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Push-ups After Mommy Makeover with Breast Augmentation?

I am six weeks post-op and used to do push-ups regularly. I love the definition in my arms from them. I have been cleared for exercise, but tried a push-up today. I had the strength, and felt fine on my way down. However, on my way up, it felt like the implants were moving out to my sides in a very strange way, also I felt pain in my nipples. Yikes! I was soo disappointed! Now, I'm afraid to try again in the future! Will there be a time when I could try again and this won't happen?

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16 Doctor Answers | Asked by San Francisco4668 in San Francisco, CA

Doctor Answers (16)
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Push ups 6 weeks after Mommy Makeover with Breast Augmentation

Of course speak to your doctor for advice. 6 weeks is usually adequate time following Mommy Makeover with Breast Augmentation to begin strenuous exercise such as sit ups and push ups. However since you are feeling discomfort it is best to slow down-perhaps try half body push ups on your knees until the discomfort goes away which it likely will. Most likely your Breast Implants were placed beneath the Pectoralis Muscle which is contracted during a push up. This muscle contraction... more

Upper body exercise post breast augmentation

It is normal for you to experience weakness after surgery. You will regain your strength over time and may need to work back into the push-ups. I ask my patients to wait at least 6-8 weeks before any heavy-lifting, push-ups, pull-ups, and other strenuous exercises that may involve the chest muscles. In your case, a longer wait time may be necessary. Consult with your surgeon if you feel the implants are moving out of position. On this site, I do my best to give advice without a physical... more

Implants move nipples hurt with pushups

I feel that it is important to be as active as you can, as soon as you can after breast lift and implants. There will come a time when you will feel normal doing pushups. With that said, it is important to listen to your body and not overdo your activity. It may be that your muscles are so strong that it is going to take a little more time for them to stretch to accomodate the implants. I would try again every week until it starts to feel normal. more

Kenneth L. Stein, MD

5 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Push-ups After Mommy Makeover with Breast Augmentation?

This is a very common response after implants due to the contraction of the pectoral muscle causing the implants to go laterally. The nipple pain is due to scar tissue associated with the sub muscular placement.

Push-ups after augmentation

Every plastic surgeon is different, but if implants are under the muscle, I prohibit my patients from doing push-ups, bench presses, and "flys" for three months. I think it is possible to cause the implants to move to places you don't want them to move. I do let my patients start with light arm weights after 3-4 weeks, and that may be enough to give you the definition you are after. Again, every surgeon is different, depending to a large extent on their... more

Push-up exercises after breast augmentation

Ask your doctor of course but for my patients I ask them to absolutely not do any heavy pec exercising for 3 months post op until the pocket has fully matured around the implant and it is mostly locked into position where the activity won't displace heimplants to an undesireable location and possible need revisionary surgery. Plus, there are plenty of great exercises that are better for arm definition than push-ups. You might seek the advice from a personal trainer about than and... more

Push-ups after BA

First I want to thank you for defending our country. My hat's off to you. Being in the San Diego area I see lots of military as well as women who exercise rigorously to keep their bodies beach ready. It sounds like your implants are under the pectoralis muscles. When the muscles are tightened they push your implants outward and slightly downward. Your implants will always move some with push-ups and any other activity that flexes the muscle strongly (surfing... more

Push ups after breast augmentation

I usually clear patients for full activity at 6 weeks as well, but push ups are specific exercises targeting the very muscles that were operated on. Listen to your body and go slowly - it will come with time. As for the implant movement, that is to be expected with submuscular placement. At the end of the day, if you are happy with the surgical results, most people find that it is a reasonable trade-off to have some implant movement when strongly flexing the pec muscles. more

Implant movement when doing push-ups is expected and "normal"

The reason that you are experiencing the movement of the implants are because they are behind the muscle and are being compressed with the muscle contraction. Over time (and you are still quite early yet in the maturation process), this should improve though there will always exist this "deformation" with pectoralis muscle contraction.

Caution with pushups after breast augmentation

Assuming your implants are under the muscle, there are some important things to keep in mind with exercise that involes the pecs such as pushups. In most cases part of the muscle is where it attaches to the ribs (unless split muscle technique was used.) That means that essentially half of the muscle is no longer functional and will pull on the implant capsule. (This is one of the reason animation deformities occur.) The part of the muscle that wasn't cut attaches along the sides of the... more

Push-ups should be possible

Most patients initially find push-ups much more difficult after augmentation. I have augmented many military patients and push ups are a component of their fitness test. They all have problems initially, but after several months most approach their preoperative levels. I assume your implants are under the muscle - the feel will be very different until you adjust. Be patient! Good Luck!

Breast implant movement after an augmentation

Unfortunately, because your implants were probably placed underneath the muscles this will continue to occur. If it really bothers you the implants may have to be moved to "over the muscle."

After the First 6 Weeks of Recovery from Mommy Makeover, I Recommend Gradual Resumption of Normal Upper Extremity Strength

This is not an uncommon phenomena when breast implants are placed beneath the muscle at the time of breast augmentation. Contraction of the chest muscles tends to displace the implants in a lateral direction. This can cause distortion of the breast and sometimes the pain and discomfort that you describe. With the passage of time these symptoms improve and the distortion becomes less noticeable as the muscle relaxes. In the first six weeks following surgery, we do not recommend this type of... more

Push ups

Your implants must be submuscular. Yes this is normal. Your strength will increase with the passage of time in the next 3-6 weeks

Push-ups After Mommy Makeover with Breast Augmentation?

After augmentation the pectoralis muscles will be weaker since several attachments have been removed. You will also be affected in your biceps and triceps. If you tried to do a pushup and found difficulty then it is best to wait a little longer or try less strenuous exercises with your arms.

Breast Implant Movement After BA

Congrats on your Mommy Makeover. The moving sensation is probably due to placement of the implants below your muscle. With contraction of the Pectoralis Major muscle, the implants will move. Typically, I have my patients wait 6-8 weeks to begin exercises like push ups. But, I remind them to take it slow, that the strength in the muscle will not be what it used to be and will have to be rebuilt. Try a half push-up first, on your knees and work up to full push-ups. Let pain be guide and taper... more