If I have a breast implant under the muscle, would I have to give up swim training or just reduce my hours in the pool?

Thank you for your question.  I prefer having an implant placed under the muscle, even in my athletic patients.  I find the uphold much better, look better and feel better. Once completely healed you should be able to return to all normal activities.  I typically tell my patients no working out or heavy lifting for 4 weeks and then when you re start just start a little on the slower side.  I would suggest seeing a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in person to evaluate you and discuss your options. Best of luck to you.   

It is not just the exercise of swimming itself that may not be recommended right after a breast augmentation surgery, it is also not recommended for patients to soak in bodies of water such as pools or sea until their incision lines are healed and do not carry the risk of becoming infected. It will be best to discuss these details with your surgeon.

Thank you for sharing your question.  Once fully healed you should be able to return to your normal training regimen, without restrictions. 

You should not have to limit your physical activity because of implants, so consider options for placement that are appropriate to your lifestyle. This could be either having the implants in front of the muscle (subfascial is my preference for that) or using the split muscle method instead of dual plane. Split muscle preserves the muscle attachments, dual plane cuts the muscle and has a high probability of animation deformity and implant displacement.

Neither.  As a bodybuilder, I perform breast augmentation in fitness and
bodybuilding patients, and there will be some level of animation
deformity with submuscular placement.  The goal is to minimize it to the
extent possible. Under the muscle implants are more likely to be felt
moving because the pectoralis muscle is attached to the arm.  This will
become less evident over time.

This is something you should discuss with your surgeon. For my patients after 6 weeks they are able to resume all previous activities. Good luck.

Dear Honest4153,
I almost always place implants submuscular. It lowers the rate of capsular contracture significantly. In addition, it looks much more natural because the muscle provides covering over the implant so its not as round on the top. I've also noticed the implants drop less over time when they are protected under the muscle.
Daniel Barrett, MD

Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

I don’t think swimming will have much if any affect on your breasts, especially with  the size implant you are considering.

Hello and thank you for your question. A lot of my breast augmentation patients are body-builders and athletes, and they have successfully undergone breast augmentation, placed under the muscle. I would avoid heavy lifting/swimming, etc for 6-8 weeks post op, but after that you can resume all the activities with no restrictions, including as many hours of swimming as you like. 
Best wishes and good luck,

Pejman Aflaki, M.D. Johns Hopkins-trained double board-certified plastic surgeon

Dear Honest 4153, Thank you for your question. For all my breast augmentation, I suggest waiting at least 6-8 weeks to resume vigorous physical activity. And with that being said, I tell them to go back as if they have had an injury. Once you are completely healed, the breast implants will not affect training for your sport. Best of luck to you.