Calf Augmentation - Recovery
What is the Recovery Like After Calf Augmentation?
After surgery, you are monitored in the recovery room by nurse. During this time your legs are kept elevated over a
few pillows. You would most likely feel either nothing in your legs because of the local anesthetics or a pain which is
similar to leg cramps.
Before discharging you to go home, the recovery room staff will have performed safety checks on your legs, and have
instructed your caregivers about your needs.
When patients leave the surgery facility to go home, they are usually groggy for about 12 hours or overnight. That is
why it is very important to have someone who can assist you with getting around and taking your medications for at least
the first 24 hours.
- Make sure that you have all your medications, cold drinks, and towels at your bedside.
- Most people are nauseated during the first 24-48 hours. To reduce this, we suggest that you take your nausea pill
one hour before taking your pain pills or antibiotics. While it is good to drink plenty of liquids, please refrain from
drinking plain water or acidic fruit juices because they will make you more nauseated.
- Have your caregiver and/or yourself check the sensation and mobility of your feet, periodically during the first day.
If there is any deterioration in circulation, sensation, or the patient’s ability to feel touch over his/her leg, please
report this to your surgeon immediately.
- Patients will feel muscle cramp pain, pressure, and tightness of the calves which is relieved by prescription narcotics.
- Antibiotics are prescribed to reduce the risk of infection. Take your antibiotics and pain medications with food to
lessen the chance of nausea.
- It is good to periodically move your toes and feet to increase circulation and to reduce your risk of forming blood clots.
- There will be some swelling and some minimal bruising which dissipates five to eight weeks following surgery.
However, you should wait to buy new clothing until your size has stabilized.
- Following calf augmentation surgery, your legs are placed in a compression garment that covers your knee and calves.
Do not remove this until your doctor instructs you to do so. We usually have the patient remove their bandages and to take
a shower after 2 days. The incision sites and sutures can get wet in the shower. After showering, blow dry the paper strips
over the incisions. Apply Vaseline or heavy lotion all over calves and legs, but not over the paper strips that cover your
incisions. You should touch your legs, but don't massage these areas deeply for about six weeks. Sometimes, patients whose skin
was not firm and elastic will experience dimpling or wrinkling of the skin. These can be eliminated or minimized by gentle
massaging over time.
- Some areas over the calves and the feet will remain numb for four to eight weeks. Massage will help to desensitize your
skin in order to avoid hypersensitivity or skin irritation.
- When laying down or sitting, it is good to keep your legs elevated over several pillows, during the first week.
Use your walker or cane to steady yourself during the first week.
- Most patients will have a two inch incision that will heal and become faint over 6-12 months.
- Avoid shaving and tanning of your legs for four weeks after surgery.
Some Tips for Your Family & Significant Others!
The support of your family and loved ones can be as important to your healing as following your physician’s medical directives.
Their understanding of the pain, discomfort, and at times, the roller coaster of emotions, that you might experience can make all
the difference in having an optimal outcome.
Here are some tips for your Family & significant others that will be helpful to them in helping you:
- You should be available as a full time caregiver for at least 24 hours to help the patient with the tasks that are
normally taken for granted, like being able to walk to the bathroom.
- You, or someone, should care for the patient’s children for a minimum of two days, and be sure that she/he has assistance
in lifting young children for several days after your surgery.
- Help with pet care. Someone should walk them, feed them and clean up after them for at least several days.
- The hardest task for the patient is walking and getting off the chair or bed during the first week. Help patients with
these tasks.
- Prepare to help the patient address the swelling that he/she will experience, according to his physician’s instructions.
This may include massaging the legs.
- Know that patient may experience mood swings, and feel irritable– especially in the first couple of weeks. This is a normal
aftermath of major surgery.
- Encourage the patient to drink lots of water – to address bloating and to keep him hydrated.
- Remind the patient to not fight the pain – to go with the flow, and take his medications as directed. It is not good to try
and be a hero!
- Give lots of compliments. He may be fearful because it will take some time before his legs appear as they should. He has a
lot of healing to do!
- Prepare simple and easily digestible foods, such as scrambled eggs or Jello.
- Remind and reassure him that things will get better and less uncomfortable soon!
- Be there when he goes to have his bandages removed, to support him through any discomfort that he may be feeling.
- As far as sex is concerned, let the patient take the initiative.
- Some patients feel scared that they might harm their legs if touched or manipulated after surgery. Have him ask his doctor
about this and get some reassurance.
- Some patients feel depressed or regretful about having undergone surgery. Sometimes they don't know how to handle the attention
or questions that a new appearance brings about. At the same time, significant others can develop uneasy feelings about the fact
that you underwent such surgery. It is good to talk about your feelings and to even seek outside help if you can't resolve some
ambiguities.
Dr. Younai is a Board Certified Plastic, Cosmetic, & Reconstructive Surgeon who is experienced in
body contouring with the use body implants such calf, pectoral, buttocks, triceps,
and biceps implants.
During your consultation Dr. Younai will review your treatment options for Calf augmentation with Implants.
He will discuss if you are a good candidate, surgical options and techniques, potential risks and complications of surgery, pre-
and post-operative instructions, and recovery course, as well as what to expect after surgery. At that time, Dr. Younai will also
show you before-and-after pictures of other patients who might be similar to you and have had
Calf Augmentation with implants.
Dr. Younai serves patients from both southern and northern California, including those from Beverly Hills,
Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Hollywood, Burbank, Sherman Oaks, Calabasas, Woodland Hills, Thousand Oaks, Westlake, Pasadena,
Glendale, Valencia, Palmdale, Fresno, and Oxnard.
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Calf Augmentation with Implants
Calf Augmentation Surgery
Calf Augmentation Preparation
Calf Augmentation Recovery
Calf Augmentation - Q & A
Risks & Complications
View Before & After
Calf Augmentation Photos
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