Calf Implants: A 25-Year Experience and an Anatomical Review

Abstract

The subfascial technique for calf augmentation has complication rates low enough and surgical outcomes good enough to recommend it as the gold standard for alloplastic calf augmentation.

Unusual Early Calf Implants Displacement and Surgical Correction.

“…Our routine postoperative indications include compressive garments dressed on the operation table, early ambulation on the feet tips (to stimulate muscular contraction and deep venous circulation) and gentle lower legs massage for 30 days, to avoid postoperative oedema. This is similar to other authors recommendations [1,2,4] and different to other authors who recommend that patients avoid walking for 7 days and allow walking in high-heels thereafter [3].…”

“…The development of late complications such as capsular contracture, implant rupture or leaking, implant displacement and implant palpability occur in less than 4% cases [3,[6][7][8].…”

“…(4) Trauma Early postoperative complications mentioned in the literature include severe pain, hematoma, seroma, infection and wound dehiscence. The implant displacement has been noticed only as late postoperative complication [3,[6][7][8].…”

“…Calf augmentation using silicone implants represents in the last decade an increasing surgical procedure, for cosmetic [1][2][3][4] or reconstructive purposes [5] as: (1). Sequel of club foot and/or cerebral palsy and spina bifida.…”

Classification and Surgical Correction of Asymmetric Calves in Asians

“…3 After making a 4-cm incision at the crease behind the popliteal fossa, dissection of the fascia cruris superficialis is carried out, and the dissection is continued between the two cavities of the gastrocnemius muscle, through the heads of the gastrocnemius muscle, along with the medial cutaneous nerve of the calf. Because using ready-made implants makes it difficult to resize the implant, a customized implant (solid, middle-soft silicone) is preferred for each individual.…”