Click here to learn about local plastic surgeons

Body Implants: A New Generation of Implants

Reviewed by Michael Olding, MD, FACS

Here you'll find information on:

Implants have been used in orthopedic surgery for about 100 years to manufacture prosthetic devices. Today body implants are also used in cosmetic plastic surgery to change the appearance of the buttocks, chest, calf, and bicep. Body implants provide 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.

Are Body Implants Right for Me?

Obviously, it is wisest to improve the appearance of your body with exercise. But aging and genetics can interfere with exercise programs. The preferred surgical option has been fat transfers that build the appearance of volume in the muscle. Body implants were recently introduced as an alternative.

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.

Buttocks Implant

During the butt implant procedure, an incision up to three inches will be made between the midline of the buttocks. The surgeon will form a pocket for the implant to fit in and insert the implant through the incision. The implant is positioned within a soft tissue area of muscle and fat. This area will form scar tissue with the goal to help keep the implant in place. Stitches that dissolve will be placed at the incision area. A bandage will be applied to reduce swelling and discomfort. Patients return home within two hours of the procedure.

Buttocks Implant Recovery

After the procedure, you will need someone to drive you home and to help with daily living activities for as many days as possible. Moving your body may be difficult throughout recovery. Discomfort can be managed with oral medications. Within a week, body movement should be more manageable. Swelling and bruising may occur but typically subside within days after the procedure. The doctor will instruct you to limit activity including exercise for up to four weeks after surgery. Within two to three days after the procedure, the bandage is removed by the doctor. You can begin to shower after the bandage is removed. Full results of the surgery may require several months to be evident.

Calf Implant

During the calf-implant procedure, an incision is made behind the knee in the natural crease line. The surgeon will form a pocket for the implant to fit in and insert the implant through the incision. The implant can be positioned on both the upper inside or outside of the leg within a soft tissue area of muscle and fat. This area will form scar tissue that will help keep the implant in place. A bandage will be applied to reduce swelling and discomfort.

Calf Implant Recovery

Moving your calves may be difficult throughout recovery. You'll be instructed to elevate your legs for at least two days. However, you will also be advised to walk as much as possible to reduce the risk of blood clotting. Within three weeks, you should feel comfortable with longer walks. The bandage will be removed within two to three days, after which time you can shower again. Bruising or the appearance of shininess will subside within a few weeks. Exercise is restricted for one month.

Bicep or Tricep Implant

During the bicep or tricep implant procedure, an incision will be made in an inconspicuous place at the top of the armpit. The surgeon will form a pocket for the implant to fit in and insert the implant through the incision. The implant is positioned within a soft tissue area of muscle and fat. This area will form scar tissue to help keep the implant in place. A bandage will be applied to reduce discomfort.

Bicep or Tricep Recovery

Moving your arms may be difficult for up to seven days. The doctor will instruct you not to lift your arms for at least two days. In two to three days, the bandage is removed and you will receive specific exercise instructions for your arms. The doctor will instruct you to limit activity and limit exercise for approximately four weeks.

Pectoral Implants

Male breast implants are becoming increasingly popular among men looking to improve the look of their chest. Made of solid silicone, pec implants are much firmer than female breast implants, and come in many shapes and sizes. They are designed to feel like natural chest muscle.

To perform pectoral implant surgery, your surgeon typically will make an incision through your armpit, your areola (pigmented part of the nipple) or your lower breast. He or she will then create a pocket under your major chest muscle, or just under the thin, connective tissue that covers this muscle. The implant is then inserted into the pocket, where it is secured in place using dissolving stitches.

Pectoral Implant Recovery

Most men who undergo pectoral implant surgery can return to work within five to seven days after the procedure. Men who have more strenuous jobs, however, may require more time. As a general rule, men can resume normal activities in six weeks time. To achieve the smoothest recovery possible, follow all of the postoperative instructions provided by your surgeon, and make sure to call your doctor ASAP if you experience significant pain with redness, fever, asymmetric swelling from one side to the other, or difficulty breathing.

