camber

Hi Girl
I think you will probably be back to normal within a few months but maybe when you return to work it will be a bit of a struggle to stand for too long. Elevate your legs when you get home and wear your compression stockings or the bandages at all times for the first 2 or 3 months or as long as needed to reduce swelling.
The first two weeks are 'dark' I would say - weird, you are sore, you have to keep going to the clinic to have the aspiration done and your calves stretched. The nurse will push you into the wall to stretch your calves but it is better to feel the pain than not to stretch and then not be able to walk later on.
Also do the aspiration if you need to do it.
I can walk normally now jump, run do everything as I did before and had completely forgot I had the operation within 3 or 4 months.
Any other questions just ask.

 

Girl I am logging off now as I am UK and it is after midnight. I will log on again during the week depending on my work.

 

Girl if I was you I would just have it done. To me it looks like you need a bit taken off the inside and if it is the gastronomic muscle from what I have read it would just need to be stretched after the operation. I am not saying it is the gastronomic muscle as I am not a doctor. If a doctor told me I needed to have the soleus muscle reduced I would not do it as I would not risk not being able to walk properly. I got mine done after I went to quite a famous lipo Dr in UK said to me that the rugby team would be proud of my legs. He said it was muscle not fat and from then I was looking to have them reduced.

 

Girl I am no expert but I think if you lost a bit of the inside muscles you would have the legs you want.

 

Hi Girl
People who dont have a problem always think people who have a problem are crazy for doing something about it. It is a very specialised skill only practiced in Asia and Dr in Canada dont really know anything about it. If a Dr in Canada tells you to have lipo just ignore as can see your muscle but I think you have nice enough shapely legs. However if you feel they are too muscular have them reduced. There is a Dr in LA who advertises resection but then recommends in all cases RF. That doesn't work and the muscle grows back as the nerves rejoin. From what I have read it is considered safe (still scary) but the muscle that is being resectioned is considered not really necessary for function. It is the soleus muscle that controls walking etc.

 

THELILACHOUR you are on a calf group chat. Like GIRL said why do you want to only converse with a few people when you could converse with loads of people. There were a few people on here who formed their own little group as they did not like to hear negative stuff so now they talk among themselves and give each other the answers they want to hear. Better for them.
GIRL I had it done last December and this is scary stuff I know. There is a big window in Dr Park's room and I was considering jumping through it when the anesthetist came in LOL. Anyway went through the operation, very painful limping especially on the right side for quite a while . The left recovered very quickly. After about 3 months you can do everything you did before if you do the stretches. The muscle is very elastic so seems to readjust itself. Very painful at the start.

 

I have read RF doesn't work only the removal of the muscle will work. Just a question of picking your surgeon now.

 

Hi Passion
I need a bit of lipo as well. I dont know where you live in the world but you dont need to go to Korea to have lipo on the calves unless of course you live nearby. I would just have lipo done in UK. I looked into RF but it appears the nerves grow back so not worth it.

 

Dear Passion No I never heard of Fresh or 365m in Korea. I could only find a few doctors in the world who actually did it. I am physically and mentally recovered from the op now.

 

Dear all to correct myself I meant to say 'threads' not 'threats' in my email which is the last one on the forum Apologies for that it was late and I was annoyed at only just reading the nasty silly email from Vanity which showed her low comprehensive levels but she was bold to be confident about what she was had inferred I meant. I have started to use the compression stocking as I feel my legs are a little swollen at the moment. I had a walking holiday recently and walked miles in the heat at a high level. They are nor sore but swollen and someone said to me why are you ankles so swollen in surprise. Did not mention the op but told them I had been walking in 44degree at a high level.

 

Hi all not logged in later been very busy. Just read that nasty angry message from Vanity on 9 May. The message she incorporated was direct to Happy Challenger another user and did not mean I was 'happy' it was a reference to the person I was addressing.
'I' suppose that confused her. I have also confirmed on many occasions that bedside manners is not a must for me and she seems to have inferred I said the opposite. Never mind. Throughout my threats I have used the prefix 'I' which means that 'I' would not use a doctor who did not take enough and implies by the use of the word 'I' that it is my opinion. Intelligent person would never infer that I was 'getting at' other people's decisions as to who to you. People can say what they want but an intelligent person can ultimately form their own opinions.
Chocolax - for the avoidance of doubt that is another use - I had mine done at the same time as you and I have been using Babybio. The scars are still a little red but not too noticeable. Has the feeling returned to the sides of your feet? Mine is slowly returning but not completely yet but I read it can take up to one year.
By way of update my calves are going up and down a bit but to be honest have a good bit of fat around them as well. They ultimately look a lot slimmer but not sure if I have a bit of muscle developing at the back.

 

Hi Sexy Legs would you mind putting on a photo of your legs.

 

Sounds like you are getting over it or at last used to it. I went to Myeogdong as well but it was just another shopping street. I had brought Ibuprofen but ran out and had to use Tylenol.

 

Hi Amici
Stay strong it is all so familiar. Just concentrate on your stretches, bandages and follow up. Just buy some post cards but do not stress out too much about Seoul. The buses are cheap and you can buy a card at the newsagents, put money on and take a look around on the buses. I could not actually find the tour bus but I believe there are touristy tours. When I was there it was very cold and overcast which added to the soul destroying experience. In my guesthouse there was underfloor heating and that just made my stay so much better and I looked forward to it on a cold night. I did go out but it was not pleasant and very difficult. Loads of odd looks. Are you staying for two weeks. You need that for follow ups and to be close to the Dr in case anything goes wrong. I agree on the reception but who cares she is not doing the surgery and we did not go to see her - I know the receptionist you are talking about. Not a charmer but give me the money and fast.

