Pectoral Implants

- What are pectoral implants?

Pectoral implants are cosmetic chest wall implants designed to enhance the chest.

These implants differ from breast implants in a number of ways. As expected, the implants are harder and not as voluminous as breast implants. In addition, they are only made of one material (usually Silastic, a soft silicone rubber). Lastly, pectoral implants are inserted only through an axillary incision and are held in place by the overlying pectoralis muscle.

- Who gets pectoral implants?

Roughly 9,000 people undergo pectoral implantation each year. This number has been increasing since men opt for cosmetic surgery more every year. Average males, bodybuilders, and patients with chest abnormalities use pectoral implants about equally. Women can also receive pectoral implants. (See below.)

Chest abnormalities primarily include:

Poland Syndrome- a congenital abnormality of the chest in which there is an absence of the pectoralis major and minor muscles. This syndrome occurs as a result of arterial subclavian blockage during the 46th day of development.

Pectus Excavatum (sunken chest)- this abnormality presents no physical handicaps (i.e. there is no restricted lung capacity) to those who have it. Correcting pectus excavatum with pectoral implants is a sensible alternative considering other surgical techniques (e.g. Ravich operation) present much greater surgical risk.

- Can women get pectoral implants?

Women who are serious body builders often opt for pectoral implants to increase breast size because conventional breast implants displace upon contraction of powerful pectoral muscles.

The female pectoral implant is more accentuated inferiorly to accommodate the breast.

The average cost of pectoral implant surgery is $5,000. The risks are those related to undergoing surgery, and implant displacement may occur. However, cases of pectoral implant morbidity are very rare. The recovery period is about one week for normal activity and six weeks for full activity.

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