Implants

Body implants are used in cosmetic plastic surgery to change the appearance of the buttocks, chest, calf, bicep and face by providing the appearance of muscular strength and volume. Implants are made of a firm semi-solid rubberized silicone material that fits in front of the bones without being absorbed by the body. The material is approved by the FDA and has demonstrated a low risk of complications over many years. Implants come in a variety of standard sizes and shapes. The preferred surgical option has been fat transfers that build the appearance of volume in the muscle. But, body implants, more recently introduced, are a very viable treatment alternative that retain their shape and form and don’t get absorbed by the body, as fat transfers can.

Patients typically choose body implants to treat a genetically imbalanced body shape. These imbalances can undermine self-esteem. Implants help renew confidence and a more positive self-image. Other patients, typically in their mid 30s to 70s, choose implants because they have lost volume in certain areas of the body from the natural aging process. Candidates for body implants include patients with defects such as Poliomyelitis (infection causing paralysis), Spina Bifida (disease that affects mobility), or Club Foot (birth defect that can impact calf appearance). Also, a weakened appearance of reduced bone structure or muscle can be improved with body implants. Of course, body implants do not stop the aging process. Body imperfections can appear throughout your lifetime. Implant surgery will not produce a perfect body, but it can correct disproportionate features, whether from genetics or aging.

The Body Implant Procedure

Body implants are most often performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon. The location of the procedure may be the doctor's office, outpatient surgery center, or hospital. Time in surgery is about two hours. The procedure is typically performed under "twilight sedation," which includes a combination of medications that make you feel sleepy and numbed, but awake. The procedure may be performed under general anesthesia, while you are asleep. Patients return home within hours of the procedure. The body-implant procedure can vary depending upon the type of implant and the area to be treated. The most common body implants are buttocks, chest, calf, bicep, or tricep. A patient may require one or more types of implants to achieve optimal results.