girl

Hi, pages 50-55 are around 10 years ago, his technique probably improved since then. The bulge is usually caused by the gastrocnemius muscle and it is precisely what Dr.Park remove, he do not touch the soleus. I specifically asked him that I wanted the muscular look to go away. I didn’t wanted to have the smallest calves possible, but only remove the bulge, and I am very satisfied! The results of Julia A are very good too!
Did you contacted him? He could answer personally your questions. Maybe he can send you before and after pictures...?

You have to be sure of your decision, because the post-op is hell in term of fear, pain... but I couldn’t be more happy with my decision to go forward with this surgery! I enjoy summer, go to the beach, wear short pants... I feel like I have a normal life again, I do not have to hide anymore.
People couldn’t imagine a calf surgery, so nobody suspect that, but many people have asked my if i had lot weight i said yes.
My biggest fear was to do not recover at 100%, to have long term consequences and have regrets, but everything is perfect. I do not see a difference in all my activities.

 

I am glad to answer your questions!
That being said, before going forward with any calf reduction method, I would strongly advise you to do a lot of research and reading, if you don’t want to have any regrets with your decision considering this is a serious surgery.
If you look at Dr.park website and you read this blog from the beginning, you will see what are the options and have a lot of great answers provided by all the girls who are enough kind to write a post-op diary. Thanks to them, I read this forum multiple time before making my decision!!! It made me confident that it was the best thing for me.
Dr.Park is in Korea and operate in a private desk. He have is own surgery room. You can see him in a video, doing a calf reduction on google in a documentary made by the National Geographic, in his operation room, the one that I was in.

The options:
-Botox : do not work, expensive and temporary solution. I tried...
-Liposuction: do not work for muscle, do the “pinch test” to evaluate if you have fat.
-Radio frequency muscle ablation: not really practice anymore, results uneven, scars in the muscle.
-Radio frequency nerve ablation: most commun technique, temporary results, nerves Will grow back, satisfaction in the firsts months, and regrow after.
(The gastrocnemius surgery is more difficult if you did RF before).
-Gastrocnemius surgery, removing surgically a part of the muscle: This is the permanent, most effective (and most scarring) technique. This is what Dr.Park an Dr.Jong are practicing.

To be an expert in any kind of surgery, you have to practice, a lot.....

Dr.Park, Korea: had done around 900 in his career, I haven’t see bad review on the web (maybe there is some written in Korean?). I saw a bad review on a jaw surgery, but since it was a different surgery, I didn’t considered it.

Dr.Jong, Taiwan: I don’t know how much he has done but I seems to be only few a year (from a comment I read on this forum), some are satisfied, but some girl didn't saw a big change, some hade long terms consequences and the scar seems to be big.
Dr.Liu, US: Had been doing a lot of Botox and RF nerve ablation in the last years. I meet him.... He had only done around 20 gastrocnemius reduction till now but he seems to be interested in this technique, I am sure he will be better in the next years. He went in Korea recently to do formation. He uses a different technique, 2 scars. One in the top and the other in the bottom of the calf, scar are more apparent... He kind of removed a part of the muscle, more precisely, instead of removing the inner part of the muscle by tearing. So less swelling, better recovery, more precise results, but worst scar and lack of surgical experience... I considered him but I decided to go with the more experimented and went with Dr.Park and I do not regret my decision.

 

Thanks!
Wrapping is to get the better results possible. My goal was only to be normal, the muscle part was removed and I am already satisfied. But Dr.Park advise to wrap 24/24 the first year and longer if it is possible.
I would say that for me wrapping was necessary 24/24 the first 2 months to prevent swelling. After that, I met someone and for 4 next months I was wrapping in the day only and I was taking off the bandages to sleep. .... Now I am single and it is summer, it’s hot, so I do not always wear them.. maybe half of the time. I bought compression stocking, to get the calves in a normal shape and put the bandages on top of it. In the first weeks, I had swelling days where I had only the bandages, not correctly wrapped, and at the end of the day, my calves were in a odd shape, cause my bandages had loosen up in some parts. Dr.Park told me that bandages are more tight than stockings, but I bought 25-30mmHg and it seems similar..

