Important information
This text provides basic information on the principles and procedure of calf augmentation surgery by prosthesis. A good understanding of the course of the intervention and the expected result is essential before considering it. It should be emphasized that the goal of this surgery is to bring improvement and not to achieve perfection. If your wishes are realistic, you will be satisfied with the result.
The initial consultation
The initial consultation allows you to assess your state of health, to specify the modalities of the intervention and the location of future scars.
You will be asked to stop smoking completely at least one month before the date of the surgery.
Before surgery
The anesthetist will be consulted less than a month before the operation. No medicine containing aspirin should be taken in the 10 days preceding the procedure. It is imperative to remain on an empty stomach (do not eat or drink anything) 6 hours before the operation. Before the operation and the two previous days, an antiseptic soap will be used for the shower.
On the day of the operation, sufficient time should be allowed to arrive on time, without undue stress. It is important to plan a person who can accompany you home after your hospitalization and who will possibly help you during the first days after your surgery.
The intervention
The principle is to introduce a flexible prosthesis through an incision in front of the calf muscle called the twin muscle. The prosthesis consists of a silicone envelope and a silicone gel filler. The incision is made horizontally in the popliteal fossa (the fold behind the knee). The operation is performed under general anesthesia. An outpatient hospitalization is usually sufficient.
After the intervention
You may experience a feeling of discomfort and fatigue for 2-3 days.
The pain is usually relieved by conventional analgesics. Hospitalization is short-lived. The first dressing is made after 24 to 48 hours. If there is drainage, the drain will be removed at this time. The sutures are usually absorbable hidden in the scar and do not need to be removed. A break from your work for a period of one week is usually necessary depending on your physical activity. A 2-month suspension from any sporting activity is recommended. It is important not to expose the scar to the sun for at least 6 months and to protect it with a total screen after this period. The final result is assessed from the 3rd month.
Complications
Any surgical procedure, even carried out competently in conditions of maximum safety, carries a risk of complications. There are risks of reaction to the anesthesia.
It should be noted that the anesthetic techniques, the products used and the monitoring methods have made immense progress. They offer optimal safety, especially when the intervention is performed outside the emergency room and in a healthy person, but they nevertheless carry the risk of serious complications. The occurrence of a hematoma around the prosthesis in the first postoperative days may lead to a new intervention. The occurrence of an infection is a rare complication. It most often appears in the weeks following surgery. The implant usually needs to be removed. It will take several months before a new implant can be placed.
The phenomenon of a fibrous capsule around the implant is a natural reaction of the body to a foreign body. In some cases this phenomenon is exaggerated and leads to a fixed appearance of the prosthesis. The appearance of this shell is unpredictable and may lead to a new intervention. Rupture of the prosthesis may appear after trauma or due to normal wear and tear of the prosthesis. This involves removal and replacement of the prosthesis. A displacement of the prosthesis is possible in the first month. In this case, a short intervention is preferable to reposition it.
Calf augmentation surgery leaves scars. The evolution of these scars is unpredictable and can be unfavorable with the occurrence of pigmentations, hypertrophy (red and inflammatory scar) or even keloids (indurated purplish bead). These scarring complications can compromise the aesthetic appearance of the final result. If a complication appears, close monitoring is necessary and compliance with the instructions is imperative.
Contact Doctor Desouches, cosmetic surgeon in Marseille for more information on the calf enlargement operation.
