Does A Muscular Frame Restrict The Amount of Clavicle Lengthening That Can Be Achieved?

Q: Dr. Eppley, Would the muscle I have on my frame restrict the amount of length that could be attained from the surgery? If so would I be able to stretch my muscles out for a extended period of time prior to surgery to negate this?

A: What I have found is that in all shoulder lengthening patients the shoulder girdle is tight, whether one has muscle hypertrophy or not. (although it certainly feels tighter in the more muscle developed patient) Whether a stretched out shoulder helps or not for this surgery can be debated. But it certainly can only help particularly when significant muscle development is present.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon