Botox-Assisted Breast Augmentation Offers Natural Look, Quicker Recovery

by Marisa Amorasak

Silicone, 500 cc, partial sub-muscular. Just when you thought that you had made every important decision regarding your breast implants, new developments are offering a new choice for augmented women. Botox-assisted breast augmentation is an off-label use of injectable botulinum toxin, or Botox. Plastic surgeons rave that using Botox during breast augmentation can ease the pain of recovery while also massively speeding up the “dropping” period that implants take to fall into a natural-looking position. And with Botox being the world’s most popular non-surgical cosmetic procedure, the future of Botox-assisted breast augmentation looks… well, perky.

Botox and Sub-Muscular Breast Implants

Botulinum toxin, which is also marketed as Dysport, is arguably the easiest way to dispel unwanted wrinkles. A few syringes can keep crow’s feet, frown lines, and other facial wrinkles at bay for as long as six months. The protein-neurotoxin combo works by essentially disabling tense muscles that cause wrinkles. Since Botox is a muscular treatment, its usage has spread beyond wrinkles and into other realms of cosmetic surgery.

Botox is currently being used in combination with sub-muscular breast implants, or implants that are placed beneath the pectoralis muscle. Sub-muscular implants are often considered the preferred location for breast implants, because the edges of the implant are largely hidden by overlapping tissue. The rounded look often associated with breast implants is a non-issue with sub-muscular placement, as the existing breast tissue and muscle create a natural slope in the chest. Sub-muscular implants also carry a lower risk of capsular contraction, rippling, and mammogram distortion. While all of these benefits push many people into opting for sub-muscular implants, there are some drawbacks:

Recovery: the healing period after sub-muscular augmentation is considerably longer than that of other implantation locations, thanks to a greater disturbance of tissue and muscle.
High positioning: sub-muscular implants are supported by a lower “internal bra” made out of fibrous tissue. While many patients see this as a plus as it prevents the implants from bottoming out, it takes between 3 and 4 months for the tissue to stretch out enough to accommodate the bottom of the breast implant. Until then, sub-muscular implants tend to look too high and superficial—more like pectoral muscles than real breasts.

Botox-assisted implants offer remedies to both of these problems. The breast augmentation surgery takes place as usual. Before inserting the implant, Botox is injected into the chest muscles to relax them. The pectoralis thus sits lower and is more accommodating the weight of the new implant. New York City plastic surgeon Dr. Matthew R. Schulman says that “it takes about three to four months to do the breast enlargement process to the desired size [with regular breast augmentation]. Injections of Botox will paralyze the muscles so that the implant can stay in position in about three to four weeks.”

The Botox also helps with the spasms that the chest muscles often experience post-surgery as part of the healing process. Plastic surgeons report that using Botox in conjunction with breast implant surgery can majorly cut back on recovery pain. That means that you’ll spend less time cooped up in bed, and more time out feeling confident and beautiful with your new breast implants!

Breast augmentation isn’t the only off-label use for Botox. Doctors have also found it useful for treating cerebral palsy, migraine headaches, muscle spasms, and more. For any cosmetic surgery, it’s important to find a reputable plastic surgeon that meets your standards. Our network of board-certified plastic surgeons features only the country’s top plastic surgeons, with plenty of experience in procedures like breast augmentation, breast lifts, breast reduction, fat transfers, and more. Use our directory to find a doctor in your area. Then, contact our representatives to schedule an in-depth consultation.