Many patients in the United States have undergone breast reconstruction using "submuscular" implants, with placement of the implants behind the pectoralis major muscle in the chest. While this is a safe procedure, there are downsides to submuscular implants, resulting from the permanent dissection, cutting, and wrapping of the muscle around the implant: increased risks of chronic pain, possibility for loss of strength, and "animation deformity."

​

Following a mastectomy, with the breast tissue removed, the pectoralis muscle now sits directly underneath the breast skin. Animation deformity occurs in breast reconstruction patients because the muscle wrapped around the implant, then adheres to the overlying skin of the breast. When the muscle contracts, it pulls the entire breast skin pocket with it. This results in an unsightly and uncomfortable contraction of the patient's breast. This can occur either on command, or unexpectledy in women following submuscular breast reconstruction.

​

One signficant advantage of prepectoral breast reconstruction is the separation of the muscle and the breast skin, by the implant sitting above the muscle. With this separation, and the muscle not adhering to the breast skin, there is no risk of animation deformity.

​

For women with a history of prior submuscular implant reconstruction, and animation deformity, they can still benefit from placement of the implant in a prepectoral position, even years later, to eliminate their animation deformity. In one operation, the implant is removed, the muscle is returned to its original anatomic location, and the implant is replaced in a prepectoral position. This results in patients with reduced pain and discomfort, and high satisfaction rates.

​

Dr. Sbitany has helped pioneer this operation, and define safe techniques for performing this procedure. He has performed this operation on hundreds of women, and has helped educate and teach his surgical colleagues around the world on safe methods for carrying out this operation, through his publications and lectures.