Calf and Pectoral Implants


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Calf and Pectoral Implants

Calf and Pectoral Implants
Are You A Good Candidate
Meeting With The Doctor
How The Procedure Is Performed
What To Expect After Surgery
Possible Side Effects And Risks
How Long Will The Results Last
Questions You May Have

Calf and Pectoral Implants
In recent years, surgeons have begun to use muscle-enhancing surgery to give their male patients the muscle bulk and definition they have been unable to achieve through dieting and weight lifting exercise alone. Calf implants, which were originally developed to restore leg contour in accident or polio victims, can be used to create fullness in the lower leg. Similarly, pectoral implants, which are used to build the chest of men with Poland's syndrome, can also be used to add muscle bulk to the pectoral muscles of healthy men.

Working with the experienced doctors at The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery, you can decide if calf or pectoral implant surgery is right for you and be assured of a safe and pleasing outcome.

Are You A Good Candidate for Calf and Pectoral Implants?
If you are in general good health and weight lifting exercises and dieting efforts have produced unsatisfactory results, you may be an ideal candidate for calf or pectoral implant surgery. The doctors and staff at The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery will guide you in deciding if these procedures are right for you and work with you to make sure you achieve the results you are looking for.

Meeting With The Doctor
Prior to scheduling your surgery, you will meet at length with the staff and doctors at The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery. You will have your body evaluated and will discuss how you want your body to look after the procedure. You will also discuss the type of anesthesia to be used, the type of facility where the surgery will be performed, the possible risks, and the costs involved.

The doctors and staff at The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery will:
� Review the various calf and pectoral options with you
� Clearly discuss the potential risks of the procedure
� Outline in detail how the surgery is performed and what you can expect before, during, and after the procedure
� Provide detailed cost and payment information
� Discuss with you the current FDA regulations governing the use of implants
� Answer all your questions

You will be asked to provide:
� Details about your medical history
� A list of all medications you currently take including over the counter medications such as aspirin, vitamins, and herbal supplements
� Information regarding your tobacco and alcohol consumption.

How The Procedure Is Performed
Your calf and/or pectoral implant procedure is performed at the Center for Ambulatory Surgery, Inc. (CASI) on an outpatient basis. The doctors and staff at the Institute are dedicated to ensuring your complete comfort during and after the procedure. The surgery generally takes one to two hours per area to complete and is performed either under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation. The type of anesthesia used and the length of the surgery, which will be discussed with you prior to your surgery, depend on the type of procedure being performed.

In most cases, an endoscope, a very thin tube with a small camera on the end, is used to perform both calf and pectoral implant surgery. Once a small incision (usually no more than an inch) is made near the area to receive the implant, the endoscope guides the doctor with a great deal of precision. The doctor then inserts the implant in the desired location. Implants are usually made of a solid silicone, which is a soft and flexible material. Occasionally, fat deposits from your own body are used instead of silicone implants.

The implant may be stitched into place or held by your overlying muscle structure, depending on the procedure and your individual anatomy. Sutures are used to close the incision and occasionally temporary drain tubes are inserted to help remove excess blood and fluid. The incision is covered with gauze dressings.

What To Expect After Your Surgery
Activity When

Shower or Bath One to Two Days After Surgery

Back to Work One to Two Weeks After Surgery

Driving Within a Week After Surgery

Stitches Removed Seven to Ten Days After Surgery

Strenuous Activity One Month After Surgery

Contact Sports Eight Weeks After Surgery

Fading of Scars Several Months to One Year

Immediately After Your Surgery
In most cases, you will be ready to go home shortly after the procedure. Because you may be a bit sleepy after the anesthesia and will experience soreness in the area of your incision, it is important for someone to drive you home after your surgery. You may also want to have someone stay with you for a few days after surgery.

The First 24 to 48 Hours After Your Surgery
During the first 24 to 48 hours after your procedure, you may feel tired from the anesthesia and sore from the surgery. The doctor will prescribe pain medication to alleviate much of the discomfort. Your discomfort level will improve rapidly after the first two days. The first post-operative visit is scheduled within two to three days after surgery, with follow-up visits scheduled for one week, two weeks, and one month.

Because most calf and pectoral implant surgery is performed endoscopically, the size of the incision is usually less than an inch and there is very little bleeding. If no drains were used during the surgery, you can take a shower or bath as soon as you feel comfortable doing so, being careful not to get the bandages covering your incisions overly wet. If drains were used, you can shower or bathe as soon as the drains are removed, usually two to three days after surgery.

The First Two Weeks After Surgery
You will notice a marked improvement in your discomfort level during the first week after your surgery and you can most likely return to work within a week of your procedure.

� Any bruising or swelling you experience will usually disappear in about a week.
� Stitches, if not dissolvable, will be removed seven to ten days after surgery.
� Avoid heavy lifting and straining for at least two weeks.

Resuming Your Normal Routine
Everyone heals at different rates and you are the best judge of when you are ready for certain activities, but the following are general guidelines:

� You can most likely return to work or school within one to two weeks of your procedure.
� You can resume driving as soon as you experience no pain when you turn the steering wheel.
� Strenuous exercise can begin in about four weeks after surgery, but avoid contact sports for at least eight weeks after your surgery. Our patients are encouraged to plan an exercise program and discuss it with the staff prior to resuming exercise.
� The scars caused by the surgery should be protected from sunlight for at least a year after surgery.

Things To Be Aware Of After Your Surgery
� The skin in the area of the surgery may appear shiny due to swelling. Within a few weeks, the swelling will disappear and the skin will return to a normal appearance.

� Calf and pectoral implants are placed behind muscles and will, therefore, enlarge the bulk of those muscles. However, they will not increase the strength or power of the muscles.

� Movement of the muscles will not be limited or affected by the use of calf or pectoral implants.

What Are The Possible Side Effects or Risks?
Like all surgical procedures, there are risks associated with calf and pectoral implant surgery. During your pre-surgery consultation with the doctor, your individual risks will be assessed and discussed and it will be determined if you are a good candidate for this type of surgery.

As with any surgery, you can help reduce the risks associated with your calf and/or pectoral implant procedure by closely following the instructions provided to you by the staff of The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery. And, the doctors and staff at the Institute (link to About_Philosophy.doc) will be with you every step of the way to ensure a safe and pleasing outcome.

Some possible side effects include:
� Infection
� Numbness
� Implant Shifting
� Changes in muscle asymmetry
� Scars

How Long Will the Results of Your Calf and Pectoral Implant Surgery Last?
Calf and pectoral implants can add bulk and volume to underdeveloped muscle areas. The results are permanent if silicone implants are used. If fat deposits are used, the procedure may need to be repeated periodically.

Questions You May Have
� Are there other procedures that could be done along with calf and/or implant surgery to enhance the bulk and volume of the selected muscle area?
LipoSelection, a much gentler form of liposuction, can be used to remove fat in the area near your calf or pectoral implant. The doctors at The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery are the first specialists in the Washington DC area certified to perform LipoSelection.

� Will my insurance coverage pay for my calf and/or pectoral implant surgery?
Both calf and pectoral implant surgery is considered a cosmetic treatment and, therefore, is not covered by your insurance. You are responsible for the full payment for your procedure. Cost and payment information will be discussed in detail with you during your initial consultation.

� Are there alternatives to calf and/or pectoral implant surgery?
Options for improving the bulk, volume, and definition of your calves and pectoral region include weight loss and exercise, especially muscle building exercises. LipoSelection may also greatly enhance the look of certain areas of the body. The doctors at The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery are the first Washington DC area surgeons certified to perform this innovative procedure.