Breast Augmentation for Athletes
Breast augmentation surgery can dramatically enhance your figure. Even slightly larger implants can enhance your existing curves in unexpected ways. The cosmetic surgeons at Jefferson Plastic Surgery have helped countless patients in the Philadelphia, PA area by placing breast implants.
If you’re an athlete at any level, plastic surgeons need to make some unique considerations when creating a surgical treatment plan. Below are just a few things we consider when athletes and people who lead active lifestyles come to our practice for breast augmentation surgery.
Why Athletes Need to be Considered Differently
When athletes get breast augmentation, one of the biggest concerns is how the implants affect athletic performance. It’s important that plastic surgeons enhance the size, shape, and appearance of the breasts without negatively impacting athletic performance.
During the consultation process, we can discuss the patient’s aesthetic goals. How much bigger does a patient want their breasts to be? And will that size increase lead to changes in the way they compete? During this discussion, we can determine the ideal way to meet these needs while not taking the patient out of their game.
How Body Type Affects Breast Augmentation Procedures
An athlete’s body type will affect the way that the breast augmentation procedure is performed. Athletes with broader shoulders and wider chests will typically benefit more from low profile breast implants, which means the implants do not project outward as much. Athletes with narrower, slighter frames are usually better suited for high profile breast implants, which have more outward projection.
Assessing a patient’s body type is common in all breast enhancement procedures, but it’s of even greater concern for athletes. We want to achieve results that look natural, which means understanding complementary curves.
Considering Different Implant Options
As we design a custom patient treatment plan, we’ll go over the different types of breast implants available. We’ll discuss the pros and cons of the various kinds of implants so patients can make an informed decision about the procedure. It’s a combination of the patient’s needs and our insight that will determine the ideal approach to surgery.
Should Athletes Get Silicone or Saline Implants?
We’re often asked if silicone or saline implants are more ideal for athletes. That really depends. One implant option is not necessarily better than the other.
That said, silicone breast implants tend to have a more natural look and feel. However, saline implants can be placed using hidden incisions. It’s also easier to detect implant ruptures with saline breast implants. This is an important consideration for athletes in contact or combat sports, in which ruptures are more likely.
Exercise After Breast Augmentation Surgery
After undergoing breast augmentation surgery, patients will need to take a few weeks off from strenuous physical activity in order to heal. During this time, the only exercise permitted will usually be some light walking a few times a day.
Knowing this, we can time your breast augmentation surgery during the off-season or during a break from competition. This will give you ample time to recover and train. We want you to look great, but we also don’t want you to lose a step as an athlete.
Picking a Good Sports Bra
To maintain the results and benefits of breast augmentation surgery, it’s important that patients find a good sports bra. The sports bra should offer support without excessively squeezing the breasts. Try on a few sports bras until you find some that fit just right.
Contact Jefferson Plastic Surgery
If you would like to learn more about breast augmentation and how it can help you look great, be sure to contact our skilled team of plastic surgeons. We look forward to your visit and answering any questions that you may have.