Breast augmentation: a review of subglandular and submuscular implantation

A study of 156 patients who underwent augmentation mammoplasty at the Medical College of Georgia from June 1980 to July 1985 is presented. Complete records on 89 patients with 196 implants were obtained. A retrospective analysis with respect to capsular contracture was undertaken. Possible influential variables including age of patient, type of prosthesis, operative blood loss, use of local steroids, and site of insertion (i.e., submuscular versus subglandular) were considered. The site of implant insertion was the only statistically significant factor affecting capsular contracture. The incidence of capsular contracture was 9.4% with the submuscular approach and 58.0% with subglandular contracture. The followup time for the submuscular group was 17.4 months (range of 6-36 months) with the mean time of capsule contracture occurring 4.5 months after insertion. There were no significant differences in intraoperative blood loss or elapsed operating time between the submuscular and the subglandular placements of the prosthesis. This study confirms the submuscular technique of augmentation mammoplasty as the most reliable method of reducing the high incidence of capsular contracture.