The forearms are a visible part of the body even when a person is dressed modestly. The hands are an extension of these features and are used to gesture and perform everyday tasks, mostly functioning at the front and sides of the body. The forearms may be scrutinized by professional modeling and bodybuilding industry professionals more so because they may support or detract from the body’s muscular harmony. Each component of the male physique is important to one’s overall looks. Undersized forearms that do not align with the look of the upper arms can cause the body to appear imbalanced. Forearm implant surgery, performed by Dr. Douglas Steinbrech at his New York City practice, offers men the symmetry and balance that they cannot achieve through regular workouts.
Forearm Implants: A Total Arm Makeover
Forearm implants will increase the look of the muscles in the forearm area, but they will not add curvature elsewhere. In fit patients who seek additional sculpting to the upper body, Dr. Steinbrech also performs implants of the biceps, triceps, deltoids (arms) and pecs (chest). Area liposuction will make the muscles appear more visible below the skin and can be performed on its own or as part of implant surgery. While it is not advisable to undergo plastic surgery as a way to tone the body in lieu of getting regular exercise, the two methods can produce optimal results and ensure that each patient looks and feels great. Muscular implants should be seen as a final option for cosmetic improvement after more conservative treatment plans have been explored.
The Best Candidates for Forearm Implants
While many patients of the procedure are men, women may also be candidates for forearm implant surgery. Healthy individuals who have not been able to achieve their ideal lower arm muscle mass through proper diet and exercise may find that implants are their best option to improve their look of physical fitness. As mentioned previously, a loss of muscle and tissue mass of the area can also be restored through implants. These synthetic muscle additions will not increase a person’s strength, but they will help restore symmetry and a normal appearance to the forearms.
During the doctor-patient consultation, Dr. Steinbrech will take the necessary steps to ensure a patient is physically and mentally fit for this permanent procedure by reviewing medical records and asking questions about a patient’s aesthetic goals. The doctor may require additional measures, such as requesting blood work or imaging, which is more common in cases where this part of the body has been compromised due to illness or injury. Patients must also be prepared for a permanent modification of their body, with realistic expectations about how they may look following surgery. During this meeting, the doctor will also explain the procedure, relay any risks or possible complications, and allow the potential patient the opportunity to ask questions or relay concerns.
Benefits of Forearm Implants
Forearm implants are performed for cosmetic purposes when a patient is dissatisfied with the appearance of their lower arms. Through this surgery, patients can have instantly more defined and shapely forearms with greater mass. When vigorous workout and weightlifting regimens do not produce the intended results, plastic surgery can offer adjustments to the physique that enhance a patient’s forearms. Forearm implants can balance the appearance of muscular upper arms and add bulk where it cannot be increased naturally. Often patients explain how they feel self-conscious wearing short-sleeved shirts, but feel proud of their physique once they receive the implants.
Forearm implants are composed of a biocompatible silicone material, and the body will typically not reject these medical-grade muscle prostheses. In addition to implant safety, the look and feel of the implants are very natural and cannot be detected by the patient or others. When properly inserted and with ideal healing conditions, the implant will remain secured in place indefinitely. The arms will function exactly as they had before with the added benefit of appearing more muscular.
How is Forearm Implant Surgery Performed?
Each forearm implant is composed of a soft silicone material, which can be altered prior to insertion for the most realistic results. Dr. Steinbrech performs forearm implant surgery by creating a surgical cut in the patient’s underarm to conceal any future scars. The doctor works with the anatomy of the arm to situate the silicone implant into position within a tissue pocket. The implant will remain securely in place, even with regular movements of the arms. Surrounding muscle and fat heal around the implant to provide more support for the new addition to the arm.
In some cases, forearm enlargement may be performed through fat grafting. The procedure begins with liposuction in an area of excess fat. Though many patients can spare this material from their abdomen, flanks, or buttocks, others may be asked to gain weight for the procedure. After an adequate amount of fat has been suctioned through a small incision in the harvest site, impurities are removed and the fat is injected into the forearm. While an implant provides a larger-looking forearm in the form of a shapely muscle, the fat adds volume to the area but will not provide the same type of sculpting. Learn more about Dr. Steinbrech’s suggested method for this procedure by scheduling a consultation at his New York City plastic surgery practice.
Recovering from Forearm Implant Surgery
After the implants have been placed and all incisions have been stitched closed, the patient’s forearms are disinfected and bandages are applied to each site. The light compression reduces swelling and discomfort for a more controlled postsurgical healing period. This extra measure also maintains hygiene and proper healing conditions of the area.
