Muscular Implants For Men

What can I expect after muscle implant surgery?

You should expect a moderate degree of swelling and discoloration for 1-2 weeks after surgery. The expected postoperative recovery would be approximately 1 week during which time you should limit your activities and try to rest as much as possible. The first 2-3 days are likely to be the most uncomfortable for you with a moderate degree of pain, which is easily relieved with oral pain medications. After 3-4 days, you should be able to attend to minor activities around the house and go on short walks. By the 5th or 6th day, you should be able to return to work. The majority of patients return to work within a week. Although some patients feel good enough to exercise in the 2nd week, most do not resume their normal exercise routine until the 3rd or 4th week.

What size muscle implants should I choose?

You should choose a size that is suitable to your body and that you think is right for you. Many patients come to the doctor's office and say that they want more definition in the shape of the arm, leg, or chest. However, you must know that larger size does not necessarily result in better definition. Definition in shape is as much determined by the thinness of the layer of fat under the skin. However, we can place the largest implant that would make the shape of the arm or leg look more muscular without looking artificial.

What risks are involved with muscle implant surgery?

This operation is one of the safest operations we perform. However, like any surgery, there are risk factors associated with this operation. Dr. Marefat generally discusses what to expect with his patients in their second consultation prior to surgery. You should understand that complications are extremely rare and are not a deterrent to surgery for most people.

A complete list of possible side effects and complications will be provided to you when you schedule your surgery. You should talk to Dr. Marefat for more information about each of these possible risks.

• Bleeding: This is very uncommon with muscle implant surgery because we are generally not cutting tissues but using a blunt-tipped dissection to place the implant. However, there have been some reports of bleeding as a complication. There are those who are at higher risk of bleeding. The use of some medications, such as aspirin or blood thinners, could put you at a higher risk of bleeding. If you are contemplating surgery, you should refrain from using aspirin-containing products from 2 weeks before surgery until 2 weeks after surgery. Some people with a history of uncontrolled hypertension could be at a higher risk of bleeding after the surgery. There are some individuals who are unaware of problems with their coagulation system and, consequently, have had bleeding after surgery.  If you have bleeding after surgery, it may entail returning to the operating room to stop it.
• Infection: It is very uncommon to get an infection with this procedure. We usually give all our patients antibiotics both before and after surgery. If infection occurs, however, we will treat it very aggressively with stronger antibiotics.
• Skin discoloration: This can occur in any surgery. It is due to blood metabolites and is usually temporary and self-limiting. Sometimes, these blood pigments stay in the subcutaneous tissues permanently. This is very rare and generally occurs in patients with darker skin complexions. If this occurs, we may need to treat your skin with certain bleaching agents, which could help correct the problem.
• Discomfort and pain: This is easily controlled with oral pain medications. With the use of the modern anesthesia techniques and local anesthetics in the tissues, both the pain and the discomfort should be minimized.
• Temporary numbness: Numbness associated with the surgery usually persists for several weeks, depending on the extent of surgery performed. Most of this numbness returns to normal after 7-10 days. However, it is not unusual to see persistent numbness even after 4-6 weeks have passed.
• Minor lumps and irregularities: These irregularities are related to accumulations of fluid in certain areas of the subcutaneous fatty layer of the skin and are a result of either infiltration of the fluid or as a result of the trauma associated with surgery. Irregularities even out after the first 2-3 weeks after the surgery.
• Minor asymmetry: Minor asymmetry between the 2 sides of the body can be seen after the implant has been inserted. This, too, is related to accumulations of fluid or trauma due to the operation. These asymmetries usually resolve within 2-3 weeks.
• Permanent scars: Scars are present whenever there is any incision. Almost all operations will involve some scarring. The extent of the scar will depend on the nature of the problem and the extent of surgery. The nature and extent of the scar depends on the location of the incision and the genetic ability of the patient to heal. Dr. Marefat rarely sees cases in which the scar has become a major problem. However, if a scar does become prominent and visible, Dr. Marefat can usually improve it with scar revision procedures. It is more prudent to wait approximately 1 year before attempting scar revision.
• Excessive skin: In certain individuals, the skin has lost its ability to contract after having been stretched. The patient may be left with an excessive roll of skin in the area of surgery that does not go away. In such cases, it is necessary to remove this excessive roll of skin directly. This will result in having a permanent scar in the area of excision.
• Waviness and surface irregularities: This is not a common problem with this operation. Nevertheless, there is still a chance that you may develop some irregularity.  If this does occur, we can usually fix the problem in a touch-up procedure. This touch-up procedure is done in a second stage approximately 3 months after the initial procedure.
• Persistent edema: This problem is very rare. If it occurs, however, it can be bothersome and may last for many weeks after surgery. Generally, this is not a permanent problem. The literature has reported only a few cases in which people had problems with persistent edema. We encourage the use of support garments after surgery, and, should there be a continued edema, we would encourage the use of support garments until the problem is resolved.
• Altered areas of sensation: On rare occasions, it is possible to have an area remain permanently numb or experience tingling. Usually, these problems are seen in cases where a skin resection is being performed at the same time as the placement of the implant. The placement of the implant can, however, put pressure on nerves or injure nerves in the area, and these injured nerves can later develop permanent scarring and problems related to nerve conduction. Usually, the surrounding nerves are able to cover the area of impaired sensation, and, after 4 or 5 weeks, these nerves return to normal. However, if this does not happen, the patient is left with an area that has permanent numbness or altered sensation. This may or may not be a correctable problem. Often, the impaired sensory area is not much larger than a half dollar or a quarter, and most patients are not bothered by it.
• Surgical shock and pulmonary complications: There are certain uncommon risks and complications that can also occur. These include shock, which might require a transfusion. This is a very uncommon problem, which Dr. Marefat has not seen in any of his patients; despite this, it is occasionally reported in the literature. Because of the tumescent technique, the need for an autologous blood transfusion in these cases has been virtually eliminated.
• Seromas and hematomas: These are collections of fluid or blood under the skin. If this occurs, it will need to be drained. This is usually done with the use of a syringe. To the patient, it will entail more frequent office visits after surgery until the problem is resolved. Usually, these problems do not cause any permanent damage.
• Skin loss: This has been seen in a few cases with major skin undermining. Usually, this occurs in people who are smokers or who have some underlying problem with circulation. If you smoke, you are strongly encouraged to quit smoking 2 weeks prior to surgery and to refrain from smoking until 2 weeks after surgery.
• Life-threatening conditions: It is very uncommon to see severe complications with cosmetic surgery. However, should such a condition arise for any reason, you will be immediately admitted to the hospital.
• Impingement of a nerve or blood vessel by the implant: Pressure over a sensitive structure, such as a nerve, may result in serious problems if not corrected. If this should happen, it may be necessary to reposition the implant or to temporarily remove it.
• Anesthesia risks: There are risks associated with anesthesia. With modern equipment and techniques available in hospitals, however, the risks from surgical anesthesia are minimal.
• Chronic pain: The literature on the subject reports that a few patients have chronic pain as a result of muscle implants.
• Positional changes: Certain position changes may cause indentations in the implant that reveal its presence. This has generally been a problem in people who are very thin and whose skin does not have sufficient thickness to camouflage the implant.
• Disappointment with the result: Some patients are disappointed with the results of their surgery. This is sometimes related to the fact that they had unrealistic expectations about the outcome of the operation.

