Surgery for Pec Implants
Pectoral implant surgery is usually performed in our outpatient facility using general anesthesia. Local anesthesia with intravenous sedation may also be used in certain circumstances. This surgical procedure generally takes approximately one and one half hours to perform. The surgical plan, including implant placement and lines of incisions, is outlined prior to surgery.
Once the patient is asleep, an incision is made, approximately four centimeters in length, in the natural crease of the follicle-bearing skin of the armpit. A "pocket" or space is created under each pectoral muscle of the chest corresponding to the planned outline on the skin, which was marked prior to surgery. The solid silicone pectoral implants are then inserted. The table back is elevated and any needed adjustments in implant placement are made. Prior to closure, a long acting anesthetic is poured around the implants, which dramatically reduces postoperative discomfort. The incision is closed with sutures below the level of the skin to avoid cross-hatching and suture marks. Liposuction, or any other planned procedure, is then performed. At the conclusion of surgery, a light dressing and elastic compression garment is applied over the surgical area.
Recovery After Pectoral Implants
Following the surgery, patients generally report mild to moderate discomfort, which is easily controlled with medication. Varying degrees of swelling and bruising, generally mild, subside over several weeks. Gentle arm raising maneuvers begin immediately after surgery. The elastic compression garment or Ace bandage is generally worn for one to two weeks following surgery. Routine activities may resume at two weeks and exercise started at eight weeks after surgery. It must be remembered that complete healing requires time and patience, taking several months before the final results of surgery are realized.
Complications with Male Pectoral Implants
As with most cosmetic surgical procedures, complications are unlikely when performed by a skilled and competent surgeon. Complications include, but are not limited to, anesthesia risks, bleeding, infection, fluid accumulation under the skin (seroma) that may need to be drained, nerve damage, poor wound healing and unsatisfactory scars. Also possible is asymmetry, displacement, hardening of the scar tissue around the implant and need for revisional surgery or even removal of the implants. Also rare, but possible, are blot clots or emboli (blood clots which dislodge and travel in the blood stream to distant sights), which can be fatal.
At Aventura Center for Cosmetic Surgery, Venodyne® calf compression devices are used for every pectoral implant surgery (as well as many other surgeries). These pressure cuffs fit over each lower leg from the ankle to the knee, circulating every one to two minutes to reduce the pooling of blood in the lower extremities and further reduce the possibility of blood clots or emboli. In addition, smokers must stop smoking well in advance of surgery. Smoking seriously decreases bleed circulation in the skin, which increases the risks of complications and poor healing.