Stretching: 9 months post-op
I now stretch 5 times a day, 1 min each time. I needed more than that in the first 6 months! If when you stretch and you feel that your calves are tight, it means you need more stretching. This is really important for the recovery and the long term flexibility.

Are you thinking about going forward with the surgery?

 

Pre-op pictures:

 

8 months post-op (Dr.Park, gastrocnemius calf reduction):

I dont have any regrets having the surgery.
It’s not perfect, it’s not that slim but i do now look normal, less muscular and i now wear short pants and skirts!
I do every physical activités i want, running, biking, soccer, hiking and everything is ok. At 6 months, i tried to do jogging and it was painfull for the week after but it was because i wasn’t streatching enough! Since then, i use a timer on my phone, like after the surgery.

Post-op pictures:

 

Dr.Park have done more than 900 calf surgery, he is really more expérienced that Dr.Jong. Its why i went with him, after a lot of research. You can also find on Google a vidéo documentary made by The National Geographic on Dr.Park calf réductions, i guess they did their researchs before publishing it.

 

I am really sorry for that you are not satisfied with the results of your surgery....
I had mine with Dr.park in Korea and i am totally satisfied. He had done more than 900 calf surgery, maybe you could take informations with him for a revision...?

 

Post-op: 4 months and a half
I do live a normal life, i do not feel pain or thightness anymore, unless i do not stretch enough. I can do sports (bike, hiking, cross country skiing, alpine skiing) exept running... i tried twice and it is painfull while doing it and for a couple of days following the run... As anyone experienced that kind of weakness? As anyone bean able to run 5 or 10km after this surgery?

Babyluv30, the worst is behind you!

 

Hi, I wouldn’t go with Dr.Lui, I asked him and he told me that he had done between 20-30 calf reduction surgery which is really not enough to be an expert. Dr.Park has done over 900 muscle reduction.
I saw some picture on google of the scar in the inner part of the calf and it is pretty ugly... My scar is very small, 2cm long, behind the knee, I almost do not see it.
I am 2 months and a half post-op, everything is so far so good. Walking is normal, I did ice skating, cross country skiing already. I am tired earlier than before but I could do it normally. I can run small distances, like to catch the bus, but I cant run real distances right now. but I am confident that it will be back to 90% normal within 6 months.

 

@camber @Julia A @amici1992 @brobn
Hi girls! After how long did the tightness in your calves in the morning was gone? I asked Dr.Park and he said it was different from one patient to another... I am afraid I don’t stretch enough the days I work. I stretch a lot in my days off, I bought flat shoes to work and for home, but still... I can’t not stretch properly while working.....

Good luck to @Anoukmarie for her surgery this week!!

 

Day 11:
13h flight, 3h layover, 1h45m flight. I asked my airline to have empty seat next to me (there was a lot left the day before my return), they were absolutely of no help so I paid 120$ to have a sext in the first row, next to the toilet, I couldn’t elevate my legs, but I could stretch when I wanted. It went better than I expected... not to much swelling. I was able to walk in the airport, my walking was ok, not so fast, but ok.
Day 12-13:
Spent the day stretching every 15 minutes and elevating, dealing with the jet lag of 13h.
Day 14:
Back to work for a 13h day, job is a mix of sitting, standing, walking, no breaks. I got up 1h earlier than before to stretch a lot. So when I arrived to work, my walking was normal, nobody asked questions. I took muscle relaxant (methocarbamol) and anti-inflammatory (naproxen) to relive the pain. I could stretch only while going to the bathroom, so the pain and the tightness increased more and more during the day. I wasn’t walking normal at the end, really slower. I told colleges that I was tired from holidays.
I didn’t had time to look at my bandages during the day, so when I arrived home, I realized that they had loosen up, not the same compression all along the calves, my calves looked like waves.. ! and there was a bulge of swelling under the knee cause the bandages were lower than where I put them in the morning... So now I have decided to wear compression socking first, so my calves would be in the right shape, with the bandages on top. Dr.Park gave my 20-27mmHg socking, I thought it would be more like 30-40mmHg...?
I drove to work (1h) without problem.
I did my first aspiration alone, 6ml and 3ml, I push and pull the seringue a couple of time to be sure to remove all the blood, but I think I over did it. The following day, it was really painfulll and I started wondering that maybe I had infected one of my leg and that I would have to go to the emergency room and told the doctor what I have done... but it the pain resolved, so it was probably just inflammation related to the movement of the seringue in the muscle.

