Can You Get Pec Implants After Top Surgery?

Yes. Pec implants are recognised as one of the surgical options available to trans men alongside chest masculinisation, and a 2025 plastic surgery review of gender-affirming care lists pectoral implants among the procedures used to create a male-contoured chest^[1]. At Centre for Surgery, pectoral implants are offered as a stand-alone procedure and are also listed among the body implants available as part of body masculinisation surgery.

Whether pec implants are right for you depends on three things:

How your chest has healed. Your scars and the tissue under them need to be fully settled before another operation in the same area.
How much tissue covers your chest muscle. Top surgery leaves a thinner layer of skin and fat over the muscle, which affects how natural an implant looks and feels.
What you want to change. An implant may help a lack of upper chest fullness. Loose skin, a dog ear at the end of a scar or an uneven contour is usually better treated with a top surgery revision.

What Are Pec Implants Made Of?

Pec implants are made of solid silicone elastomer, a firm but flexible material. They are not filled with gel or saline like breast implants, so they cannot rupture, leak or deflate, and they do not need routine replacement. They come in a range of standard shapes and sizes, from a subtle increase to a more pronounced chest, and custom implants can be designed from a scan where the chest has an unusual shape.

The implant sits in a pocket beneath the pectoralis major muscle (subpectoral) or beneath the fascia that covers it (subfascial), so the muscle drapes over it. Your surgeon chooses the depth based on how much muscle and soft tissue you have to cover the implant. After top surgery, deeper placement under the muscle is often favoured, as there is less fat and breast tissue left to hide the implant edge.

Who Considers Pectoral Implants After FTM Top Surgery?

People who ask about pec implants after top surgery usually fall into one of these groups:

A flat chest with little muscle bulk. Top surgery removes breast tissue but cannot create muscle, so a naturally narrow chest can still look underdeveloped.
Training has plateaued. Some people train consistently for a year or more and still find the upper chest lacks fullness.
Asymmetry or a chest wall condition. A smaller pectoral muscle on one side, pectus excavatum (a sunken breastbone) or Poland syndrome can become more visible once breast tissue has gone.

Good candidates are in good general health, at a stable weight, aged 18 or over, and non-smokers (or willing to stop all nicotine for four weeks before and four weeks after surgery). An implant adds shape, but it does not replace training or change your bone structure.

Infographic of key facts about pec implants after top surgery: wait until fully healed, solid silicone implant under the chest muscle, try training first, limited evidence in trans men — Four things to know before considering pec implants after top surgery.

How Long After Top Surgery Can You Get Pec Implants?

Most surgeons wait at least six months after top surgery, and often 12 months or longer, before placing pec implants. There is no single fixed date, but the reasons for waiting are consistent:

Scars need to mature. Top surgery scars keep settling for up to 18 months, and operating near immature scar tissue raises the risk of poor healing.
Swelling hides the final shape. You cannot judge whether you need an implant until you can see your settled result.
Nipple grafts need to settle. If you had double incision top surgery with free nipple grafts, the grafts need to be fully healed and stable before the chest is operated on again.
You need time to train. Most people are cleared for strenuous exercise and heavy lifting from about six weeks. A period of consistent chest training afterwards shows how much shape you can build on your own.

At Centre for Surgery, revision of top surgery is not usually considered before 9 to 12 months for similar reasons, and the same patience applies to adding an implant. Our FTM top surgery recovery guide explains how the chest heals over the first year.

Can Pec Implants Be Done at the Same Time as Top Surgery?

Yes, in suitable patients, and it is an option at Centre for Surgery, although it is less often described in the published research. In a 2017 case report in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open ↗, surgeons in Chicago combined a modified mastectomy, with the nipple kept on a pedicle, with a silicone pectoral implant placed under the muscle in the same operation for one trans man^[2]. The authors felt the implant gave the upper chest a fuller, more masculine shape than mastectomy alone. That is a single case, though, and it does not show how often problems happen.

