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Calf Implants
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Calf implant procedures and information. Read about strong
good looking legs and nice lower leg development. View patient
before and afte pictures and find a plastic surgeon in your
area who focuses on calf implants.
 Many
people find it difficult to develop their calf muscles,
even with extensive, targeted exercise. For some individuals,
no matter what they do, their lower legs remain thin and
undefined.
Other people have had an illness that has caused the leg
muscles to appear deteriorated or under-developed. Even
bodybuilders sometimes find that the well-defined calves
they desire cannot be produced by exercise alone, and they
elect to have calf implant surgery in order to produce a
better-balanced lower body.
The implants come in a variety of shapes and sizes. In the
case of disease or injury, custom implants may also be made
from a mold of the calf muscles. Most implants are made
of pliable, but solid materials, such as silicone. They
are placed above the calf muscles to enhance their appearance,
giving the legs more definition and shape.
If you�re considering calf implant surgery, the following
information will provide you with a good introduction to
the procedure. For more detailed information about how this procedure may help you, we recommend that you consult a plastic surgeon who has completed a residency program that includes instruction in this procedure.
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What are some of the most common benefits of calf implants?
What will happen at the initial consultation?
How is this surgery performed?
How long does the surgery take?
Will I need to stay in a hospital?
How much pain is there?
What can I expect after surgery?
What is the recovery period like?
What is the long-term outcome like for most people?
How long do the results last?
Ideal candidate:
Other important information:
Risks:
Choosing a doctor:
Questions to ask your doctor:
Be sure to:
How do I finance this procedure?
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| What are some
of the most common benefits of calf implants? |
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After calf implant surgery, the legs can
appear more shapely and defined. This can create a greater
feeling of confidence, particularly in clothes such
as shorts and swimsuits. For bodybuilders and others,
calf implants can bring the calves into better proportion
with the rest of their bodies. For those who have suffered
from a disease or injury, the surgery may help create
a feeling of victory over the disease, bringing an end
to negative feelings of being abnormal or different.
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| What will happen
at the initial consultation? |
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During the consultation, you�ll be able
to talk to your doctor about the changes you would like
to make in your appearance. He/she will explain the
different options available to you, the procedure itself,
its risks, limitations and costs.
It is important that you tell your surgeon if you are
prone to heavy scarring, such as keloids. Be sure to
ask all the questions you have about the surgery, and
ask to see photos of the doctor�s recent patients, before
and after surgery.
Also ask for, and follow up on, patient references.
Learning everything you can about your options, risks
and benefits is the key to making an informed decision.
See Questions to ask your doctor
below. |
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| How is this surgery
performed? |
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An incision is made below the crease behind
the knee. In this position, any scar that remains after
the surgery will most likely be well concealed; however
the scar will be visible to someone who looks for it.
The implant is inserted, and the incision is closed
with sutures (stitches). |
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| How long does
the surgery take? |
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The length of the procedure varies, but
generally takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour per side.
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| Will I need to
stay in a hospital? |
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If you have no medical problems, the procedure
can be performed on an outpatient basis, either in your
doctor�s office or in an outpatient clinic. It may be
performed under local anesthesia with light sedation,
local anesthesia with deep sedation, or general anesthesia.
The longer the procedure is expected to take, the more
likely that general anesthesia will be recommended.
You may be allowed to return home within a few hours
of the surgery, and spend the night in the comfort of
your own home. However, if you have other medical problems,
concurrent procedures, or a lengthier procedure performed
under general anesthesia, it may be necessary to spend
the night in the hospital so your recovery process can
be monitored by a medical staff. |
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| How much pain
is there? |
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If the procedure is done with a local
anesthetic supplemented by a light sedative, the pain
experienced is minimal, although you may feel pressure
or movement. More sedation will further reduce sensations,
and general anesthesia will eliminate all sensation
during the procedure. |
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| What can I expect
after surgery? |
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Immediately following the surgery the calves may
feel stiff and sore. There is little discomfort associated
the incisions because they are small. Medication and
ice packs may be used in the first few days to reduce
discomfort and swelling. However, some swelling and
bruising is to be expected.
It is advisable to rest the legs and keep them elevated
during the week following the surgery. As walking
begins, there is some discomfort. It is very important
to keep the legs clean in order to prevent infection.
It is important to follow all of your doctor�s instructions
to prevent complications.
