Calf Reduction- Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery
You may consider calf reduction if you have oversized calves. Diseases of the muscles and neurons can cause abnormally large calves. Bulky and muscular calves can cause significant psychological stress for women.
Various techniques have been used to reduce the size of the calves. These include:
Liposuction
Liposuction is a type of surgery that removes excess fat from the calves. It is effective in shaping the calves. Nevertheless, it is not suitable if the thickness of fat under the skin is less than 1.5 cm. Moreover, it can cause fluid accumulation in the calves and scarring of tissues around the ankle.
Liposuction may not provide desired results if the cause of bulky calves is related to muscles. Doctors do not recommend liposuction in people with diabetes, weakened immune systems, and diseases of the blood vessels.
Selective neurectomy of the gastrocnemius muscle
This surgical procedure selectively removes nerves in the calf muscle. This leads to shrinkage of the calf muscle. Thus, it can be an effective method of calf reduction.
Before the surgery, a surgeon gives medications to numb the calf region. Selective neurectomy for calf reduction has two major advantages. First, it causes minimal scars. Second, it allows for rapid recovery.
Botulinum toxin A injection
Botulinum toxin is a neurotoxin. A type of gram-positive bacteria (Clostridium botulinum) produces this toxic substance.
Botulinum toxin interferes with the release of neurochemical “acetylcholine” at the neuromuscular junction. This leads to weakness and paralysis of muscles.
Doctor can inject a certain amount of the toxin into the enlarged calf muscle. The toxin causes shrinkage of the calf muscle without compromising its functional ability. The effects are usually observed within a week of the injection and last six months.
Sources:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12792543
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26198015
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29300913
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2856357/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5865932/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15171764
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