Forearm implant patients should expect some discomfort after the procedure. The doctor may prescribe pain medications or provide over-the-counter medication suggestions that will help alleviate tenderness of the arms. Dr. Steinbrech will instruct patients to not raise their forearms for two days after they undergo forearm implants. After this brief postoperative period, the dressings can be removed. Moving the forearms can be difficult for the first week after the surgery, and patients may require some at-home assistance from family or friends. After the first week or two, patients will be instructed to engage in low-impact exercises to promote a full range of arm motion. It can take up to four weeks for the healing process to be complete. Patients are often asked to wait until this time to resume any strenuous activities like weightlifting.
Increasing Forearm Definition – Naturally
The most common patients to undergo forearm implants are those who seek to sculpt the muscles of the forearms for personal cosmetic improvement, work-related endeavors, and to add definition that is lacking due to disease or trauma. Many men dedicate hours daily to improving their health and enhancing their figures, only to be disappointed with unsatisfactory results. The upper arms may gain muscle mass and bulk, resulting in forearms that appear too small for these changes. Men may also feel self-conscious with forearm muscles that have been compromised by a condition or accident, and weight lifting may fall short of restoring a look of normalcy. Forearm implants are a great way to enhance this region of the upper body, offering immediate contour after surgery.
-
- Real Patient
Questions Frequently Asked about Forearm Implant Surgery
While there may be minimal pain and discomfort associated with the procedure, the doctor will use surgical techniques to minimize discomfort and swelling. He may also provide medications, post-surgical icing, and compression bandages that alleviate these side effects. Each patient’s experience will vary greatly for a number of reasons. Pain tolerance differs among individuals, and those with existing defects to the area may have nerve and tissue damage of the area, which can increase sensitivity following a surgery.
Most patients are cleared to return to their regular fitness routines about one month after the surgery. Complications and individual healing processes will further dictate when it is safe for a person to return to their normal schedule of strenuous activities. The patient will see Dr. Steinbrech for a postsurgical follow-up and may be provided more specific instructions at that time.
Forearm implant surgery is not a substitute for cardio and weightlifting routines. The purpose of the surgery is to enhance a person’s anatomy when it is not possible to change the look of the forearms otherwise. Common patient complaints are that multiple workout regiments have failed to produce the results they seek and their upper body appears imbalanced because of this. The lack of muscular forearms can negatively impact a fitness model’s career. Additionally, when mass has been lost from the forearms due to a condition or event, surgical implants may be the only way for a person to regain the look of normal forearms with bilateral symmetry.
Dr. Steinbrech’s objectives during forearm implant surgery are to ensure a safe and comfortable patient experience and to perform the procedure in such a way that results in a natural outcome. The implants should not be detectable to others who feel a person’s arm, or the patient, and the forearms should maintain a natural appearance. Aside from expertly secured placement, the tissues should properly heal around the implant to create a natural hold of the muscle enhancement.
The patient’s weightlifting abilities will not be impacted – either positively or negatively – through the placement of silicone implants in the forearms. The natural muscles will remain responsible for the strength of the arms. The purpose of forearm implants is to increase the size and enhance the shape of the forearm muscles in appearance. This only results in aesthetic changes, not physical changes to the existing muscles.
If you live in the states of New York or California, Douglas S. Steinbrech, MD offers forearm implants among its services. For a full list of services, please visit our Locations page.
Plastic Surgery – A Science and an Art
Dr. Steinbrech is one of just a few plastic surgeons in the United States who advertises his services for performing forearm implants. Dr. Steinbrech has successful practices in NYC and L.A., with very diverse patient bases. The doctor’s expertise in human anatomy and the manipulation of tissues to safely achieve harmony is one of his specialties. While plastic surgery is undoubtedly rooted in medical sciences, it also calls for a doctor who can recognize which changes will enhance the form rather than detract from it. Dr. Steinbrech strives to create natural results that are aesthetically pleasing, appearing both natural and improved from their previous appearance.
Contact Dr. Steinbrech for a Surgical Consult on Forearm Augmentation
Prospective patients who believe their physique may benefit from forearm augmentation can reach Dr. Steinbrech’s NYC office at (646) 949-0580. The doctor’s Patient Advisors can provide some information over the phone and assist with appointment scheduling. The office is located near 655 Park Ave, New York, NY 10065.
