Pectoral augmentation is a cosmetic surgical procedure that uses implants to increase the size of the chest muscles. The pec implants are placed high on the chest, so that they add volume to the upper chest and draw up any sagging tissue in the lower chest at the same time.
Pectoral Implant Procedure
The pec implant is placed between the pectoralis major and the pectoralis minor muscles. This means that if you could look inside someone’s chest, you would see the pectoralis major muscle, then the pec implant, then the pectoralis minor muscle.
Unlike female breast augmentation, male pectoral augmentation uses solid pectoral implants. They come in various shapes and sizes. They can be trimmed at the point of surgery to fit the patient’s specific chest anatomy if the preformed implants are not perfect.
The solid implants are roughly the same density of muscle and have a similar feel to anyone touching it across the skin and muscle. Because the pec implant is placed between the two chest muscles, normal arm movement will also move the pec implant along with the chest, giving it a natural look.
Pec implants are primarily created from a silicone elastomer. In older pectoral implant procedures, fluid-filled sacs, similar to female breast implants were used. Not only did these implants look and feel more like breasts than muscle, but the rigors of exercise and weight training would often cause them to rupture. Pec implant rupture is no longer an issue, with solid implants though migration of the implant is possible.
The most common approach for pec implantation is to enter through the armpit, not through the areola as is done in women. This approach hides the surgical incision and scar and also reduces bruising and swelling in the chest. This means that augmentation recovery is faster and the results of the pec implant surgery are more quickly realized.
Recovery
Pectoral augmentation recovery is also faster if local anesthesia plus sedation is used rather than general anesthesia. The local anesthesia approach is also safer and reduces surgery costs considerably. Most cosmetic surgeons will advocate for the general anesthesia approach—not as a money grab—but because it gives them more freedom during pec implant placement.
With general anesthesia, the dissection can be deeper and the implants can be moved around once inside the chest. The result is a more symmetrical, more aesthetically pleasing pectoral augmentation.
While male breast reduction surgery is commonly performed, pectoral augmentation is still relatively rare. Pec implant procedures made up about one tenth of all male breast surgeries last year. Part of the reason for this is that many men (and physicians) do not realize that male pectoral augmentation is even available. Also, many plastic surgeons do not offer it as an option.
Pec implant surgery is a fairly specialized surgical field. Therefore it is important to consult with a plastic surgeon that has extensive experience in pectoral augmentation surgery. It is also important to find a surgeon that has used solid pec implants (virtually all will) and one that has before and after pictures of previous cases.