Overview of Pectoral Implants
Many men seek a well-defined chest for personal satisfaction. The media regularly showcases men with muscular chests, which has created a widely desired standard. However, not all men can easily develop a toned chest due to a variety of reasons like less exercise, born without certain chest muscles, or due to injuries. This has led to the growing popularity of pectoral implants.
Pectoral implants, a method to enhance chest appearance, were first introduced in 1988. This was originally invented to help men with a condition called Pectus Excavatum – a deformity where the chest sinks in relative to the rest of the chest wall. To fix this, surgeons initially used made-to-order silicone gel implants based on the patient’s chest shape. These implants were inserted through an incision on the chest bone, beneath the skin.
By the early 1990s, doctors started using these implants to improve the aesthetic appeal of the chest in men. They found that when implants were placed via the same incision on the chest bone, there was a risk of the implant becoming visible due to insufficient tissue coverage. To overcome this, surgeons started placing the implant underneath the chest muscle, using an incision in the armpit area. This method of placing the pectoral implant is now considered standard.
Anatomy and Physiology of Pectoral Implants
The pectoralis muscle, often referred to as your “pecs,” is a big and wide muscle that sits on your chest, right under your breast area. This muscle plays a key role in moving your arm inwards and rotating it towards your body, as well as lifting it. It starts from the inner part of your collarbone, the front part of your rib cage and the upper six ribs, and ends on a groove in your upper arm bone near the shoulder.
The pectoralis major, the bigger part of this muscle, gets signals from two nerves called the lateral and medial pectoral nerves. Meanwhile, the medial pectoral nerve also serves the smaller part of this muscle, the pectoralis minor.
For most people, the medial pectoral nerve goes through the pectoralis minor to reach the lower part of the pectoralis major, but for some, this nerve runs along the side of the pectoralis minor. The lateral pectoral nerve goes underneath the pectoralis major to reach the upper part of this muscle. Because of this arrangement, if the area between the two pectoral muscles gets injured, it might disrupt these nerves and affect part of the pectoralis major muscle.
There’s a condition known as Poland Syndrome where some or all of the pectoralis muscle is missing on one side of the body. Other reasons for an unusual looking pectoralis muscle include nerve damage or tears in the muscle from overdoing workouts.
Why do People Need Pectoral Implants
A person might want pectoral implants, which essentially add more bulk or “muscle look” to the chest for various reasons. Here are some common examples: if he doesn’t exercise a lot, if he was born without all or part of his chest muscle known as the pectoralis muscle, or if he has a deformity because of an injury. This procedure can help restore a normal appearance or enhance the chest according to their personal preference.
When a Person Should Avoid Pectoral Implants
Men who might have over-ambitious expectations about what chest enhancement surgery can achieve should be advised accordingly. In particular, doctors should be cautious with cases where individuals suffer from muscle dysmorphia or body dysmorphic disorder. These are mental health conditions where the person is extremely worried about a perceived flaw in their appearance. If it’s highly probable that these individuals won’t be happy with the surgery results, it might be best not to proceed with the procedure.
Equipment used for Pectoral Implants
During surgery, doctors have access to a variety of implants, each with different sizes and shapes, to ensure the best fit for every patient. They use a tool called a blunt dissector, which helps create a space beneath the chest muscle where the implant will be placed. Besides this, normal surgical tools and the usual operating room setup are all that’s needed for this procedure. Surgically, drains are not typically used and aren’t required to complete the surgery successfully.
Who is needed to perform Pectoral Implants?
Often, the doctor performing the surgery, also known as the surgeon, may need help from a trained assistant. This assistant’s job is to move other parts of the body out of the way during the surgery. Whether an assistant is involved or not is up to the surgeon’s decision. Because this operation happens while you’re asleep (a state known as general anesthesia), another doctor specialized in making patients sleep, called an anesthesiologist, is also needed.
