When is an implant moved above the muscle instead?
Animation deformity, muscle-related discomfort, and adequate soft tissue are the usual reasons a revision converts to the prepectoral plane.
Site change runs in both directions. Some patients with submuscular implants find that flexing the chest visibly distorts the breast — called animation deformity — or that workouts stay uncomfortable long after surgery. For them, revision can move the implant above the muscle.
Who suits a prepectoral conversion
The conversion suits people who train their chest heavily — athletes and lifters see the most distortion — and those whose overlying tissue has thickened enough since the first surgery to camouflage the implant without the muscle’s help. Modern cohesive implants have widened the range of candidates.
Whether your tissue can cover a prepectoral implant differs from person to person and is judged by pinch tests and imaging, so the decision belongs in a specialist consultation rather than a preference list.
MediIndex articles are for general information only and are not medical advice, diagnosis, or advertising. Outcomes vary by individual — consult a board-certified specialist for personal decisions.