Bench Press?

[canadianmoobs123]

When can you start bench pressing or start doing any other weight lifting exercises for the pectoral muscles after the surgery? My doctor said 4-5 months but I looked at Dr. Rick Silverman's getting back to training page on his website and he said only 6 weeks? Is my doctor just overreacting? (by the way, I had a moderate case, not severe).

[DrPensler]

I have patients use lower weights towards the end of the first week. I treat a number of professional athletes and the idea of not weight lifting for a prolonged period of time is not a realistic option.

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

I usually allow my routine patients to return to the guy at approx 4 weeks after surgery.  That would also include working out with weights.  Obviously, you have to work up to your usual weights -- I advise to do so gradually.

Dr Jacobs

[Litlriki]

As you've read, I allow patients to do cardio after a week, start weight training at 2 weeks, but no direct chest work for 4 weeks.  I haven't had any patients develop a post-operative problem  related to this activity in nearly 20 years of doing gynecomastia surgery, including a significant number of my patients who engage in bodybuilding and other athletic activities.

Rick Silverman

[canadianmoobs123]

Will pectoral muscle hypertrophy cause any problems with skin contraction or healing?

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

Enlargement of the pecs does not usually affect skin contraction.  However, that is assuming that the surgery was done correctly so there is a layer of residual fat intervening between the skin and the muscle.  If there is no fat, then the undersurface of the skin can adhere and heal to the muscle.  Then, the skin does not move in that spot and may indeed result in a dimple or a pucker upon chest movement.

Dr Jacobs