Many surgeons still prefer to stage the operations. Doing both at once means placing an implant under freshly raised skin flaps, which may increase the risk of fluid collection, infection and implant movement, and it means choosing an implant size before anyone knows what the healed chest will look like. Combining them means one anaesthetic and one recovery. Your surgeon will advise whether a combined or staged approach suits you.

Can You Build Chest Muscle After Top Surgery?

Yes, and for most people this is the first thing to try. Top surgery removes breast tissue that sat in front of the pectoralis major muscle; the muscle itself is left in place. Once you are cleared to train, usually from about six weeks, the chest muscle responds to resistance training in the usual way. Our guide on working out after top surgery explains how to build back up safely.

Start gently and build up over several weeks. Incline presses help the upper chest, which is often where fullness is lacking, and training the shoulders and back makes the chest look wider. Visible change takes months of consistent training, and if you take testosterone it usually makes building muscle easier. If you have given training a fair trial and the shape still is not what you want, that is the point at which surgical options are worth discussing.

Is Fat Transfer to the Chest an Alternative to Pec Implants?

It can be. Fat transfer (fat grafting) takes fat from another area by liposuction, purifies it and injects it into or around the chest muscle to add volume. At Centre for Surgery, fat transfer to the chest is sometimes performed as part of HD Lipo. It gives a softer, more natural feel than an implant, uses your own tissue and leaves only tiny liposuction scars, but some of the transferred fat is reabsorbed, so the result is less predictable and more than one session may be needed.

In a 2026 retrospective study in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery ↗, 60 trans men had fat injected into the pectoralis major muscle at the same time as chest masculinisation surgery, with around 150 to 200 cc per side^[3]. Satisfaction scores at 12 months were high, especially for gender congruence. The trade-offs were not trivial: 16.7% had areas of fat necrosis (firm lumps where grafted fat had not survived), 13.3% had a seroma and 16.7% needed a later aesthetic revision.

Studies in cisgender men add useful detail. A 2025 study of 150 men having fat grafted into the pectoral muscle found that larger volumes led to more fat loss and more asymmetry, and that exercise after surgery was linked to better fat survival^[4]. Another 2025 study using ultrasound-guided grafting showed increased muscle thickness at three months, but the authors stressed that long-term follow-up is still needed^[5]. Fat transfer also needs enough spare fat to harvest, which can rule it out for very lean people.

Can Liposuction Give More Chest Definition After Top Surgery?

Sometimes. Much of what makes a chest look masculine is contour rather than muscle size: a clear lower edge to the chest, no fullness at the sides under the arms, and a smooth line into the flanks. Contouring liposuction can sharpen those lines. Many surgeons build it into top surgery itself, as we explain in our guide to combining top surgery with chest contouring. If you have already healed and the sides of the chest or flanks still carry fat, male liposuction can be done separately, alone or with fat transfer or pec implants.

Double incision mastectomy with free nipple grafts, before and after, at Centre for Surgery London — Double incision top surgery with free nipple grafts, before and after. Looking at your healed result is the starting point for deciding whether you want more chest definition.

How Are Pec Implants Placed After Top Surgery?

At Centre for Surgery, pectoral implant surgery is a day case under TIVA (total intravenous anaesthesia) and takes about two hours for both sides. The main steps are:

Marking. With you standing, your surgeon marks the incision, the pocket and the implant position on each side, taking account of your top surgery scars and nipple position.
Incision in the armpit. A 5 to 6 cm incision is made in the natural crease of each armpit, away from your top surgery scars, so there is no new scar on the chest.
Creating the pocket. A pocket is made beneath the pectoralis major muscle or its fascia, sized closely to the implant so it cannot move about.
Placing the implant. The implant is inserted with a no-touch technique to reduce handling and the risk of infection, and the two sides are checked for symmetry.
Closure. The incisions are closed with dissolvable stitches and a compression garment is fitted. Drains are sometimes used and removed at an early follow-up.

