Breast Augmentation for Athletes
If you’re planning to get breast implants and you’re an athlete, or even just a very physically active person, there are a few angles you’ll want to think about. These “lifestyle” factors are important, and they’re why our New York breast augmentation consultations involve an in-depth discussion as well as a physical exam.
Here’s what we talk over with our patients—these three topics might be worth some extra consideration for you as well.
Implant Size
Naturally, breast implant size will be on your mind as it is for all our patients in New York. Breast augmentation goals for most women include achieving a bit more generous curves without looking like Mother Nature goofed. We hope you’re thinking along these lines.
For athletes, modest-sized implants are often best. The most obvious reason is that physical activity with additional weight on your frame will take a toll on muscles and skin. More weight means more sag over time.
In addition, a very chesty look may just not fit the sports and activities—and apparel—you love. Walking a golf course in a polo shirt might be fine for a large breasted person, and maybe not so perfect for a petite gymnast on a balance beam.
Placement
Another choice that comes along with breast enhancement is whether to place implants above or beneath chest muscles. Generally speaking, inserting implants under the pectorals secures them well and looks most natural (although recovery may be slightly longer than for above-the-muscle placement).
But if you’re a bodybuilder or otherwise flex your chest muscles during physical activity, know that this action can distort the look of implants to an extent. Talk this over with your plastic surgeon—he or she can show you want to expect from the two placement options.
Fullness
It may seem counterintuitive, but if you’re athletic you may want to go with a style of implant that’s fully filled, instead of a type that’s softer and less full. Implants that are full and firm are also stable, meaning they resist folding and wrinkling. This is important not just if you’re more physically active than most—it’s also very helpful for slim patients with little existing breast tissue and fat to cover the implants.
Another Option
Some of our athletic New York breast augmentation patients choose to enhance their breasts with fat injections. These patients are often good candidates because, as we’ve discussed, most are seeking a modest increase in size. Like many women, athletes sometimes find the idea of using their own tissue rather than a manufactured device appealing.
In this procedure, fat is removed from another site in the body via gentle liposuction, prepared for transfer, and injected into the breasts. Whether this might be a good choice for you is something you should discuss thoroughly with your plastic surgeon. You need to ensure your doctor is very experienced in harvesting and transferring fat successfully, and your surgeon will need to determine whether you have enough extra fat to use.
There are advantages and disadvantages to breast enlargement with your own fat. Verywell Health has a good introductory article you might want to check out.
A Few Last Thoughts
As an athlete, you probably take care of your body by watching what you eat, getting proper rest, avoiding tobacco and other harmful substances and so on. It may seem frivolous or even strange to think about enhancing your breast size, especially if implants are the best choice for your individual needs.
We would suggest that for some physically active women, breast implants make perfect sense. If you’re very fit and have little body fat, your breasts may seem a bit skimpy. Average women have a good mix of breast gland and fat to give them some shape—you may be missing a key ingredient. Will more generous breasts improve your athletic performance? Not likely. But they just may help you feel more confident and satisfied with your body.
Whether you’re considering fat transfer or breast implants, or you’re not sure which route is best for you, we would be delighted to work with you in New York. Breast augmentation—along with breast reduction for men and women, breast lift surgery and breast surgery for transgender individuals—is right up our alley and has been for more than 30 years. Give us a call at 212-570-6080 today.
