How to even out pecs? [pics]

[enwar3]

Ever since even before I started working out, my pecs have been pretty uneven. It boggles me! My right pec (left in the pictures) seems to have a chunk taken out of it along the outer edge. I started out doing barbell bench and dips for about a year, but about 6 months ago I moved to dumbbells instead. I keep a close eye on my form, but going to dumbbells hasn't helped. My question is: what kind of movement should I be doing to target that weak area and even out my chest?

Pics:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23227024@N06/4212996154/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23227024@N06/4212996176/

So in the pictures, the pec on the right side looks fine, but the pec on the left side looks different in that there's not a smooth outer edge from sternum to shoulder (there's a piece "missing" along the outer edge). The pec in question is a little smaller than the other one, but they have both grown in size since I started and the unevenness persists.

I've been mainly considering doing declines, but it occurred to me today that maybe that part is hit best by inclines. Suggestions?

 

[brikis98]

If the entire pec was smaller or weaker, it might be due to uneven form, in which case record yourself while lifting and watch the video carefully to check that your form is even/symmetric. However, to me it looks like an odd indent in one localized spot and I can't see how lifting in one way or another would cause that. Did you ever have any kind of accident/injury/surgery that could have affected that pec? Or perhaps it's just genetic and that is how it forms?

 

[TallBill]

Could just be genetic. When I flex, mine are not even. Meh.

 

[Atty]

That entire side of your body seems "smaller" (Look at the traps, the one on the side of the pec deformation is shorter than the other).

To me you've got a shortened pectoral muscle which is giving your entire side a different "look" than the other side. Because of that your one side would build/look/etc differently than the other. A close friend of mine, who works at my gym, is a anatomy teacher and massage therapist (guess she got bored of teaching...?) and when she evaluated me a few months back, she pointed out one of my shoulders is "rolled" and it's due to a muscle being shorter, she claimed the most common way for that to happen is from sitting at the computer a lot, of course I quickly denied even owning a computer, let alone sitting at one for any length of time....

Anyway, it's nothing to worry about, you're just built unevenly, like me, and countless others.

Or I could be wrong and you're form could just be horrible or....10 billion other things.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Yeah, the size difference seems like it is due to slightly differing muscle insertion point. Sometimes you can't really change the look of things. If you notice any anomaly between strength on both sides, you may want to let your lagging side catch up by using dumbbells and moving up only when both sides succeed. If there is no strength deviation, I'd just accept it as one of your anatomical quirks.

 

[ScottyB]

A very mild case of poland's syndrome? I would check with a plastic surgeon. He will be able to tell you more.

 

[Zstream]

Ever since even before I started working out, my pecs have been pretty uneven. It boggles me! My right pec (left in the pictures) seems to have a chunk taken out of it along the outer edge. I started out doing barbell bench and dips for about a year, but about 6 months ago I moved to dumbbells instead. I keep a close eye on my form, but going to dumbbells hasn't helped. My question is: what kind of movement should I be doing to target that weak area and even out my chest?

Pics:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23227024@N06/4212996154/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23227024@N06/4212996176/

So in the pictures, the pec on the right side looks fine, but the pec on the left side looks different in that there's not a smooth outer edge from sternum to shoulder (there's a piece "missing" along the outer edge). The pec in question is a little smaller than the other one, but they have both grown in size since I started and the unevenness persists.

I've been mainly considering doing declines, but it occurred to me today that maybe that part is hit best by inclines. Suggestions?

Same problem here, my entire left side is weaker though. I think it might be a little late to start correcting it, you will have to watch how you curl/pushup/bench.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Same problem here, my entire left side is weaker though. I think it might be a little late to start correcting it, you will have to watch how you curl/pushup/bench.

A lot of weakness can be from the shoulder. If you have a nagging shoulder injury or rotator cuff weakness, it can affect all your lifts on that side. For example, I had shoulder impingement in my left shoulder. With dumbbells, I would reach one to two fewer reps on my lift side for DB bench, DB curls, DB shoulder press, etc. Some rotator cuff strengthening exercises may help.

 

[Eric62]

My first few years of lifting I noticed my right pec was lagging in development, even though I'm right handed.
After my heavy BB work (Supine and Incline Pressing) I started doing my supine DB fly's with 10lbs more in my right hand. 40 right side/30 left for example for 10 reps.
Eventually I mostly evened out.
Nobodies left side is a mirror image of their right, so don't sweat it too much...

 

[alkemyst]

looks minor to me...BB.com forums would be a better place.

Most of the reason the top bodybuilders get to where they are at is symmetry. It's pretty rare to be most of the time.

The most beautiful/handsome are usually very symmetrical in their faces. It goes a long way.

 

[enwar3]

Well, it seems like I will just have to live with it. Strength is even across both sides when I do dumbbell press. I do know my right side is slightly smaller (shorter collarbone) so maybe that contributes to the muscle being smaller. I'll try doing more weight/reps on the "weak" side to see if that helps.

Somebody suggested it may be adiposity. Maybe I just happen to have a strange fat deposit there. I did some poking around and it *could* be the case. If it is, can I correct it?

While I'm asking, what exactly does incline bench (say, 30&#37 work? Are you working the entire top half of the muscle, or is something like just up in the collarbone area? (I know whether or not/how inclines affect the upper chest is debatable, I'm just asking for the general consensus)

 

[Tech_savy]

Keep the workout going it will help you.

 

[Sea Moose]

Swap the hand you fap with