Calf Reduction Treatment

Beauty in a pair

The shape and size of the calves play an important role in determining the beauty of a pair of legs. Generally, the general consensus is when the circumference of the calves is less than 25% of the length of the leg. Unfortunately, Asians are genetically wired to have bigger calf muscles and jaw muscles. Hence, from a visual point of view, Asian women can have unflattering looking bulky calves even if they are at their ideal weight. But all is not lost. Calves can be shaped without surgery, simply by the correct use of Botulinum Toxin on the appropriate muscle groups in the lower leg. As an alternative to surgical reduction of the calves, Botulinum Toxin can be injected painlessly into the gastrocnemus or calf muscle to shrink the muscle bulk to aesthetically pleasing proportions. It involves microinjections into the treatment area and patients can go back to their normal activities right away. Apart from a very slight risk of bruising, this treatment has no downtime, and it leaves no scars. 

FAQs

What is the procedure like?
The patient is first asked to stand on tip toe to flex the calves in order to determine the areas of injection. Numbing cream is then applied to these areas to minimize pain and discomfort during the procedure. The patient is then asked to lie face down. Via a series of virtually painless microinjections, an individually calibrated amount of botulinum toxin is carefully introduced and placed evenly across the gastrocnemius muscle. The gastrocnemius muscle is the most superficial calf muscle that is responsible for bulkiness and definition of the calf. This procedure can often be performed in under an hour and depending on the size of the calves and amount of desired slimming, most women typically requires 1 to 2 treatment sessions to see noticeable results. 

What kind of downtime do I expect?
Some may experience mild redness, swelling, bruising and tenderness around the injection sites. These are transient and should not interfere with your day to day activities. There is no recovery time associated with this procedure and most patients are able to return to normal activity, including walking, almost immediately. It is recommended to wait 24-48 hours to resume intense physical activities. You will notice the width of the calf shrinking in 10 to 14 days and continue to do so over the next 4 to 6 weeks. Results generally last up to 6 months and a repeat treatment may then be necessary to maintain the desired effects.

Am I a suitable candidate for calf reduction?
The ideal candidate for calf muscle reduction with Botulinum toxin microinjections is when the undesirable contours of their lower legs is contributed by the presence of bulky calve muscles. For those women with stubborn fat deposits in the calf region, fat freezing with CoolSculpting is a more appropriate treatment option. It is not recommended for patients who have a skin infection or other condition in the injection area or has any disease that affects the muscles or nerves.