Bicep & Triceps Implants

This procedure is useful for patients with nerve injury, muscle injury, tendon injury or who were born with congenital abnormality.

The enhancement can be achieved by fat injection or use of implants. 2 types of silicone implants are available for biceps and triceps implants: soft silicone and hard silicone implants.

The Consultation

The surgeon will take a full history to ensure you are a good candidate for the procedure. Measurements of the length and width of the muscles as well as the circumference of the arms are recorded. Any asymmetry will also be brought to the attention of the patient. Options of surgery will be discussed, including fat transfer and silicone implants. Implants will be tried on to make sure they suit the patient’s body habitus.

The Surgery

In the case of fat transplants, it is most common for the fat cells to be taken from the buttocks, stomach or thigh of the patient. This is performed by liposuction. After this process, the surgeon will subsequently process and purify the cells before injecting them into their new position in the body. As up to 50% of all the transferred cells will not survive for longer than few months, the surgeon will ‘overfill’ the relevant area.

It is difficult to predict, with any degree of accuracy, how long a fat transplant might remain successful – it could be anything from one or two years to a lifetime.

The bicep and tricep implant procedures can be performed under a general anaesthetic. Bicep and tricep implants generally follow a similar pattern, in that an incision is made in a fairly inconspicuous position on the upper arm or armpit.

The surgeon is then able to shape a ‘pocket’ into which the implant is inserted, inside a soft tissue area of muscle and fat. A very small dressing is placed and the patient can typically see the changes immediately after surgery.

Apart from the usual side effects of surgical procedures, there is a slight risk of asymmetry with this kind of implant surgery, along with muscle or nerve damage (usually temporary), numbness or possible implant shifting after the operation.

After Surgery

During the recovery period, the patient is instructed not to lift their arms for two days after surgery. Dressings are then removed, followed by a gentle exercise program within 1-2 weeks to enable a full and comfortable range of motion of the arms.

Getting you back to work and normal activities

Patients are usually able to use the upper body muscles within a week or two. Full muscular activity may be recommenced within one month.