A cosmetic plastic surgery procedure that enhances muscular appearance and improve fullness in the upper arm. This procedure is useful for patients who has nerve injury, muscle injury, tendon injury or were born with congenital abnormality. It is also indicated in armature or professional Body Builders who find it difficult to tone their Biceps or Triceps muscles.

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

Planning your treatment

The consultation

The surgeon will take full history to make sure you are a good candidate for the procedure. A Full examination including measurements of the length and width of the muscles and 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 employed to be taken from the buttocks, stomach or thighs of the patient. This is usually performed by liposuction. After this process has been carried out, the surgeon will subsequently process and purify the cells, before injecting them into their new position in the body. Because it is most probable that up to 50% of all the transferred cells will not survive for longer than few months, the surgeon will 'overfill' the relevant area. For this reason, and several others, it is quite possible if, for example, a patient has two bicep transplants, for them to appear asymmetrical because it is impossible to predict how the cells will react to this procedure.

It is also 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. However, because the surgeon is only operating with the patient's own specific fat cells, the procedure is totally biocompatible and non-allergenic - this on its own can be a major comforting factor to most patients.

The bicep and tricep implant procedures can be performed under a general anaesthetic. Bicep and triceps 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 and carefully positioned, 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 possible 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), or numbness and 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

Generally within a week or two, physical use of the upper body muscles may be resumed and within one month, full muscular activity may be recommenced.

Plastic Surgery Costs

Triceps implants

Total Cost: $12,900 (including Surgeon’s fee, Assistant Surgeons fee, Top quality Silicone implants x2 , Anaesthetist’s fee, Hospital, operating theatre and all follow up visits cost).

Biceps implants

Total Cost: $13,900 (including Surgeon’s fee, Assistant Surgeons fee, Top quality Silicone implants x2 , Anaesthetist’s fee, Hospital, operating theatre and all follow up visits cost).