chloeleah

If one's calves are big due to fat content, then weightloss/burning of fat through exercise would certainly reduce it.

But if one's calves are big due to hypertrophy of muscle, then running is unlikely to reduce it.
Surgery, botox or pilates (or other forms of exercises that lengthens muscles, giving them a leaner appearance) are the only options for reducing the bulk.

I'm a huge believer in exercise and its multiple benefits, but in this particular discussion on calf reduction, I think we need to be more scientific in the solutions that we put forth.

Coachgirl12, please don't get me wrong, I'm very happy for you that you got your desired calves through healthy exercise

It's just that, unfortunately, it might not be a feasible option for everyone.

 

It's been approximately 4 months since my surgery and I just want to share my results from the surgery with Dr Park of OZ Clinic.

I am 158cm, 45 kilograms, and my calves were 34.5 cm and 35 cm respectively before surgery.
Now they're both consistently 31 cm. More specifically, if I wear stockings, my calves are about 29cm. When I wake up in the morning (legs not elevated & no stockings during the night), they are 30cm. After a whole day of walking (with no stockings), they are 31cm.

So I'm going to take it that the final result will probably be about 31cm.

I still wear the stockings intermittently, but no longer elevate my legs when I'm sleeping.

However, while my left calf is completely 'business as usual', I still feel some pain & tightness in my right calf at times. I still need to stretch intermittently, if not my right calf feels uncomfortably tight.

Up until about 1 or 2 weeks ago, my legs still swelled whenever I walked alot, giving me 'cankles'. But that has since resolved.

My entire recovery has been very smooth, and I would strongly advise those of you who are going for the surgery to wear comfortable flat shoes as much as you can, during your entire recovery process in the first 3 months. I was naughty and wore heels quite often, and that significantly set my recovery back! (might have affected my results too, but there's no way of verifying this I guess)

I also have the tendency to lean my body weight on my left leg when I stand, which means that my right leg didn't get straightened out often enough. This largely explains why it is recovering at a slower rate.

So, yep, do your stretches diligently, don't wear heels, and straighten both legs consistently!

All the best for your surgeries!

 

luvlie21

I have massive soleus muscle too. But I'm only 7 days post-op so I'll have to keep you posted later.

Before the surgery, my calves measured 34.5cm. 7 days post-op, they measure 33.5cm. I'm hoping it'll go down to 32cm (the ideal based on my height)....I hope it's the swelling!:weird:

I felt I had cankles too (due to large soleus muscle), but I measured my ankle and it's 21cm. I think if the calf is 32cm, and the ankle is 21cm, there is still some slight tapering.
Did you measure your ankles? It might be an 'optical illusion'......

Right now, I'm just focused on recovering well! Afterall, the deed is done & all I can do is wait & see the final results.

 

Gymbo

I understand your anxiety perfectly, you've gone through alot to get new calves, it's natural to expect better-looking calves.

Don't be too quick to conclude that you're unlucky.....the results are not permanent until the 12 month mark.
You might still get the calves that you want!

Perhaps keep up with the stretches + lay off the exercise for a while (or just do those that don't use the calf muscles vigorously). Does Dr Park have any advice for your situation?

Best wishes!!

 

Thanks MissJess! You've been so generous in sharing your experience through your various posts, you're really awesome!!

Okay, I will bear your advice in mind -- especially the stretching!
Will keep you girls posted on my recovery process.

I have a pretty high pain threshold, so I'm not too concerned about the post-surgery pain, but I do wonder whether there will be significant reduction in my calves.

I am 158cm tall, 46 kilograms.
My calves are about 35cm

From the various photos, I noticed that hypertrophy of muscle seems to be the reason for the thick calves.....although my calf muscles are not big, my calves are super chunky. I'm not overweight, so it might not be fat either.

I wonder how much muscle removal will make a difference.
Oh well, I guess I'll find out when I see Dr Park next Monday.

Maybe a combo of muscle removal + liposuction will work better.

I'll try to post my pre-surgery & post-surgery pictures so girls in the same situation (i.e. thick calves but not due to huge muscles) can use it for reference.

 

Hi Miss Jess,

Congratulations on your beautiful legs! I'm due to have my surgery at OZ next Monday, and I feel alot more reassured after reading all the positive results here.

Just wondering, was there anything helpful that you did to aid your healing? You seem to have recovered spectacularly within a short period of time. Did you watch your diet post-surgery etc.?

Will be helpful to know the dos and don'ts post-surgery.

Thank you!