About Calf Implants
This information is intended for general information only and should not be considered as medical advice on the part of Health-Tourism.com. Any decision on medical treatments, after-care or recovery should be done solely upon proper consultation and advice of a qualified physician.
What are Calf Implants?
Men and women choose calf implants when they are dissatisfied with the shape or proportion of their calves, they cannot achieve the muscle tone they desire through exercise alone, or they wish to correct calf muscle imperfections as a result of injury or disease. Conditions such as polio, spina bifida and club foot can create muscle deterioration and a shrunken leg that benefits from calf implants. Calf implants come in different shapes and sizes, for men and women.
Calf implants are carried out through surgery on the calves. Calf implants surgery increase the size of the calf and improves calf shape and definition.
Calf implants are also referred to as calf augmentation.
How is Calf Implants surgery carried out?
Calf implants are inserted into the lower legs in the following surgical procedure:
The surgeon makes a small incision in the back of the knee and creates a pocket for the insertion of the implant using a surgical instrument. The silicone implant is placed over the calf muscle. Sometimes calf implants will be placed on both the inner and outer calf for more definition. Calf implants can be added to both legs or one leg only depending on the desired results. The calf implants stay in place with stitches or the action of your existing muscle.
How popular is this type of surgery?
Calf implants are fairly common in Mexico, South America and Central America. Inner calf augmentation is more popular with women while inner and outer calf augmentation is popular with men.
Duration of procedure/surgery : Calf implant surgery may take between 1 to 2 hours per calf.
Days admitted : You may need to stay over for 1 night after your calf implants procedure.
Anesthesia : Calf implants are inserted under a general anesthesia. Occasionally an epidural or local anesthesia is used instead.
Recovery : - Dressings are removed after 2 days.
- Walking becomes easier after the first week following the calf implants procedure.
- Swelling and pain should disappear after 2 weeks.
- After 3 weeks walking becomes normal and the skin begins to retain its usual appearance.
- Normal activity levels can be resumed after one month to six weeks.
Risks : Calf implant surgery is a minimally invasive procedure and serious complications are rare.
Risks include:
- Infection.
- Bleeding.
- Nerve or muscle damage.
- Swelling surrounding the muscle.
- Calf implants may shift from the original placing and produce an asymmetrical appearance.
- Calf implants can rupture and need to be removed and replaced.
- Dissatisfaction with appearance of calves. To minimize risk and ensure the desired calf shape is achieved, consult with your surgeon to choose the correct size and shape of the implants.
After care : - Stay in bed for the first day, get lots of rest and elevate the legs.
- Wear a compression bandage for a few days.
- After the first two days, for the first week or two, you can walk around gently but elevate the legs when sitting or lying to reduce swelling and discomfort.
- Avoid strenuous activities for around six weeks.
- Take prescribed painkiller following calf implant surgery.
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