Over or under the muscle implants

[Williams76]

Just wanted to know how people feel about this or what you did

[4thTimesTheCharm]

YIKES! My daughter's experience was terrible. So I'd say AVOID UNDER if you possibly can. Creates too much motion every time you move. And very much requires a muscle stretch that is so painful that after a year of recovery my daughter underwent revision to put implants ABOVE. The recovery was less than half the time as the 'under' placement surgery, and she was happy and grateful for the repositioning. (The story gets worse as the next year the implants she had were recalled and she had to have them replaced! But she now is just fine.)

[4thTimesTheCharm in reply to 4thTimesTheCharm]

(Sorry - hit enter too soon.) My own story about implants is that at this junction, I wouldn't have done any. Over the years, I had a partial mastectomy, then after a 2nd cancer (different type) a full mastectomy on that same side with reconstruction using belly. Then 3 years later yet another type of cancer in the remaining breast, so after the full mastectomy I had an implant plant. I hate it. It's been 2 years and I have considered having it removed more often then I care to admit. I wish I'd been clear-thinking 15 yrs ago, and realized that I was just fine without breasts at all. It would have saved lots of $$, lots of pain, time, medication and worry.

We need to remember that just because it's offered, or because we "can", doesn't mean we ought to, need to, must do, or should do. We need to realize that we are fine JUST THE WAY WE ARE, if that makes us comfortable. Think through our choices in medications, treatments, surgeries, etc., and feel free to CHOOSE FOR OURSELVES.

[Hidden]

Hi Williams76! I had my bi-lateral mastectomy w/ expanders, then implants, almost 10 years ago, so I'm not necessarily up-to-date, but I think I did over the muscle. My implants are...small....but not as small as my real breasts were, so that's a silver lining! (e.g. I can go to the adult section now for bras...not that I wear them, given the implants/size).

I'll mention that the expanders hurt like hell! But it passes pretty quickly. And there were questions re: blood flow/healing that fortunately all worked out. But a friend of mine recently did a mastectomy and these issues became very serious for her.

When I was going through that, there were other options, e.g. take fat/tissue from your underarm/back or even your tummy to create a new breast/new breasts. These seemed appealing/advantageous in some way...called a "something flap"? But you do need enough fat/tissue in these areas to make that work...

Good luck with the decision! Wish I had more insight, hopefully others with more recent experience will comment...

Best,

Lynn

[LouisaMay]

Hi Williams76, I had a mastectomy on the left side and managed without a reconstruction for 5 years. I decided I'd had enough of being lop-sided and went to get a reconstruction only to find that I now had a completely different cancer in my other breast. Had a lumpectomy but margins were not clear so had a second mastectomy and reconstruction started at the same time. It took months. It was under the muscle on the advice of my surgeon. It was painful each time the expanders were expanded but only for a day or so. I have had these in for several years now and with clothes on at least I look normal and can wear what I fancy. I am of slight build so there wasn't enough fat for other options and I don't remember being offered an 'over the muscle' solution. Since I healed from the final op to put the implants in I have had no problem and no pain at all. I suspect I have been lucky but have no real idea what percentage of women do have issues. The implants have a limited life and are likely to need changing after 10 years. I am 7 or 8 years out and suspect I may get much longer than 10 years as they seem to be as good as new. Good luck with your decision and if you would like any further info I will help if I can. xxx

[hopenowandtomorrow]

I had a left Masectomy in 2016. Implant was under the muscle. Very, very painful. I would not recommend it.

[13plus]

Is over the muscle an actual implant option? Or do you mean use of other body tissue for over the muscle? There are so many options now. My 2 cents. For regular under the muscle - a few things to consider, the bigger the implants means more stretching of muscle. If you are very physical, Eg, play sports, work out, this can create extra tension on the chest muscle ( the pecs). But everybody is different and I think some people’s muscles stretch with more ease than others do. I only had to go small and it was still too restricting for me. Later the implant failed so I just had it removed and not replaced. (Flat on one side which has worked out fine for me)

Flap surgeries can create issues for the areas of body from where the tissue has been taken. (IE, often creating either weakness or tightness in those areas). That said - I had a friend that did the microsurgery transplant of just tummy fat. They looked most realistic and she had no problems at all.

[Williams76]

I am going to stay about the same size I am now and have to decide under or over the muscle for the implants

[Red71]

I had an under implant 8 years ago. I really had no problem with the stretching. They gave me pain medication but I only took it the first time which was soon after surgery. I’m a D cup (was a F), so there was a bit of stretching but I didn’t find it bad at all. I guess it depends on your muscles and pain threshold.