Whether it be for cosmetic reasons or due to abnormal deformities, cosmetic plastic surgery has given us all the ability to correct irregularities in a way that is safe and allows for aesthetically pleasing results that could benefit and change a patient’s confidence and life forever. These options are also not only solely available to women. An increasing number of men are visiting us at Toronto’s Elements Spa to address imperfections they’re self-conscious of and to overall greatly improve their quality of life. One not so common but incredibly rewarding procedure for men is Pectoral Implant or Augmentation Surgery.
Men who opt for this procedure typically stem from an athletic background, attend the gym and generally lead a very healthy lifestyle. They may find that no matter how hard they work to grow their pectoral muscles, their muscles either aren’t responding, or in some cases, one muscle responds more than the other. Other patients may have Poland syndrome, a congenital deformity defined as a patient’s partial or lack of development of their pectoral muscle(s). For this reason, Dr. Adibfar may only use one custom implant to correct the asymmetry.
While women’s breast implants are rounder, heavier and add more projection, men’s implants are silicone-based, flat and rectangular shaped. While all the implants are carvable to best suit the desired shape, in some severe cases of asymmetry and/or underdevelopment, Dr. Adibfar may create a custom implant involving creating a mold of the patient’s chest to produce a unique implant. This assures seamless assimilation.
Preoperative planning is crucial, and Dr. Adibfar conducts a thorough evaluation to make any asymmetries aware to the patient as well as answer any questions while describing every detail of the procedure and how it’s tailored to the patient. The procedure involves two incisions made in the patient’s arm pits allowing the visibility of any scarring to be virtually undetectable. Dr. Adibfar then carefully dissects a pocket to make room for the implant to be inserted just under the patient’s natural pectoral muscle. Precision in creating the pocket is crucial as an implant that sits too high or low, or causes the chest to look asymmetrical, is more obvious on a male then female patient and needs to be handled meticulously. Once the pocket is created the implant is folded and inserted into each incision to unfold in the proper position. Dr. Adibfar will continue to check for any bleeding and manually adjusts the implant to make sure it’s in the appropriate aesthetically pleasing position. Dr. Adibfar will also sit the patient up during the procedure to assure proper placement. The incisions are then closed and bandages are placed over them. Dr. Adibfar will also place compression dressings over the chest to assure they stay in position and will carefully evaluate the implants’ placement during recovery.
Typically, a patient is advised to wear a compression vest for approximately 4 weeks post procedure. After four weeks, patients are then able to get back to the gym and regain a physically active lifestyle. Patients are advised to seek the skill of a board-certified cosmetic plastic surgeon with many years of experience and a strong interest in this surgery for optimal results. Pectoral implants are designed to enhance and define the shape of the male chest area and a patient’s results will solely depend on the expertise of the plastic surgeon so it is imperative that they research and choose wisely.
Click here to book a consultation or appointment with board-certified cosmetic plastic surgeon Dr. Adibfar. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have about pectoral implants and augmentation.