Day 15-16-17:
I have to work for 8 day before having a day off, the week will be long ... I do not sleep well, elevating the legs, jet lag, in comfort.... I had to go to the birthday party of my niece, after my work, all my family was there, and they didn’t notice anything special. But I am really making effort to walk normally. I still struggle to walk downstairs but since i live at the third floor, I practice a lot!
I feel like I am back to square one every morning, after 10 minutes of stretching, it is better.

 

Day 10:
Last appointment, Dr.Park showed me how to aspirate my legs, he draw a circle with a pen, so I will know where to insert the needle at home. With an ice-pack before, it is ok, not that painful (seringue, 10ml, 21G, 1”1/4). He withdraw only 6ml of each legs but he said It will probably more at home, since I will be working. In Korea, i just rested, elevated and stretched. I didn’t go on any tour, I wanted a safe and effective recovery...
Day 11: return home
I took the bus 6009, 15 000W, around 50 minutes, from Sinsa dong station, nonstop. (can also be taken at Sinsa station) I think it is the fastest and the cheapest option and you are sure to have a seat. I didn’t wanted to take the subway, because there is so much stairs and no elevators, I wouldn’t have been able with my suitcase ... I walk ok, not so fast, I tired easily and going down stairs is difficult. But I definitely didn’t needed a wheelchair service, I guess my recovery is ok, fortunately.. I am now at the airport, waiting for my first flight, of 13 hours.... The teletubbies exercice and squats are strange movement to be done in public so for now I push against a wall or a chair.

 

For calf reduction, go on the thread “How can I make my calves smaller”, I read it a couple of times (207 pages) and I found only one patient of Dr.Park who wasn’t entirely satisfied of her calf reduction. They all seems to have regain the entire power in theirs legs (run, bike, jump, hike) after 5-6 months and some posted a couple of years post-op. I also saw a video by the National geographic that you can find on google. I have been looking for an option for calf reduction for many years and I think that even if it is a major surgery, it is safe. But I don’t know anything about his skills for facial surgeries...

 

I had private questions but I will answer here for the benefit of every other girl who is looking into this procedure.
-spinal anesthesia
The risk of complications of spinal anesthesia is lower than general anesthesia, it is why it is preferred. It is a well known procedure (I work in the medical field). The anesthesiologist was a men, good English speaking, professional. He told me to lie down on the table, on my left side, on fœtal position. He lift up my hospital gown to have acces to my back (be aware that the medical personal will see your underwear). He disinfected my back with alcohol, it was very cold. Than he inserted the needle. Yes it was painful, but nothing compare to the pain in the post-op days...Then my lower body started to feel numb, very strange sensation. Than he touched my shoulder with something cold, and than my leg, to test if I was feeling it. He did it a couple of time, to be sure everything was ok. After a couple of minutes, I started feeling asleep. I woke up 2 times in the surgery, not cool, I was scared, freezing, hearing them work on my body...
Pain:
Yes it is very painful, a lot more than what I expected. I wasn’t prepared for that... I had in mind that pain is temporary, it will go away, so I had more focused my research on safety, long term consequences, best surgeon, recovery exercice... But I am now at day 8 and everything is ok, its now more an incomfort than pain, nothing to compare with the first days. After I stretched, I walk almost normally, but slower, but nothing for people to stare at me. I think I could have gone home today, but you never know how your recovery will go, so it is better to plan more days in Korea. I am leaving day 11.
Hotel:
The Hotel that is now recommended is the Foreheal Hôtel (and not the Young dong). It is close to the clinic, seems new, rooms have réfrigérateur, microwave, boiler, there a coffee shop and a restaurant downstairs, a terrasse on top I think. When I booked my Airbnb, i didn’t knew that the special tarif for Dr.Park at the Foreheal was 66,000 KRW per night single room, 88,000KRW per night for a double room.
Price:
I paid 8,000,000 KRW, you can have a 10% discount if you pay cash but I didn’t wanted to bring this amount of money with me... I paid by VISA.

