Calf Implants
Enhance the size and shape of your calves
Calf augmentation with implants is a procedure to increase the size and improve the shape of the calf. Patients seek calf implants to tone and define the lower leg if it cannot be achieved with exercise alone, or to correct a muscle imbalance resulting from physical or birth defects.
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Calf Implants Procedure by Dr. Eric Weiss
Consultation
Dr. Weiss begins your initial consultation by reviewing before and after photos of other calf implant patients, and will help you select the level of correction for you to achieve your desired look. All applicable costs will also be reviewed during this confidential appointment.
Procedure
Your legs are measured during a preoperative office visit to determine the right implant size, and then the implants are ordered for surgery. The incision is made at the back of the knee, through the skin and fascia (sheet of connective tissue) covering the gastrocnemius muscle. Once your surgeon locates the most salient nerve (tibial nerve), the procedure can proceed without much concern for encountering other nerves or arteries, because there aren’t many in this area. A snug pocket is made between this fascia and muscle, into which the implant will be inserted. The implant is inserted and the leg is examined before the incision is closed with sutures.
Recovery
During the recovery period, patients should avoid walking or performing any other activities that involves the use of the legs for several days. Side effects that commonly occur during the recovery include pain, tenderness and swelling. Most patients will be able to resume their normal activity level within a week to ten days, although exercise routines requiring use of the leg muscles should be avoided for about a month to allow the calves to heal. After the recovery, there should be no adverse impact on the use of the leg muscles, since the muscles themselves are not cut or detached during the procedure.