After top surgery, implant choice needs extra care. An implant that is too large for the tissue cover can show its edges, and one placed too high or too low can make your nipples look out of position. Your surgeon will discuss implant size, shape and position with you before surgery, and a two-week cooling-off period from the date of consent is recommended.

What Are the Risks of Pec Implants After Top Surgery?

Pec implant surgery is generally safe when it is carefully planned, but like any operation it carries risks. Some are more relevant after top surgery, when the tissue over the muscle is thinner and there is already scar tissue in the chest. The main risks are:

Seroma or haematoma: a collection of fluid or blood around the implant, which may need draining.
Malposition: the implant moves or rotates out of position, the risk most specific to pec implants. It may need further surgery.
Asymmetry: a difference in position or shape between the two sides.
Capsular contracture: scar tissue tightens around the implant, causing firmness or distortion.
Infection: a deep infection may mean the implant has to be removed until the area has healed.
Visible or palpable edges: more likely in lean people and after top surgery, where less tissue covers the implant.
Altered sensation in the chest or inner arm, usually temporary but occasionally permanent.

Reported series in cisgender men suggest that serious complications are uncommon when patients are well selected. In a 2007 case series in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery ↗, 21 men had pectoral implants with good improvement in chest contour and no major complications^[6]. Small series cannot show how often rarer problems happen, though, and case reports describe implants that have shifted significantly with fluid collecting around them^[7]. If an implant moves, forms a firm capsule or you are unhappy with the result, revision surgery can reposition, replace or remove it. Unless there is a specific problem, it is usually best to wait 12 to 18 months before revision so the result can settle.

What Is Recovery Like After Pec Implants?

Recovery after pec implants focuses on protecting the implant pocket while it heals. A typical timeline is:

First few days: the chest feels tight and sore, as the muscle has been lifted to create the pocket. Simple pain relief usually controls this, and most people are comfortable within a week. A responsible adult must take you home and stay with you for 24 hours.
First two weeks: avoid lifting your arms overhead or stretching them wide, as this can disturb the pocket. Walking from the first day is encouraged.
About one week: most people return to desk-based work. Jobs involving lifting or reaching need four to six weeks.
Six weeks: the compression garment is worn day and night for six weeks. Chest training, such as presses, flyes and shoulder work, usually restarts from six weeks once your surgeon is happy.
Three to six months: the chest shape is clearer from about six weeks, and the final result is visible at three to six months.

Our pectoral implants recovery guide covers each stage in more detail, and our article on whether pec implants affect muscle growth explains how to return to training.

What Does the Research Say About Pec Implants in Trans Men?

Honestly, not very much. Most of what is known about pec implants comes from small case series in cisgender men having cosmetic chest enhancement, or in people with chest wall conditions^[6]. Published reports of pec implants in trans men are very few, and the main example is a single case report^[2]. There are no large studies comparing pec implants with fat transfer or training after top surgery, and no long-term data on how implants behave under mastectomy skin flaps. Fat grafting into the chest muscle now has a larger study in trans men than implants do^[3], but it comes from a single centre.

In practice, decisions about pec implants after top surgery rely on general principles of implant surgery, your surgeon’s experience and a careful assessment of your chest rather than strong trial evidence. A good consultation should be open about that uncertainty, and you should feel free to take time to decide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you get pecs after top surgery?

Yes. Top surgery leaves the pectoral muscle in place, so you can build it with resistance training once you are cleared to exercise, usually from about six weeks. If training does not give enough shape, pec implants or fat transfer to the chest can add volume once your chest has fully healed, usually at least six months to a year after top surgery.

How can you tell if a guy has pec implants?

With a well-sized implant under enough muscle, it can be hard to tell. Possible signs include a chest shape that changes little when the muscle is flexed, implant edges that can be seen or felt in very lean people, and a scar in the armpit crease. After top surgery, thinner tissue cover can make edges easier to feel.

How long do pec implants last?

Pec implants are designed to last long term. They are made of solid silicone, so they do not rupture, leak or wear out like gel implants and need no routine replacement. Further surgery may still be needed if an implant moves, a firm capsule forms around it, or your preferences change.

