Body implants can be placed in any area where there is a non-moving contour defect, such as the buttocks, biceps, breasts, calves, face, pectorals, penis and triceps.
There are various forms of implants used in cosmetic surgery. Most people know of breast implants but other ones used commonly are calf implants and buttock implants.
Body implants are made from soft, flexible and durable silicone and are biologically inert. In fact, body implants are made of the same silicone that surrounds many cardiac pacemakers.
Body contouring implants can be pre-formed in different sizes, shapes and forms, or custom sculpted to the exact size required for each patient.
Calf implants
Calf implants are continuing to rapidly gain popularity, offering a solution for people with underdeveloped or asymmetrical calves due to congenital deformities. This type of implant can provide a solution for people whose lower leg muscles do not develop normally and want a more sculpted look to their lower body.
Calf augmentation can provide a good option for people who don’t have calf shape, especially those who have had club foot deformities, contracted calf muscles and muscle atrophy or deterioration resulting from illness or disease. They also work for people who fail to develop calf muscles as a result of genetic factors, despite weight training and targeted exercise.
Calf implants made of solid silicone polymers are inserted via an incision of about 3.5 centimetres in length behind the knee, which usually leaves an unnoticeable scar in the knee crease. A compression garment is worn after the procedure and mobility is limited for about a week, with a longer recovery period before exercise can be resumed.
Calf implants can be very beneficial for people who don’t have calf muscles and they can also be subject to a Medicare rebate if they are used to correct a deformity. The procedure can be performed on both legs (bilateral) or on one leg only (unilateral) to correct lower leg asymmetry.
Buttock implants
Buttock or gluteal implants are highly sought after in Brazil and some parts of the United States, where women often desire bigger bottoms in the style of Jennifer Lopez or Beyoncé. In Australia, most people seeking buttock augmentation wish to correct very flat or droopy bottoms. The silicone implants are inserted through a vertical incision, around 7cm in length, just above the natal cleft on the back. The scar is usually concealed by the contour of the buttock cleft. The result is fuller, more projected buttocks with a more contoured and aesthetically pleasing shape.
Pectoral implants
Pectoral implants add volume and a more chiseled look to the pectoral muscles (the pecs) for men unable to achieve a well-defined chest through exercise, weight training or diet. In addition to cosmetic purposes, pectoral implants can correct various pectoral deformities resulting from accident or medical conditions such as Spina Bifada, Pectus Canaritum (“pigeon breast”) and Pectis Excavatum (“funnel breast”).
Pectoral implants typically come in three different standard shapes and can be custom designed for each individual. the exact shape for your desired result.
How is body implant surgery performed?
Body implant surgery is typically undertaken as a day procedure by a plastic surgeon or cosmetic surgeon under a general anaesthetic. During your initial consultation your doctor will conduct a through examination and measure the particular body part you wish to augment, as well as your overall proportions, to determine the best implant size and achieve a balanced and natural-looking result.
During surgery, an incision is made at the site and the implant is inserted either above or below the muscle, depending on the area of the body being augmented. Swelling and bruising may last for several days.
After the procedure a compression garment is worn and recovery time is between one and two weeks, again depending on the extent of the procedure.
Numbness can occur but usually subsides. Work can usually be resumed after four to seven days. Results are location specific and are designed to realign the body through a subtle increase in volume to targeted areas. While most implants are used to create balance, custom implants can be made to recreate symmetry for patients who have had previous surgery, injury or disease.
Both pre-formed and custom carved silicone implants offer a permanent, natural-looking result and have an excellent safety profile.
