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Will Under the Muscle Implants Damage Pectoral Muscles Permanently?

I have very little breast tissue, therefore would need to have implants under the muscle. My concern is as an athletic person who weight trains 5 times a week that this will cause permanent and irreparable damage to my chest muscles. Is it possible to undergo this procedure without undergoing any loss in pectoralis muscle strength and athletic ability?

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17 Doctor Answers | Asked by 2447anon in UK

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Under the muscle placement is better

I utilize the under muscle position for virtually all breast augmentations. For women with low body fat such as yourself, the over the muscle position puts the implant just under the skin which can look fake. It's true that a very muscular bodybuilder can have issues under the muscle; however if you are not overly muscular, the under position will look better in most patients. You will probably not even notice any decreased strength or mobility post op. One word of caution-... more

Breast Augmentation in athletic people

There are choices to make in any surgery. Just because you have little breasts tissue does not mean that you have to have the implant under the muscle. In fact, in you, an athletic weight trainer, it is contraindicated. You would lose strength of the pectoralis and have breasts that do not project as much as desired, require a larger implant, and move with every arm motion. In short, you would be quite unhappy with that option. I have done a very large number of women like you with textured... more

Will Under the Muscle Implants Damage Pectoral Muscles Permanently

Will Under the Muscle Implants Damage Pectoral Muscles Permanently? Although there may be a very slight diminution of pectoralis muscle strength, it is relatively negligible and not functionally significant in most instances.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

The long term effect of implants placed under the muscle

Hi there- There is absolutely no question in my mind that placing breast implants under the pectoralis muscle is in the patient's best interests in all but a very few, very rare circumstances (like competitive body builders). The muscle is altered a bit, but having had many professional athletes and otherwise extremely active people as patients, I can tell you that your ability to exercise and perform should not be affected. If you ARE a competitive body builder I would suggest placing them... more

Breast implants can be placed above the muscles to prevent damagae

Hello - In order to prevent any damage to your pec muscles, you can have the implants placed over them. However, this will increase the chance that you will be able to see the outline and shape of the implants. Since you're an avid athlete, I would recommend placement over the muscle also because whenever you flex you can see the implants move and this may distressing to you. Good luck!

No noticeable damage to the pectoralis muscle after breast augmentation

Most breast augmentation procedures involve a subpectoral placement of the implant. This positioning of the implant is done through what we refer to as a "muscle spliting technique". The origin of the muscle which is found along the inferior aspect of the breast along the fold, is usually released to some extent to allow for better positioning of the implant. The muscle is still connected to the breastbone and its insertion at the shoulder. So it is injured to some extent... more

Implants under the muscle

Yes, you can have implants under the muscle without losing any muscle strength or ability. As long as the surgery is performed by a board certified plastic surgeon who has experience with this procedure and you are in good health which sounds like you are, you should run a very low risk of any complications. You will need to refrain from any heavy lifting for several weeks, but can return to light activities after about a week. Most patients, especially those who do heavy lifting,... more

Submuscular implants

I place breast implants under the muscle all the time especially in very thin patients. While some of the muscle has to be divided along the inferior medial pole, it should not impact your strength or exercise patterns in any significant ways.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Muscle damage from subpectoral implants

It does seem reasonable to place your implants in the submuscular position. The usual technique is to release part of the muscle attachments but not the complete muscle which could lead to problems down the road if the muscle retracts. The best advice would be to use as small of an implant as possible that will make you happy and to keep part of the muscles intact along the sternum.

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

4 reviews

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Silicone gel implants placed behind the Breast would be a better choice for you if you have enough breast tissue

If a woman has enough breast tissue to prevent folds or ripples, I think the best results from breast augmentation mamoplasty are by putting textured silicone gel implants through a peri areolar incision under the breast. This is even more important when the woman is a committed weight trainer. If you develop folds or ripples in the upper poles of the augmented breast it is possible to graft your own fat to the area to cover them. Recently it has become more frequent for plastic surgeons to... more

Breast implants under the muscle is a good procedure

Although some surgeons place breast implants over the chect muscle, I will respectfully disagree with my colleague and recommend placement in the subpectoral position. In a thin person the result looks more natural. Also, in the subpectoral position there is less risk of capsular contracture and, if mammograms are still performed when you reach age 40, special techniques for implants are necessary that are easier to do with subpectoral implants. I have used this technique with woman... more

Under the muscle breast implants

There are advantages and disadvantages to subpectoral (under the muscle) and subglandular (above the muscle) breast augmentation. Putting implants under the muscle will not interfere with their function or permanently damage the muscle. Advantages of subpectoral augmentation: 1) More coverage of the implant, therefore less chance of seeing ripples. 2) Better for mammograms. 3) Less incidence of capsular contracture. 4) Better long term appearance of the breasts. Disadvantages: 1) ... more

Under the muscle breast implants very bad idea for weight trainers.

Hi. In New York City, we see women like you regularly. I would not put breast implants under the muscle. Not because the operation damages the muscle (it doesn't), but because the cosmetic results are bad, specially when you contract the muscles. Better to put small smooth walled silicone implants over the muscle and accept the possibility that edge of implants will be somewhat visible. Or else avoid surgery. This is the voice of unhappy experience speaking!

Sub-Muscular placement and muscle damage

Submuscular placement of implants does damage the muscle but rarely affects athletic performance. I recently took care of a patient who set the State Bench Press Record 9 months after having sub-muscular augmentation.

Under the muscle implants for weight trainers

In my experience in over 35 yrs. subpectoral implantation does not effect strength or athletic ability BUT I do not use the subpectoral position in trainers and "gym rats" because it can change position of the implant and cause implant distortion in pectoral flexion. Please excuse the run on sentence.

Under the muscle implants damage pectoral muscles permanently

The simple answer is yes, but the degree of damage by cutting it is variable to amounts cut, your lifestyle. See a boarded plastic surgeon in your area. Regards Dr. B

Muscle damage from subpectoral implants

I have personally never seen any permanent damage to the pectoral muscles following submuscular placement of breast implants, although I suppose there is a remote possibility of this. If you indeed have very little breast tissue, you will definately obtain a better result from your augmentation if the implants are placed submuscularly.