 

Hi Amici

Did you have it done. You have not updated. If you are like me you will be in a room trying to deal with pain and stretching as much as you can. Would be good to hear.

Pilates do not work when genetics are involved.

 

Hi Choc

Yes I had it done at the same time as you and ankles still numb. I read it takes around 1 year for feeling to come back. Dr P had said one month but I did not quite believe that at the time. Sometimes I feel sensation and hope it is good sign but skin still numb. Are you happy with results. I think mine are going up and down. Not sure if I am having compensatory hyperatropy or it is swelling from the days activity. Anyway think will have to give it at least six months for the situation to stablise.

 

Hi Dianna
I have definitely lost a lot of muscle. My legs are not that swollen but I a bit of fat at the time (I did ask Dr P to take that off but he didn't but he was employed to take the muscle anyway which he has.. Not ready for the pictures yet. The main recovery is the stretches you have to stretch every day. Have to get my head around losing a bit of weight. I had the surgery in winter because I felt in summer the banadages would be too hot. I think now the Seoul winter was a bit too cold and February or March would be fine to get the surgery done. You can wear the stockings in the summer and you can go out sometimes without them but bandage up at night.

 

Hi Diane my legs are getting less stiff now only in the morning. Can walk without limp on the right leg, the left leg recovered like a tropper. Dr Park will give you stockings which you can wear out and they just look like regular tights. I actually think they are better than the bandages which are a bit 1920s way of doing it. Also with the stockings they hold the legs in a smoother position whereas the bandages you have to have skill to bandage the leg evenly. The bandages leave big red tracks on your legs and make them itchy. I am sticking with the stockings during the day and bandage at night.
I would not consider Dr J at all as he does not take enough but has apparently good bedside manners. There have been a few girls on here who went to Dr J and they have not been happy but some have put a 'brave face' on it. Some are going back for revision surgery at a further cost of £3K. Well I would not go back there I would go somewhere else.
Apparently Dr J is a sculpture which is great if your legs are not that big but if you risk getting signed up with a nearest rugby team as you walk the streets then you need to go to South Korea .

I would rather have a Dr who said to me give me the money and lie down and then for him to do a good job as someone who had good bedside manners. Good bedside manners don't make slim calves. .

 

Diane one more tip. When you come out of arrivals go to information and ask them to write the name of your stop Imperial Hotel and the address of the hostel in Korean. When you get to Kimchee ask Brendan to write out the name Gangnam Gu Office (your stop) and the stop for Dr P - can remember what it is called but it is two stops on Line 7. Hold on to the Korean spellings it will help you if you need to ask for directions. Also Kimchee will call a cab if you want to on the first few days which will cost no more than £2 to £3 to Dr P office.

 

If you stay at Kimchee they have a kitchen so you may make your own food. There is a lounge downstairs with TV, table other people will likely chat to you or at least it will feel social. That is the difference between staying in hostel type accommodation and a hotel - people will talk to you. If you do stay there speak to Brenda the manager and ask him if he remembers the lady who walked funnily. He speaks good English and wonder why I was walking so slowly. He would as well if he had done to his legs what I had done. From the airport take the limo bus to Imperial hotel, driver will tell you were to get off and Kimchee is not far. If you ask any young person on the street most will speak basic English particularly coming out of the offices etc. I found them very helpful for directions, using the metro etc. When I was going to Kimchee one guy actually carried my bag and took me there. The older people will probably not speak English. I did not travel much around Seoul but stuck mainly to my area. There is a MacDonolds and Starbucks of course close by and sometimes in the evening I sat is Starbucks as a lot of people met there in the evening after work and it was a pleasant atmosphere.

 

Hi Diane
I confirm south Korea is a highly civilised country. It is just the same as walking down any street in the UK except with more South Koreans. There are tours you can do out of Seoul - I would not go on the dematerialisation zone tour i.e. to the border of the North but just stick around Seoul. You will know the winter Olympics is being held in Seoul shortly and the Foreign Office are not advising against travel there. I would avoid the Winter Olympic period as it will be very busy and accommodation will get expensive. I appear to have lost around 4 to 5 cm as the Dr took a lot. They look like the legs of a woman and not a man training for the six nations rugby season. I had been lazy doing my stretches and it is not a good idea. I do stretches regularly now and can walk normally now but as others have said stiff in the morning.

 

Cost just over £5K
Stayed in Kimchee Gangnam as it costs around £25 per night and you have your own room with shower cum toilet basis. Also TV in room and wifi. Free breakfast not great but OK. Best feature underfloor heating was fantastic as it was cold there. Looked forward to going in at ngith for the underfloor heating. Did the job and it was two stops to Dr P office. I was able to walk there even after surgery. Better to stay two weeks so you can have follow up appointments, wound dressed and aspiration.

 

Hi Chococatz
How are you feeling now. The sides of my feet hurt but are not purple. Think I am getting my right leg moving better but this morning my left leg got stiff. No option to keep getting against the wall on a regular basis and stretching. Just glad it is over, they still work and they do seem a lot slimmer.

 

sorry meant to say looser not loser

 

Hi Chococatx

Thanks for update. Dr Park aspirated me first time nothing came out, second time it just kept coming - he was teaching me to do it myself on that occasion I am going to do it again shortly. He had to take quite a bit more from my right leg as it was must bigger. I have had a good recovery with my left leg - obviously smaller - I will try and aspirate in about one hour and keep stretching it anyway. Definitely feel like I need to aspirate the right leg today. Did a lot of walking yesterday trying to stretch out my right leg and felt it was getting a bit loser and move movement yesterday but it has not been fun. The sides of my ankles are very sore today - stretching and walking I suppose. They have been tingling which I hope is a good sign but still dont have full feeling. Everyone keep in touch especially Chococatx and Parachut - all of us having experienced this..