Will my upper body strength return if implants are removed?

A loss of upper body strength is not a common complication of breast augmentation. If you are considering explantation, you should rule out other potential causes before having surgery. If there are other reasons for the weakness, they will likely remain after the implants are removed.

Hello, thank you for your question. I'm sorry to hear that you're feeling this way. It's understandable to be concerned about your strength and overall well-being after undergoing such a significant procedure. I have attached a video that discusses your question in detail, please watch this. You can likely regain your upper body strength, but it will require a tailored approach involving professional guidance and a commitment to rehabilitation. Take the time to assess your situation thoroughly with your healthcare team, and remember that your mental and emotional health is equally important as your physical well-being.

This is a great question, and I typically do subfascial implant placement in very active women for this reason. It would be interesting to hear exactly what issues you are having with upper body strength. I would expect that implant removal and repairing the muscle (with or without subfascial implant replacement or fat grafting to restore volume) would help, but it takes some time for the muscle to heal and it's tough to predict exactly how completely strength will return.

Hello @beck108, thank you for your question. There could be various factors contributing to the loss of your upper body strength. It's essential to have a thorough evaluation by your plastic surgeon or another medical professional to identify the root cause. If it is determined that your breast implants are the primary cause of your decreased upper body strength, removing them might lead to an improvement in your strength over time. However, this is not guaranteed. Before making any decision, it's crucial to have a detailed discussion with your plastic surgeon about your concerns. It's also crucial to undergo any necessary tests or evaluations. They will be able to provide you with personalized advice based on your specific situation and help you determine the best course of action to address your concerns about upper body strength. Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez MD, FACS. American Society of Plastic Surgery Member (ASPS), International Federation for Adipose Therapeutics and Science” Member (IFATS), American Society of Plastic Surgery Member (ASPS), Colombian Society of Plastic Surgery member (SCCP).

Dear beck108,
I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment, it would be difficult to determine what went wrong. It is unlikely that your loss of strength is caused by implants. It is best that you visit your plastic surgeon for further assessment or ask for a second opinion. Only after a thorough examination, you can get proper recommendations and advice.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

It's quite unusual to loose body strength following breast augmentation. Removing your implants will decrease the tissue stretch and pressure on the muscle. No one can say for sure whether this will help you regain your strength. If you feel that you no longer are obtaining any benefit from your implants, you can remove them. There is a chance that your strength may get better.

Loss of upper body strength is not generally associated with implants. Patients are able to resume an active lifestyle and regular exercise routine typically six weeks after surgery. I encourage you to return to your surgeon for an evaluation and to discuss your concerns. You may have improvement with a differently sized implant and/or placement.

You might consider going down in size so that you do not have such a large implant stretching your muscles. Your upper body strength is not wholly dependent upon your pectoralis muscles. You might need an evaluation to see what actually is happening to your muscles.

Sub-muscular implant placement can cause muscle problems .
These symptoms usually resolve when the implants are either removed or replaced above the muscle.

Submuscular implant placement does interfere with the pectoralis major strength. The majority of patients return to full activities after around 6 months. Removing your implants or placing them subglandular should increase your chest wall strength, however, no one can say for sure that your full muscle strength returns.