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| What is the recovery
period like? |
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Normal physical activities may be resumed
a few days after the surgery. However, in order to allow
the body time to heal, vigorous activities such as exercise
should be delayed until about six weeks after the surgery.
Ask your doctor for more information about your particular
situation. |
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| What is the long-term
outcome like for most people? |
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If you are self-conscious about your calves,
this procedure may open up new possibilities for a positive
body image. It can allow you to confidently show off
your legs in shorts and bathing suits. With time, the
scars will most likely fade until they are completely
unnoticeable. |
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| How long do
the results last? |
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The results of this procedure are generally
quite long lasting, but there may be some problems,
such as the circulatory problems that sometimes come
with age -- eventually necessitating the removal of
the implants. With age the muscles begin to shrink and
the outline of the implants may occasionally become
visible many years later. |
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| Ideal candidate: |
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In general, the best candidates for calf
implants are:
- Men and women who would like to have more developed
looking muscles
- In good physical health
- Psychologically stable
- Realistic in their expectations for the outcome
The above is only a partial list of the criteria that
your surgeon will consider in determining whether or
not this procedure is appropriate for you. Be sure to
ask your surgeon if he / she considers you an ideal
candidate for calf implants. |
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| Other important
information: |
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Most people considering calf implants
have already tried different exercises to shape the
calves. If you have not exercised to build the calf
muscles, you should try this first.
This procedure is often performed in conjunction with
liposuction
in the ankle and leg, to create a thinner and more defined
look. |
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| Risks: |
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Significant complications from calf implants
are infrequent. As with any surgical procedure, however,
there is always a possibility of infection, or reaction
to the anesthesia.
In rare cases, there may be bleeding. Rarely, before
recovery is complete, the implants shift. During the
recovery, there is also a risk of the implant becoming
distorted as the body heals around it. In very rare
cases, the implant may weaken the nearby muscle. |
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| Choosing a doctor: |
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It is very important that you select a
physician adequately trained and experienced in liposuction
techniques. See our Physician
Locator feature to find a surgeon in your area,
including detailed profile information on many of the
listed doctors. Also read How
to Select a Plastic Surgeon for a more detailed
discussion on choosing the right doctor.
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| Questions to
ask your doctor: |
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- Are the desired results I described realistic?
- Where is the surgery performed? How long will
the procedure take?
- Am I good candidate for calf implant surgery?
Why or why not?
- What kind of anesthesia is used?
- How much does it cost?
- What is your experience in performing this procedure?
(How long has he/she performed this procedure, and
how many he/she has performed in the past year?)
- What percentage of patients have had significant
complications? (The physician should disclose this
information to you.)
- Will you repeat or correct procedures if it does
not meet agreed upon goals? And if the procedure
must be repeated / corrected, will I be charged
again? (The physician should provide you with his/her
policy on this issue.)
- May I see "before and after" photos of recent
patients? The physician should provide many photos
of recent patients.
- May I have the names and contact information
for several recent calf implant patients? (Follow
up to get first-hand information on the procedure
and the surgeon.)
- Could I observe the exact procedure I am considering
before I decide to have the surgery? (Either on
videotape or ask to view one in real life.)
- What should I expect post-operatively, in terms
of soreness, what to watch for, medication, bathing,
and level of activity?
- Who will be assisting during the surgery? What
are their qualifications? (Does the plastic surgeon
perform the entire surgery?)
- Have you ever had your malpractice insurance
coverage denied, revoked, suspended?
- Do you offer patient
financing?
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| Be sure to: |
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- Tell your doctor about any allergies you have
(to foods, drugs, environmental elements)
- Tell your doctor if you have any problems with
scarring, such as keloids.
- Tell your doctor about all medications you are
taking (both prescription and non-prescription)
- Carefully follow any instructions your surgeon
gives you regarding eating and drinking, smoking,
and vitamins.
- Avoid aspirin and aspirin-containing medicines
for two weeks prior to surgery.
- Arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery.
The information on this web site is only intended
as an introduction to this procedure and should not
be used to determine whether you will have the procedure
performed nor as a guarantee of the result. The best
method of determining your options is to consult qualified
surgeons who are able to answer specific questions related
to your situation. |
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| How do I finance
this procedure? |
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Did you know that 29% of all Americans
have considered having an elective procedure? Of those,
60% would schedule a procedure immediately if financing
was available. With iEnhance's patient
financing options, money no longer has to be the
barrier between you and your new image. By filling out
our on-line
application you can qualify for a loan in as little
as 30 seconds. |
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