Breast implants can be placed either directly below the breast tissue (technically called subglandular placement) or they can be placed under some of the muscles in the chest (called submuscular placement). Submuscular breast implant placement has several advantages. Because there is more tissue to cover the breast implant, it is less likely to be visible, which is especially important for saline breast implants, which are more likely to have rippling. Placing breast implants under the muscle also allows for greater visibility of breast tissue on mammograms. It is also associated with a significantly reduced risk of capsular contracture, which can cause your breasts to become painful and deformed and may require reoperation to correct. Silicone breast implants look more natural and give better results when placed directly under the breast tissue. They are more similar in appearance and texture to natural breast tissue and are less likely to have visible rippling. Placement of breast implants can also impact your breast augmentation results, with subglandular placement giving more “dramatic” results and submuscular placement giving subtler, more “natural” looking results. Submuscular placement may be associated with less sagging in the long-term. To learn more about your breast implant options and which ones are best for you, please contact Dr. David A. Bottger in Philadelphia for a consultation.