Penis Implant

Penis implants may help some men with erectile dysfunction who do not respond to drugs, suppositories, vacuum devices or injections. These implants can help men achieve and maintain an erection, but will not improve sexual desire or sensation, nor do they increase penis length. There are two main types of penis implants: inflatable implants and semi-rigid rods. Penis implant surgery is typically covered by insurance, but precertification is often required.

Complications and Risks

Complications are possible in any medical procedure. Swelling and bruising often occur and will subside within several days. Scarring will show, but can be treated with other procedures. A preventive scar medication may be prescribed to reduce the risk of excessive scarring. Infection is infrequent and can be treated, or in worst case, can require removal and reinsertion of the implant at a later date. Bleeding can produce excessive bruising or a hematoma (blood clot), which requires physician intervention and causes a longer recovery.

Muscle or nerve damage is one of the rarest complications. Nerve damage is often temporary, and resolves itself after six months or more. Asymmetry is a possible complication that may be remedied with additional procedures such as a fat transfer. Excessive firmness and shifting of the implant are also possible complications that can create ongoing discomfort, especially in the case of buttocks implants.

There are other risks associated with implants, so be sure to ask your doctor about complications and discuss how they should be remedied. The full results of the procedure may require several months.

Consult a Qualified Plastic Surgeon

A qualified doctor will help ensure the treatment is appropriate for your condition, increase the odds of success, and reduce the risk of complications.

Body implants for cosmetic use is relatively new in the United States. So it's important to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon from the American Board of Plastic Surgery, who has extensive experience in the specific type of body-implant you have chosen. Board certification may not always guarantee the best results; however, board certification does require specific and rigorous surgical education and training, which can help you achieve a safe and successful outcome.

The type of certification is also important. There are more than 150 self-designated boards, but only a handful that are designated by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), such as the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Here are some tips to consider when consulting a plastic surgeon:

  • Review credentials, education, training, type of certification held, and the number of times that the procedure has been performed in the practice.
  • View before-and-after photos of patients who received the implant procedure and alternative procedures to help you understand what to expect.
  • Bring a photo of the result you would like to see.
  • Inquire about the type of equipment, where the procedure will be performed, and the extent of the procedure.
  • Ask the doctor the type of implant to be used, and keep your own record of this for future reference. Ask how the proper implant size is determined, and how the implants are made. Also, ask how the implant remains in the body.
  • Review possible complications of the procedure with the doctor.
  • Request a list of pre- and postoperative instructions. Following these instructions can reduce the risk of complications. The list may include:
    1) no eating or drinking after midnight, the night before surgery
    2) a prescribed antibiotic for both before and after the procedure
    3) stopping certain medications
    4) finding someone to drive you home after the procedure

During your consultation, the doctor will complete a medical evaluation. Each case is different, and the individualized treatment plan developed by you and your doctor may include multiple procedures, supplemental treatments, and alternative procedures.

Costs

Costs include three fees: local or general anesthesia fees, facility fees, and surgeon's fees. Other cost factors include implant costs, the doctor's skill and training, and the geographic location. Since body implants may be performed during other procedures, anesthesia and facility fees may be combined with those procedures. The total fees for implants can range from a minimum of $3,000 to $5,000 or more.

It is difficult to establish an average cost because every case is unique, and there are many implant options. More meaningful estimates can be made after your doctor has developed a surgical plan.

Implant surgery to treat a traumatic injury or another medical necessity may be partly or fully covered under your insurance plan. Implant surgery for a cosmetic purpose is not covered under insurance plans. Your doctor can determine medical necessity where appropriate for filing with your insurance provider.

If the cost of the implant surgery is difficult for you, ask your surgeon about payment plans. For financing options and tips, continue reading about Patient Financing.

Related Topics

[page updated June 2008]