Can I get breast implants if I had a previous muscle tear injury?

You should still be able to get procedure done below the muscle. The muscle should be healed by now. However, the symptoms you may be feeling may persists or worsen. Obviously, a thorough exam and history prior to procedure is necessary for full evaluation.

Dear Awesome873847,
it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination, you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

There should be no problem with you getting a breast augmentation with the implants placed underneath the muscle. The small scar tissue lumps, and your pectoral muscle feeling achy and stiff, may not change, but you will achieve the benefit of having your breast tissue and your pectoral muscle covering the implants for the best camouflage possible. Best wishes.

An incomplete pectoralis major muscle tear (non-operable) will not have an impact on breast augmentation in the subpectoral position. Any current symptoms is not from a muscular injury 14 years ago.

Hello,

Thank you for the question.

You may still be a candidate for breast augmentation surgery despite the muscle tear injury but it's difficult to assess without seeing the photos and in person examination.

You may also be a candidate for subglandular (above the muscle) breast augmentation which would avoid placing implants under the pectoralis muscle and may minimize pain after surgery.

Implant size discussion and implant selection is one of the most important steps during your consultation with plastic surgeon. The decision-making process depends on patient’s desires, as well as breast and soft tissue dimensions.

I would encourage you to seek a consultation with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon to further discuss your options, specific techniques, concerns and expectations.

I hope this helps.
Best regards, Dr. Karanetz

Dr. Irena Karanetz
Breast Fellowship-Trained
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

I recommend an in person consultation with a plastic surgeon to discuss your goals and be measured. After I measure and discuss goals with my patients, we then look at pictures of women (my patients) with similar measurements. You get to see actual results and the surgeon's experience and not a virtual idea of what can be achieved. Women tell me that this process is very helpful. Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author. RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee. Philadelphia, Pa., USA

The amount of time that has passed since your injury is a positive but the ongoing symptoms you describe here are definitely something your surgeon needs to factor in to the evaluation and it should help inform your discussion regarding the various options for breast augmentation, including behind the muscle, dual plane, and in front of the muscle.

Thank you for your question. Needless to say an examination in person would be required by an experienced board certified plastic surgeon specifically experienced with revision breast surgery. In patients such as yourself I often recommend a pocket conversion from subpectoral to prepectoral (above the muscle) thus restoring the pre-surgical anatomy and reattaching the pectoral muscle to the chest overlying the ribs where is belongs. This will eliminate animation deformity and allow for a more comfortable and more natural result that most closely mimics a woman’s normal breast anatomy. Best of luck to you.

You should be able to have your implants placed under the muscle despite an injury from 14 years ago, but an examination is needed for a specific recommendation. If you have occasional flare ups it may be advisable to err on the conservative side when selecting your implant.

An examination will tell if you can have implants placed behind the muscle. If so, I would suggest not choosing large implants to overstretch that muscle.