 

Day 7

 

Day 5, Day 6:
Mornings are still painfull, I do not sleep well, I have a knee pain, but in the front side. I asked Dr.Park and he said it is not related since it is not behind the knee. Maybe it is because I stretched too much...? I was doing it every 15 minutes, I will switch to 30 minutes. I go out about 4 times a day for a walk of 30 minutes, I am afraid of walking too much, I want to avoid swelling.
Day 7:
Aspiration day! Dr.Park forgot to pick me up for my appointment. I had to walk and I do not live close by but I managed to do it! My ankles were very swollen when I arrived to the clinic.
I really thought aspiration would be more painful, I asked Dr.Park to apply an ice pack before doing it and I almost felt nothing, I only took 1 or 2 minutes. He removed around 10ml. I am confident I can do that alone at home without problem.
I am walking better, slower than normal, but it is better each day. While I was around, I went to the Starbucks across the street, someone here on the forum said that there was a good ambiance, it’s true. I sat at the second floor, in a sofa near the window, with my coffee, looking people walking in the street, I felt like living a normal life again.
Next appointment on day 10, leaving for home on day 11.

 

Day 4:
I had an appointment with Dr.Park. I had stretch often but not enough far from the wall and my feets were too far one from each other. Dr.Park is very kind bud doesn’t talk much, so this time I asked what specific distance I should reached, I measured it with my arm and I will pratice it until day 8.
Pain is now ok, 5/10. I walk slow, but I am less dragging my feet's. Dr.Park said I should walk more so I manage to take a walk around the block this afternoon, I had difficulty to come back and walk the hill, but it was good to be outside. I said earlier that my stitche had open, but no, it was just blood and bruising. In fact, he stitches the skin by the inside, so I think the scar will be very small.

 

Hi Cassandra, this is a very MAJOR SURGERY. If you can’t not afford Dr.Park, please wait until you get the money. You DO NOT want ended up having trouble walking for the rest of your life. Dr.Park has done over 900 calf reduction, he is a specialist. This is a risky surgery that is safe IF done by an EXPERT only.

 

I have a boyfriend since a couple of months, I had no intention to tell him about the surgery. He is out of town right now. I am going to see him on day 16. What were your excuses for brushing, and bandages for 6 months to a year?!?
He is really not I the medical field, so I thought I could say that I had trouble with the saphenous vein and that doctors had to remove it remove it by surgery. The have to cut behind the knee and patients have to wear compression stockings. Does it sounds good....? Anyone has a better story to tell......?

 

(N.b. English isn’t my first langage, so my English writing is sometimes difficult)

Day 1: sugery
Day 2:
I didn’t slept at all this night, I was so in pain.... 10/10. I took the pills that Dr.Park gave me plus one extra pain killer. My bandages were really tight, there was no blood circution in my feets and pain was worse while elevating. But I wanted to avoid swelling so I keept the elevated an I was in pure pain, having bigs regrets of deciding to move on with the surgery. I had really underestimated the pain that I was going to experience...
I went to the post-op appointment, dr.Park changed my bandages, and teached me how to stretch with the lower belly against the wall. I was literally crying... I think the recovery really depends on the amount of muscle that is removed. There was an other girl that met the day of the surgery, she was walking well, doesn’t seem to have as pain as me, I told Dr.Park that I wished I would be like her. He said that he removed 100g of each of her calf, compare to 200g for me, that was one factor why our recovery was different.
One of my stitches has opened, I think it is because I really tried to keep my legs straights, to stretch the muscle. I guess I am more afraid of long termes consequences than scars. The other leg look ok.

