Will A Bicep Implant Help the Appearance Of A Torn Biceps Muscle?

Q: Dr. Eppley,I would like a bicep implant. I had a botched tendenesis. Tendon was torn and atrophied. Got tendon reattached. Would like to investigate if an implant under atrophied tissue is possible. The tattoos makes it hard to tell, but it’s retracted toward the elbow. It’s balled up like Popeye. I’m not sure I can be helped, but if you could more normal, that’s what I want. 

A:Thank you for sending your pictures which show a classic partially detached distal insertion of the biceps muscle. The problem with this type of bicep muscle deformity is that the arm has two positions, extension and flexion, and the deformity primarily appears in one position (flexion) but looks reasonable in the other. (extension) This poses a reconstruction problem as any treatment done runs into the same issue…looks good in one position but looks abnormal in the other position. Thus you can see the dilemma.

That being said the logical approach is that you have to treat aesthetically both sides of the problem…reduce some of the muscle mass seen in flexion and add some small implant volume below it.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World Renowned Plastic Surgeon