Breast Augmentation

I am not to familiar with the "split" muscle technique but there have published studies in plastic surgery that show implants do not delay or impede the diagnosis of breast cancer. Secondly, x-ray techs are skilled at performing mammograms in women with implants to obtain the best images. Lastly, radiologists are skilled at reading mammograms with implants. Please discuss this issue in more detail with your operating plastic surgeon.

I do a "split muscle" tecnique when doing a breast augmentation via a circumaerolar incision technique. The incision on the right breast is made from 3 o'clock to 7 o'clock at the aerolar-skin interface and from 5 o'clock to 9 o'clock on the left breast. The dissection is carried through the subcutaneous tissue down to the pectoralis major muscle with the muscle then being split along the length of its fibers. A pocket is then developed beneath the muscle and expanded to the pre-operative markings on the skin surface and the implant is inserted in this pocket. This is one of several ways to do breast augmentation. There is no literature to support decreased breast cancer diagnosis when mammography is done by experienced breast radiologists.

Breast cancer detection in breast augmentation patients has been studied and surgery does not appear to increase risks involved with detection. Implants both behind and in front of the pectoralis major muscle have been included in those studies. Since your surgeon has a specific technique, ask him or her to discuss your concerns to your satisfaction.