Calf expanders are also calf implants, although they are rarely used for calf augmentation.
Expanders are silicone sleeves that can be filled via a valve. The expander is implanted in the calf at the point where the filling effect is desired by the patient.
The valve, which is connected to the expander via a small tube, is inserted under the skin where it is easy to feel. At Yuveo, we can now fill the expander with saline solution via the valve week after week, gradually filling the chamber and causing the calf implant to swell.
The expansion stretches the tissue and creates a cavity that serves as a space for the final calf implant. The tissue expansion must take place over approx. 6 weeks for the effect to be permanent.
The amount and speed of filling depend on the tissue, the desired tissue stretch and the patient’s perception of pain.
When does it make sense to use a calf expander?
Such a stretching effect is always useful when it comes to extreme calf conditions, e.g. after injuries, burns and in the case of calf hypotrophy = too little calf tissue, which has existed since childhood.
In these cases, there is a lack of tissue, so that even when implanting medium-sized implants, we can have massive problems during the operation due to the tight conditions.
