Can bench pressing affect breast implants in any way?

hello thank you for your question and provided information as well..based on the question, the ideal is to consult with your certified plastic surgeon first and the good thing is to first ask for authorization before starting the exercises that require a lot of effort.

Hello triny58,

It’s a pleasure to answer your questions! Plastic surgeons have different post-operative protocols to achieve optimal results, customized for each patient. Light activity is permitted soon after breast augmentation, such as walking and riding in a car. However, patients should refrain from lifting (objects, children, pets) heavier than 5 lbs., pulling or pushing anything that causes pain, and limit strenuous activities or upper body twisting for 6-8 weeks, to minimize pain, bruising, bleeding and other post-operative complications. Submuscular placement of the implant may cause problems in the future since contraction of your pectoralis muscle will displace the breast implants inferiorly, causing implant migration and, eventually, bottoming out of the breasts.  If your breast implants are placed subglandularly (above the muscle), then there's less likelihood that "bench press" exercise would cause harm to your breasts. Good luck and may God bless you! Dr. De La Cruz. 

You need to consult with your board certified plastic surgeon is there are several variables depending on your current state of healing. Once you are completely healed, however, I find that pectoralis exercises in a submuscular augmentation is far more effective than digital massage for making implants remain soft and natural. I encourage my patients to do all types of pectoralis exercises such as bench presses, flyaways, rowing, and swimming. This regimen has even been successful in reversing early capsular contracture.

Hello - your concern with how activity will affect breast implants is certainly one of the valid points discussed with your board-certified Plastic surgeon during a consultation. During any forceful chest or Pectoralis major muscle contraction, breast implants that have been placed under this muscle will be compressed and will appear to move.   Breast implants can also be placed above the chest muscle to reduce this appearance of animation.  However, this is only one of many factors that need to be evaluated during your pre-operative exam to make the best decision for you.   Breast implant augmentation for athletes can work well in this setting. I wish you all the best. 

I often perform breast augmentation on athletes. It is very important to follow the instructions of your plastic surgeon.  You may wish to find a plastic surgeon with expertise in working with bodybuilders and athletes. Most plastic surgeons with expertise in this area with have a specialized gallery and section on their website devoted to breast augmentation n in athletes. 

Placing breast implants underneath the chest muscle using a dual plane submuscular breast augmentation technique provides the best coverage of the implant and the least risk of capsular contracture.It is very important that the pectoralis muscle be properly detached from the fifth rib but not detached from the sternum to avoid the animation deformity.If the implants are properly placed underneath the chest muscle there should be minimal if any distortion with bench pressing.  As the pectoralis muscle contracts with bench pressing there will be a slight downward pressure on the implant which should not injure or affect the implant.However I recommend that my patients avoid bench pressing for 6 weeks after subpectoral breast augmentation. Again the most important issue is the proper release of the pectoralis from the fifth rib but not from the sternum.