning. Here is Merriam-Webster Dictionary's definition of atrophy:
1 : decrease in size or wasting away of a body part or tissue; also : arrested development or loss of a part or organ incidental to the normal development or life of an animal or plant
2 : a wasting away or progressive decline
OMG! Are my pecs going to be nothing more than mere flaps of useless flesh?
This article TRULY es me. I thought that the majority of implants were put partial submuscularly, not over the muscle. Out of ALL the articles that I've read on implant placement, why is this the only one that talks about muscle atrophy? Yes, other articles speak of 'loss of pectoral muscle strength', BUT NOT ATROPHY!
When I think of muscle atrophy, I think of people who are unable to walk... people in wheelchairs who actually don't or cannot move on their own! How can the pec muscles 'atrophy' by definition if we are still able to move, carry groceries, push the vacuum, etc.?
If partial submuscular placement INDEED causes muscle atrophy, then why in the world would ANY reputable surgeon even do such a procedure?
How are the women who have their implants submuscularly doing? Do they now have pieces of wasting pecs? I cannot even tell you how much this really bothers me.
My neighbor who is a Physical Therapist, and has partial submuscular implants, will know about muscle atrophy. I will definitely show this article to her and get her take on it.
I have an appt with my ps this Friday. I'm going to bring him a copy of this article and get his opinion on it as well.
Wisdom is learning what to overlook. - William James
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I think we are worrying ourselves to death here ladies....Ok, my opinion in regards to that article...that may be true as to how the implant is placed, BUT if it actually atrophied the pectoral muscle.....no PS would use that type of placement. Also, if there was atrophy then the muscle would neve grab hold of the implant as it settles and drops. I am sure there is some temporary atrophy or even permanent IF the muscle is not used again. Muscles are made up of cells and tissue and they are always regeneratiing themselves otherwise we would die when we are injured.
As far as the deformity, I can tell you first hand....it is only WHEN you flex your pec muscle and what happens is there is a ridge that shows separation from the natural breast to the implant...nothing more...once the muscle relaxes the implant falls back not place and the breasts returns to its nomal shape...THis is ONLY visible if the person is naked or braless in a very tight shirt.....I have worked out in the gym and it is not visible....
The best thing for us to do here is follow the advice of our indiviual ps as far as when to lift and not to lift......that way IF there is a complication they will support us and take care of fixing it....also we all heal different so some may be able to lift earlier than others.
I hope I did come across as a "know it all" here....I was just trying to help us put things back into perpective so we can enjoy our new looks instead of worrying.....
Diane
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Yes, definitely consult with your doc to deteremine what is best for you and YOUR body. Unders work well for LOTS of ladies... and vice versa for overs.
My hesitation with unders is you DON'T know how it's going to affect your pecs until the procedure is actually done. I've read of ladies who have NO problems with distortion unless they're lifting something VERY heavy. Others have distortion from doing EVERYDAY, mundane things like dusting or lifting a cup of water. So, it's a roll of the dice since every person's body is different, as well as the skill levels from surgeon to surgeon.
My point is: unders can be the best solution for some and not for others.
I'm still on the fence but leaning toward small silicone overs (w/a lift). If this doesn't work out for me, I'll get them put under... but I don't want them under FIRST, have my pecs CUT --> then put them over.
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I seriously doubt that all of us with unders are going to experience pec muscle atrophy - think about how much you use that muscle in all of your normal day-to-day activities. Every time you use that muscle, it is being worked, so how could it atrophy? Atrophy occurs when muscles are used very little or not at all. Also, think about women who don't have implants and don't work out - do their muscles atrophy? No.
I have saline unders and do lift weights. I love working my pecs (pec flies are my fav!), and will continue to do so, just on a much lighter scale than I used to, because now I don't have to work them as hard to get some cleavage! And anyone telling me that you can't get cleavage by working out needs to see some of my pre-op pics - I had some nice pec cleavage going on! Laura
07-26-05 BA/FTT/MR/Lipo
http://www.picturetrail.com/firmhottie
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When I think of muscle atrophy, I think of people who are unable to walk... people in wheelchairs who actually don't or cannot move on their own! How can the pec muscles 'atrophy' by definition if we are still able to move, carry groceries, push the vacuum, etc.?
That's exactly what I wrote in the above post. How can that ps say that unders cause pec muscle atrophy when we ARE indeed using them daily?
Perhaps the ps that authored that article PREFERS overs and sells the concept to all his patients?Wisdom is learning what to overlook. - William James
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That certainly could very well be the case. I don't buy it for a minute, and it irritates me that lots of women may believe that not knowing any better.
For me, having overs would not have worked. I needed that extra support of having them behind the muscle. Also, if mine had been overs, I probably would have winded up knocking out my boyfriend cold every time I leaned over him! Laura
07-26-05 BA/FTT/MR/Lipo
http://www.picturetrail.com/firmhottie
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To be honest, the article did extreme theories... when he has all kinds of credentials to his name:
Dr. Howard T. n is the founder of CosMedica and performs all of the group's plastic surgery. He has performed more than 11,000 operations and has been featured on many national television programs (including 20/20, Oprah, MTV, CNN, and many others).
He has also been written about extensively in the national press (http://www.perfectyourself.com/search/surgeon.asp?sid=307
I don't think any ONE doc can say one generalized blanket statement that OVERS is the way to go for everyone... or for that matter, UNDERS is the best way.
What we CAN say (and I'm no doc but know this as truth) placement ALWAYS depends on one's anatomy, life style, implant type, and skill level of the PS. That's it.
Overs work beautifully for some. Same with unders. And we all know that you can get poor results either over or under too. That's why finding a good doc who does BOTH placements WELL is so very important.
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@ knocking out your bf
Funny, but most probably true!
We really need a rolling on the floor laughing my a$$ off emoticon! Laura
07-26-05 BA/FTT/MR/Lipo
http://www.picturetrail.com/firmhottie
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Yep, like the customized ones you can get for MSN Messenger .Wisdom is learning what to overlook. - William James
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Wow - that article scared the sh!t out of me. Glad to see I wasn't the only one freaked out about it. Thanks ladies!
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firmhottie
You look great! And congratulations on your weight loss!
When did your PS say you could start exercising your pecs? Did your muscles tighten up and make your implants feel hard? Could you feel them moving around?
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i work out like normal Post op 7 weeks. I don't like doing alot of chest stuff because my boobs move and it feels weird. I noticed when I flex in the mirror I can make my boobs lift and they look weird, but its only when I flex I don't normally walk around like that! Mine are silicone unders, and my ps cleared me to lift at 4 weeks , and I am lifting 6x a week now.No problems .FFT/MR,BL/BA, Chin implant/neck lift 12/6
*Marathon runner next up R&R June 2006
*Proud Marine Wife
