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Exercise and Sports with Breast Implants

Many women who are considering breast augmentation are concerned about the effect their breast implants will have on exercise routines. The answer depends on your body type, your breast size, and the details of your situation. When it comes to breast implants, size matters; the larger your breast implants, the more likely it is that they will impact exercise and other athletic activities.

Your exercise may be influenced by breast implants in the following ways:

• Reaching across the chest – Your range of motion can be affected in sports that require inward rotation at your shoulder, such as golf and tennis. However, unless your implants are very large, most athletes are able to quickly adapt and compensate by increasing their torso rotation at the waist.
• Lateral displacement – In some cases, your breast implants can interfere with your arm’s range of motion. By choosing implants with a diameter less than or equal to your native breast’s diameter, this feeling can be minimized.
• Additional weight – The average breast implant weights about ¾ pound, making it rare for patients to experience discomfort from the implant’s added weight. While jumping and running may make this added weight more noticeable, the right sports bra should provide enough support to make it easily tolerated.

If you have further questions about exercise after breast augmentation, please contact us today to schedule a personal consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Eric Desman. The Virginia Center for Plastic Surgery serves patients in Northern Virginia and Washington D.C.