I Am a Female Powerlifter and Train with Heavy Weight. How Will Implants Affect Upper Body Strength?

   As a bodybuilder and as an athlete who has bench pressed 600 lbs, I probably have a different view on this question.   If your goal is to become the strongest you can become, there is NO doubt that there will be a decrement in strength with submuscular augmentation.  If you have enough tissue above the muscle to camouflage the implant, then go above the muscle.  If you have very little tissue or diet down at certain times, you should consider submuscular implants with the understanding that there will be a small decrease in strength and that there may be a small chance to laterally displace the implants.  I have put submuscular implants in women who have bench pressed almost 300 lbs without ill effect, but it is always better for the patient to be fully informed.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

In power lifters the pectoralis muscle can be bulky so you might want to consider using a gel implant place just underneath the breast gland so you will not have muscle movement of your implant when you are lifting.  This should not effect you muscle strength after your initial post op period.

 

Good luck,

Dr T

As a power lifter you have 2 options each of which has its pros and cons.  Option one is to go below the muscle.  Main advantage being NO affect on your muscle strength nor function.  But several major downsides.  First is rippling and potential visibility of the implant.  This leads to the "fake" look.  More importantly is the increased risk of capsular contracture.  Alternatively is to go under the muscle.  The benefit being increased coverage of the implant , a more natural look and reduced capsular contracture.  As for how it will affect your muscle no one can tell.  There are many fit and active women with sub muscular implants who don't notice any weakness.  That being said no one can be sure.  Additionally your implants WILL move when you workout.  I hope that helps.  

This question has actually been studied scientifically.  After 4 weeks, the study showed no change at all in pectoral strength compared to pre-op testing, even with sub-pectoral implants.

 

The one thing you mostly need to consider is whether you place your implants above or below the muscle. When I see fitness patients who do lots of pectoralis work I suggest placing implants above the pectoralis muscle. This will avoid the animation deformity that you will see when under the muscle and performing heavy lifting exercises. It is very rare that I push patients to have implants above the muscle, but you are one of them. You need to clearly identify the pros and cons with your surgeon. You do have more of a risk of rippling effect when above the muscle. But again, if you are doing lifting exercises as you describe all the time what will happen is slowly that implant will be forced into the armpit area. It is impossible over time to keep the implant from doing this when the implant is below the muscle. It can happen over time above the muscle as well, but you are more likely to maintain a better pocket above the muscle with heavy lifting. Silicone for sure!