Can you do chest exercises with submuscular implants?

There are many women who do direct chest exercises with breast implants. Weightlifters, cross fitters, competitive body shapers, and regular women who simple exercise in a gym. The only exception is elite professional body builders, who almost always opt for over the muscle. The reason is more of a historic preference than anything functional.

After breast augmentation, special after submitting,uscular placement of implants, i do not advise any chest exercise with weights for 3 months. these can lead to high riding implants. It is equally important to avoid exercises like running. You should start light exercise like walking , cycling, treadmills, and gradually build up on these. After 3 months you can start with weights gradually.

I do not recommend focused chest work after submuscular breast implants. If you have to, I would recommend the lower weight as mentioned. The risk of heavy chest work is that the muscle will try to push the implant down and out.

If you are completely healed, chest exercises are of relatively low risk. The basic rule is if it hurts excessively, don’t do it. The chance of malposition or rupture is negligible.

Hello, you should be able to carry out unrestricted exercise once you are fully healed. I wish you the best of luck. Vasileios Vasilakis, MD. Double board-certified, fellowship-trained plastic surgeon, Houston. TX.

I have several triple crown body builders who started light at 6 weeks and back to competition workouts by 8 weeks. Patients in general in my practice start upper body around 5 to 6 weeks. Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author. RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee. Philadelphia, Pa., USA

Thank you for sharing your question. Once fully healed your implants should not prevent you from returning to your previous chest focused weight training.

Dear Galgal00,
you should be able to continue exercises once you are fully healed. I understand your concern. It is best that you consult your plastic surgeon regarding post operative care and management (i.e including massage techniques and timing) specific to your case. Your surgeon knows your condition well and has preferences on when and what to use for faster healing and recovery. Post operative care and management depends on the type of surgery performed and the technique used during surgery among other factors.It is best, however, that you follow your plastic surgeon's advice on post operative care management for a smooth and faster healing and recovery.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

My recommendation is that the patient may resume chest exercises at least 6 weeks postoperatively including weightlifting to the chest. The patient should start off with lightweights and over a period of 4 weeks, build up to heavier weights. For the typical woman, the patient may exercise with whatever weight she desires. However if the patient is a bodybuilder, she should limit the amount of weight so as not to cause implant displacement. Keeping the weights less than 25 lbs. per each side of the chest is a good recommendation. Heavier weights particularly bodybuilders with submuscular impants could create lateral implant displacement, which may cause deformity and the need for reoperation and placement into the subglandular location on top of the pectoralis muscle.

Once healed, about 6 weeks, you should be able to resume full activities. With implants placed behind the muscle, you are at risk for more lateral displacement, but bras can help minimize this risk.