Breast Implants for Athletes Breast Augmentation | May 4, 2017 Plastic surgery has always been a very controversial subject in the world of sports and athletics. Whether it serves as an aesthetic improvement or a hindrance in performance, the option for undergoing breast augmentation carries an aesthetic appeal to female athletes. The breasts are the most prominent features of a woman. Like other women, athletic women are just as entitled to enhancing these features. From bodybuilders to hurdlers, to football players and professional wrestlers, is breast augmentation on its way to becoming an industry staple? Why Breast Augmentation Appeals to Athletes If anything, the aesthetic value of this procedure is what makes it appealing to many athletes. It provides them with a more feminine physique they may lack due to the extensive training in their respective sports. For sports such as Bodybuilding, womanliness has become a central requirement for judges. During a recent interview, 8-time Ms. Olympia, Lenda Murray, had admitted that breast augmentation played an important role in her 1990 win. Her physique is now the current standard for female bodybuilders in her field: strongly built with a well-defined feminine quality. This desire for a more “feminine” quality has extended to contact sports with many athletes suspected to have undergone breast augmentation. However, it is important to note that many of these women undergo breast augmentation with the risk that it could affect their performance. Risks of Breast Augmentation for Athletes While it is a safe procedure, for women engaged in heavy physical activity, the addition of saline or silicone implants may pose a number of risks that need to be considered: Capsular Contracture Capsular contracture is a complication that develops when internal scar tissues form a tight capsule around the implants, resulting in compression of the implants that cause them to become misshapen and hard. Implant Rupture or Deflation Rupture is the breaking of implant folds, while deflation occurs due to implant fatigue. Such risks are often caused by physical stress to the breast such as trauma or intense pressure from contact sports. Implant Displacement This is often caused by strenuous activities such as training, exercise, and performance, which are common to athletes. Prolonged displacement of implants may cause swelling, bruising, and even thinning of the skin. The complication is common among women engaged in weightlifting. These risks can be avoided through proper care and post-operative recovery. Breast Augmentation Factors to Consider The first question to arise when athletes undergo breast augmentation is the effect it will have on their performance. While there are no serious long-term effects on athletic performance, the procedure may present a disruption on their training and fitness routine, with recovery taking anywhere between 4-6 weeks. The second and most important factor is finding the right board-certified plastic surgeon to perform the surgery. They went through years of extensive training and would know how to set realistic goals with athletes. This ensures that athletes are provided with results that are not only aesthetically pleasing but will also allow them to continue engaging in physical activity. Can Athletes Get Breast Augmentation? The answer is yes. Being fit and active should not limit a woman from achieving her aesthetic dreams. Risks and complications are always present in any type of cosmetic surgery, but under the right care and properly aligned fitness goals, the breast augmentation surgery does not impose any problems. If anything, the addition allows women to feel strong and look all the more beautiful.
