Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) Concerning Breast Augmentation
What's Best for Body Builders, Over or Under the Muscle?
Q: I am a body builder. Which is best for me, over or under the muscle?
A: First, you must distinguish between serious body builders (with thick
pectoralis and virtually no body fat) from amateur body builders (less thick
pectoralis and more body fat). There is no great augmentation solution for
women with very thick pecs and virtually no body fat. If you put the implant
over the muscle to avoid tradeoffs of under the muscle (see below), you
are putting an implant under inadequate soft tissue cover, risking visible
implant edges and traction rippling (both of which often occur 6 months
or later following augmentation. The larger the implant, the more your thin
tissues will stretch, and the greater the risk of complications and reoperations.
If you try to place the implant under extremely thick pectoralis muscle,
you risk the following: 1) distortion with pectoralis contraction, 2) gradual
migration of the implant away from the midline due to pressure of the pectoralis,
regardless of what is done surgically to the pectoralis, 3) lack of fill
in the upper portion of the breast near the midline, 4) a possible visual
stepoff between the edge of the pectoralis and the implant, 5) risk of excessive
upper bulging if inferior origins of the muscle are left intact. Bottom
line after 20 years experience. No good solution. If you're a serious body
builder, consider your decision to have breast augmentation very carefully.
Your tissues are the limiting factor that no implant or technique can overcome.
Beware the tradeoffs, and don't blame the implant or the surgeon for a less
than optimal outcome.
Top of page / Home / Steps to the Best Breast