Chest exercises with under the muscle implants? (Photo)

Question

I had silicone under the muscle implants placed a little over the year ago and recently have gotten involved in bodybuilding. I have a coach who wrote up an exercise plan for me which includes 1 day/wk of a few exercises that directly work the chest. Is that something I should completely refrain from doing? Or am I able to do them but just with light weights? I don’t want to ruin the implants that I just got and have been reading conflicting things on working chest muscles.

Donovan Rosas, MD · Answer

Exercise and weight training will not damage your implants.

The greatest effect of weight training in the setting of submuscular implants is animation. Muscle contraction over the underlying implant can cause movement of the implant and in some cases visible creasing (depending on the degree of soft tissue coverage).

With regards to your specific question, at 1 year post op your risk of injury is fairly low. The implants are in no danger.

As always, discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear dannie121479,
every plastic surgeon has his own postoperative protocol which he recommends to his patients. I would suggest you to discuss this with your plastic surgeon.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question. You should be able to entertain chest workouts without any issue to your implants. Hope this helps.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

At one year post op you are fine to return to all preoperative activities including chest exercises.  It is important as with any exercise routine to go slowly and build up to heavier weight.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

You may exercise, but I would avoid super heavy weights and many repetitions. You already have a better definition of your pectoralis muscles with the implants behind.

Eric W. Anderson, MD · Answer

Hi Dannie I have many patients with submuscular implants who are active in the gym. It can be different performing upper extremity exercises with implants so just take it slow and listen to your body!

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

I think most plastic surgeons allow full strength training after a certain amount of time after implant augmentation.
Each provider will have their own opinion and postoperative protocol.
I suggest you check with your provider to see what they recommend.
The impact of pectoralis contraction on a sub, pectoral implant Depends a lot under technique used with implant placement.
The lowest part of the implant is never completely covered by the pectoralis muscle.
Depending at what point the pectoralis muscle is cut and how much of the implant is covered by muscle and how much is not depends on how much force pectoralis muscle contraction will have movement of the implant.
 if the implant was placed in correctly, then the chance of bottoming out should be low. If the inframammory fold was violated during the procedure, then contraction of the pectoralis muscle can push the implant down, contributing to an implant bottoming out. 
Check with your provider.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD

Chest exercises with under the muscle implants? (Photo)

Answers (7)

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