One big mistake I made was to rent an AirBnb that is about 1.5 km of the clinic, I can’t not walk that far, especially that it is in a slope, there is no Uber and taxi won’t take me cause it is too close. So Dr.Park has to take me to the appointment. I can’t not even go outside cause it is a steep slope.. I went to the grocery store before the surgery but I have not enough food for the 11 days. I will ordered delivery. So rent the hotel that is suggested by Dr.Park, they will provide transport and you will be close to cafes and restaurants. In the Foreheal hotel, the rooms are equipped to cook (something I didn’t tough so when I rent my Airbnb)
Umbrella to use as can is a must (thanks Julia)

Day 3:
I slept better, i woke up time to time but pain is manageable. Getting out of bed is always the most challenging and painful moment of the day. Dr.Park said I could take off the bandages and shower. When I took them off, it was so painful, I don’t know why but if I had known I would have wash myself with a towel. I had difficulty to stand up in the shower.
I decide to stretch every 15 minutes instead of 30 minutes, I am really afraid of not waking normal again or being restrained in sports, even if I read this entire blog an everyone seemed to be ok.
I do not have swelling in my feet or ankles....? Maybe because I can’t go outside to walk, I stretch 5 minutes, walk around bed, lie down and elevate my feet. And I do that again 10 minutes later. Really boring, but it seemed to be efficient.
I walk very slowly, like an 80 years old person, maybe 10cm each step. I bought snickers, one size bigger, that are very comfortable. I also try to walk normally, meaning that I try not to drag my feets but have a normal pace. It hurts but it stretch at the same time.

 

Day -1: Arrival at the clinic, meeting with Dr.Pak, blood tests.
Day 0: Surgery
I arrive at 10h, the prepared me, they inserted the IV and the anesthesiologist came to do the spinal, it was ok, not that painful, but I stared crying, more because I was afraid of the surgery,asking myself « what are you doing to your body, » ! I woke up during the surgery... so scaredn, I didn’t know where I was... After the surgery, I was in so much pain, that they gave me 3 IV shots of painkillers before I was able to walk to the toilet. Dr.park took off 400g, maybe I is why it is sooo painful?! Going back tomorrow for post opappointemnt.....

 

Thank for the tips Julia! No one knows for the surgery except the girls on this forum..... I have been looking for a solution for years here in Canada and USA and all the doctors I consulted thought I was crazy for wanting this surgery (samething for my family) and that if I have bad consequences, I will be responsible for it.... So I am going alone and I will have to hide it from everybody... I will try to stay strong in the post-op!

 

I booked the surgery!! October 19th, I am staying 10 nights after the surgery and I will go back to work on day 14, it was the best I could do. I wish everything will go well. Thank to everyone who answered me and helped me make my decision. I will keep you posted!

 

Than you for answering, sincerely. I am afraid, but ready!

 

Hi Camber!
I saw a video from the National geographic on the web of Dr.Park doing cal for muscle resection, I saw the big window you were talking about !
- you said your life is back to normal, you run normally? Could you do 5-10km? Jump normally? Could you play beach volley-ball? Are you tired earlier than before? I am ready to give up some fonctionnality to have a normal life and wear shorts pants, but I want to have a good idea of what to expect....
- do you think I will be able to work 12 days after the surgery? (Job is a mix of sitting, standing and walking, 6 to 12h). At this moment, I can only take 2 weeks, including flights...
Thank you so much for answering my questions!