Every person’s body responds to exercise differently. For some men, a certain number of push-ups and bench press exercises can provide sufficient definition in the chest region. For others, these contours may be more difficult to attain. In the latter case, pectoral implants may be considered to improve the shape of the chest region and add definition.
Though the pectoral implant procedure is still in its early days relative to some others, there seems to be increasing interest in it—procedures were up 25% from 2015 to 2016. Here’s some information for men who may be interested.
The Consultation
Your procedure will begin with a consultation with your plastic surgeon, in which you will go over your medical history, exercise habits, and results you’re hoping to achieve with the procedure. Depending on your input, the doctor may recommend trying a particular kind of exercise first, to see if that helps you achieve the pectoral volume you’re looking for. Or, if it sounds like you’ve tried the most common exercises and still can’t get results, the doctor may move on to a discussion of how he or she will go forward with the implant procedure.
Pectoral implants may be right for you if you:
- Feel self-conscious about the lack of definition in your pectoral muscles
- If your pectorals are asymmetrical and you want to achieve evenness
- If you are simply looking for increased volume in the pectoral region
The Procedure
During a pectoral implant, an incision is made in the armpit area, and blunt dissection is used to create a pocket beneath the pectoralis major muscle.
Then, the implant is placed below the pectoralis major muscle. The muscle lining is sutured with absorbable sutures, and subcuticular sutures are used to close the skin. During the healing process, the implant becomes surrounded by a scar tissue pocket, where it stays for the rest of the person’s life.
Pectoral implants are made from solid silicone that won’t tear or leak. Because the implants are inserted via a two-inch incision in the armpit area, the scar is hard to spot once healed. So, if you’re concerned about others knowing about the procedure, you should know that pectoral implants are usually very hard to notice.
Complete recovery from pectoral implant surgery can take as long as six weeks, but most patients are able to resume all normal lifestyle activities within a month.
Think you may be a good candidate for pectoral implants? Contact us today to set up a consultation with Dr. Ghaderi!