What about risk of connective tissue disease and arthritis with muscle implants?

The rare and unsubstantiated risk of connective tissue disorders, such as arthritis, relates to silicone gel implants, and you should not worry about this with solid silicone implants. 

When are the sutures removed?

Sutures are generally removed 2 weeks after surgery.

How many visits do I have after muscle implant surgery in Virginia?

We like to see our patients frequently after surgery. You are seen by the doctor or nurse at our Virginia offices within 2-3 days of surgery. Then, the normal postoperative routine is 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. Of course, if there is a need, you may be seen more often. After the first year, we encourage our patients to come in for routine follow-up visits every 3-5 years.

When can I cover my muscle implant bruises with makeup?

You should be able to put makeup on the bruises after the first week. However, we do not recommend putting makeup on your incisions until they have completely healed. This may result in tattooing of the skin by the pigments of the makeup.

Will insurance cover costs for future problems with my muscle implants?

Most insurance carriers may not cover you for problems related to the muscle implants since they were placed for aesthetic reasons. You should have no problems, however, in obtaining coverage for the conditions affecting the extremities unrelated to the implant surgery.

Am I a good candidate for muscle implant surgery?

The best candidate for this surgery is a person who has small and underdeveloped muscles. Those who have very asymmetrical arms or legs are also good candidates. Generally, the younger you are, the better a candidate you are for cosmetic surgery. A person’s physiological age is more important than his chronological age. That is to say, you may be 60 years old, but your skin and general health may be better than that of most 50 year olds.