Calf Implants: A Closer Look

by Carrie Aker

Browse the Calf Augmentation Providers in the PSP Network.

Calf implants are becoming more and more popular today, with numerous surgical specialists offering the surgery in clinics across the country. While calf augmentation can be purely cosmetic in nature, many patients utilize calf implants to help overcome congenital defects and other physical defects like underdevelopment or overly skinny legs.

Calf implants offer patients an enhanced appearance that cannot be typically achieved (for the average person) in a natural manner, even through the most rigorous workout programs. Both men and women may seek calf implant surgery. Women usually look towards the surgery as a way to balance their bodies and make their calves more proportionate to their thighs. Men may seek the surgery for similar reasons, but some, like body builders, will often elect for calf enhancement to create a prominent, toned look that they might be struggling to reach with regular weight training. This is often because the calf muscles can be among the hardest muscle groups to successfully build.

Calf implants are soft, solid silicone pockets that are carefully placed over the existing muscles on the back of the lower leg. The surgery itself is an outpatient procedure that only requires general anesthesia for the patient. The procedure is done by creating a small incision in the crease at the back of the knee. The implants themselves are ordered ahead of time and prepared based on preoperative measurements. Once the incisions are made, a special tool carefully places the implant into the small incision and then into a pocket between the existing muscle and the facia of the existing muscle.

Recovery is broken up into two parts. There is short-term recovery and long-term recovery. The short-term recovery is the recovery from the surgery itself. During the week after the surgery it is important for the patient to walk around when possible, but then to keep the legs elevated when they are seated. Patients are usually walking normally within a week or two. The long-term recovery begins about two or three weeks after the procedure. The skin will begin to loosen and the shiny appearance of the skin will lessen. There may be some slight bruising at the site of the incision, but this will decrease with time as well.

Most patients are feeling back to normal and can resume their normal activities such as running, biking and weightlifting within about four to six weeks of a calf augmentation operation. To set up your own consultation with a calf implants provider near you, take the next step and contact us today!