Are pec implants worth it?

For the right person, they can make a real difference to chest shape and confidence. They are most worthwhile when training has plateaued, your top surgery has fully healed and you have enough tissue to cover an implant. They are less suitable if you are very lean, or if the real concern is loose skin or scars, which a top surgery revision may address better.

Can trans men get pec implants?

Yes. Pectoral implants are one of the procedures used in chest masculinisation for trans men, either in the same operation as top surgery or as a separate operation once it has healed. At Centre for Surgery, no diagnosis, GP referral or WPATH letter is needed for gender-affirming surgery, and patients must be 18 or over.

How much do pec implants cost?

The price depends on whether standard or custom-made implants are needed and on any procedures combined with them, such as liposuction. Current prices are in our pec implants cost guide, and you receive a written, personalised quote after a face-to-face consultation with your surgeon.

Do pec implants affect muscle growth?

The implant itself does not grow or shrink, but the muscle over it still responds to training once you have healed. Many people continue chest training from about six weeks after surgery, and building the muscle over the implant can help it look more natural.

Where is the scar for pec implants?

The scar is in the armpit. A 5 to 6 cm incision is made in the natural armpit crease, so there is no new scar on the chest and it stays separate from your top surgery scars. It usually fades to a fine line over several months.

Pec Implants After Top Surgery in London

Pectoral implants at Centre for Surgery are performed by GMC-registered plastic surgeons as a day case under TIVA at our CQC-regulated Baker Street hospital, rated Good overall by the CQC. We also perform FTM top surgery for trans men and non-binary people, including double incision with free nipple grafts, nipple-sparing double incision, inverted T, keyhole and periareolar techniques, so your surgeon can look at your whole chest and advise whether training, fat transfer, liposuction, a top surgery revision or pec implants would help most. No diagnosis or referral letter is needed, and the consultant who assesses you is the consultant who performs your surgery. Your initial consultation is £100, redeemable against the cost of surgery if you go ahead. Finance is available, subject to status.

Phone: 020 7993 4849 | Address: 95–97 Baker Street, Marylebone, London W1U 6RN
Contact us to schedule a consultation

References

Hariga CS, Bordeanu-Diaconescu EM, Grosu-Bularda A. Management of gender-affirming patients: a plastic surgery perspective. Acta Endocrinologica (Bucharest) 2025;21(1):103–109. doi:10.4183/aeb.2025.103 ↗
Abbed T, Shifrin DA. Aesthetic female-to-male chest transformation: power of combining modified mastectomy with a pectoral implant. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open 2017;5(8):e1445. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000001445 ↗
Brasó CV, Corrao C, Elia R, et al. Intramuscular fat grafting for pectoralis volumization in transmasculine patients: combining chest masculinization and chest contouring in one surgery. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 2026. doi:10.1007/s00266-026-06271-7 ↗
Mera-Cruz G, Murillo-Romero N, Barragán-Guadalupe C, et al. Male chest athletic definition: a comprehensive view from an anatomical and physiological perspective. Aesthetic Surgery Journal 2025;45(5):486–492. doi:10.1093/asj/sjae248 ↗
Flores González EA, Babaitis R, Manzaneda Cipriani RM, et al. A new anatomical approach to male pectoral volumization. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open 2025;13(1):e6491. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000006491 ↗
Benito-Ruiz J, Raigosa JM, Manzano-Surroca M, Salvador L. Male chest enhancement: pectoral implants. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 2007;32(1):101–104. doi:10.1007/s00266-007-9018-5 ↗
Kuzmiak CM, Damitz L, Burke R, Hwang M. Male pectoral implants: radiographic appearance of complications. Journal of Radiology Case Reports 2016;10(3):11–19. doi:10.3941/jrcr.v10i3.2549 ↗

The Centre for Surgery clinic frontage at 95 to 97 Baker Street, London W1U 6RN — Centre for Surgery, 95–97 Baker Street, Marylebone, London W1U 6RN.

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