Preparing for Pectoral Implants
Before a chest implant surgery, the patient and the doctor will discuss and decide on the right size and shape of the implant. The doctor does so by measuring different parts of the pectoral muscle, which is a muscle located on the chest. They measure the width at the bottom and near the collar bone, the height in the middle, and the distance from the sternum (the bone in the middle of your chest) to the armpit. These measurements help choose an implant that can help the patient achieve their desired look and proportion of their chest.
The area where the implant will be placed, also called the implant pocket, is usually about 2 centimeters smaller than these measurements. If the surgery is being done on just one side, the doctor will try to make sure that the implant matches the size and shape of the other side of the chest. If needed, a custom made implant can be created using a cast.
The patient is also educated on the pros and cons of the procedure, and other possible treatment options so they can make an informed decision. They are also told about what to expect after the surgery and any limitations they may face during the recovery period.
How is Pectoral Implants performed
When you come in for surgery, your doctor will first draw lines on your body while you’re standing up. These lines help guide where they’ll make the incision (cut) and help them know how far to go when they’re making space under your pectoral muscle for the implant. The cut will be made in the armpit area, following a natural skin crease – it will be about 2-3 inches long.
Prior to making the cut, your doctor will clean the armpit area and shave it using an electric razor to avoid injuring the skin. You will be positioned lying down with your arms spread 90 degrees out from your body. After prepping the area, an anesthetic – a drug that numbs the area – will be given to numb the part of your body where the doctor will be operating. Once everything is numb, the doctor will make the cut and start working their way down until they reach the outer edge of the pectoral muscle. The doctor will now start to create a pocket for the implant, first by cutting then by separating the tissue in a way that matches the markings they made earlier.
The doctor will be very careful not to go more than about half an inch below the nipple area and not to disrupt the areas where the chest muscles attach, making sure you don’t end up with a feminine-looking chest. The doctor will work to control any bleeding to stop any blood clots (hematoma) from forming. The area where the implant is going to be placed is then rinsed out with an antibiotic solution to prevent infection. This is left to sit while the doctor begins the same procedure on the other side of your body if needed.
The implants are then inserted through the incision, and the doctor makes sure to avoid as much contact with the skin as possible to reduce chances of contamination. Once both implants are in place, you’ll be helped to sit up so the doctor can check that both implants look symmetrical. The incision will then be closed up in several layers. It’s up to your doctor and anesthesiologist if they want to numb the area around the incision to help with any pain once the surgery is over.
After surgery, you’ll need to wear a light compressive dressing for about a month. This helps to support the area where the surgery has been done. After this time, you can stop using the dressing and start to do light physical activities. Most of the time, your surgeon won’t need to use any drains during this type of procedure.
Possible Complications of Pectoral Implants
After pectoral implant surgery (implants in the chest area), a person might experience certain issues, much like those associated with breast enhancement surgery. Some of these issues include bleeding and the formation of hematomas, which are pools of blood that resemble a large bruise. Infections, unsatisfactory appearances, unevenness in the chest area, movement or rotation of the implant, seroma (a pocket of fluid that sometimes develops after surgery), a tear or burst in the implant, and not-so-pleasant scarring may also occur.
When the implant is positioned under the pectoral muscle, the patient might experience muscle cramps or spasms. These spasms can often be handled with medications that relax the muscles. However, in cases where the spasms are persistent, treatment with botulinum toxin (a substance commonly used in cosmetic procedures) could be possible.
There are also some less common problems, such as complications from anesthesia and numbness or tingling in the inner arm. Although rare, it’s worth noting that some reports link breast implants with a rare type of cancer known as Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL). While there haven’t been specific reports of this with pectoral implants, they have a similar textured surface like breast implants, and therefore, theoretically, might result in this rare condition.
What Else Should I Know About Pectoral Implants?
Pectoral implants, which are devices inserted under the skin to alter the shape of the chest area, have been used for over three decades in plastic surgery for both beauty- and health-related reasons. These implants can address problems present since birth or caused by injury affecting the symmetry of a person’s chest. They can also simply be used to improve the chest’s look.
These implants are a vital tool for plastic surgeons and can make a significant difference in the physical appearance and self-esteem of the individuals who choose to get them.
