Calf Slimming With Botox Treatment Is Simple, Safe & Swift

Traditionally, be it facial rejuvenation or body transformation, surgery was seen as the only available option to doctors and patients. However, Botox has made tricky procedures such as calf slimming or calf reduction not only possible but also a more preferred non-surgical alternative.  

The Demand for Calf Slimming Is on the Rise

Body reshaping and sculpting treatments are quite popular in the field of cosmetics and aesthetics. Moreover, a remarkable shift is seen from surgical to non-surgical solutions for a variety of aesthetic concerns.   

Similarly, calf muscles also become an area of aesthetic concern if they are:  

• Enlarged  
• Muscularly  
• Bulky or chubby  
• Asymmetrical or uneven  

To address such issues were usually invasive methods such as calf reduction surgery and calf liposuction.   

However, Botox therapy has served as a simpler, safer, and more effective alternative to calf slimming surgery. The credit goes to the consistent research in the field of medicine and aesthetics, as well as in the potential of Botox therapy.    

What Determines the Shape of the Legs?

Understanding the Anatomy of Leg 

• The upper leg connects the hip to the knee, while the lower leg connects the knee to the foot. From the hip to the knee, the femur bone runs. The patella, often known as the kneecap, connects the femur to the tibia and fibula, the two lower leg bones. 

• Major muscles are found in the leg. The glutes are made up of gluteal muscles, hamstrings go from the buttocks to the knee, and quads are located on the front of the thigh. 
• The gastrocnemius is the back of the calf muscle, and the anterior tibialis is the shin muscle in the lower leg. The size and structure of these muscles will have a significant impact on leg appearance, especially at lower body weight and body fat levels.

Traditional Approaches for Calf Slimming and Leg Contouring

Calf surgeries were first performed in Korea to solve the problem of many Asian people having short and muscular calves instead of the ideal 32-34 centimeters. Furthermore, the proper treatment depends on: 

• Muscle Resection

Muscle resection is the most severe and extreme of the calf reduction treatments. Also, the treatment gives mixed results. In this procedure, removing a part of the gastrocnemius muscle in the calves takes place that is responsible for the bulky look.  

The right patient for this treatment is unhappy with the look of their legs and wants instant and long-lasting results. They also have congenitally thick legs, as well as acute calf hypertrophy.

Pros:  

1. Quick results 
2. Permanent solution  

Cons:  

1. Scarring and bruising 
2. Pain and swelling 
3. Irregular or uneven contouring may occur  
4. Long recovery time  
5. Limited daily activities for a month such as walking 

• Calf Liposuction

Calf liposuction, such as using ultrasound, can help patients who suffer from outsized calves as a result of excess fat. Liposuction in the calf area helps reduce fat and tighten the skin.   

Ultrasound liposuction emulsifies fat before suctioning it out of the treatment area, making it easier to remove. This is particularly useful for areas with bigger volumes or denser fat.  

Pros:  

1. Slims and defines the calf area  
2. Provides a tightening effect to the skin  

Cons:  

1. Pain and discomfort  
2. Scarring  
3. Long recovery period  
4. Relatively more expensive than non-surgical treatment options 

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgery, liposuction is more helpful on the upper portions of the legs, such as the thigh area.  

When done on the lower parts of the leg, liposuction is less effective, and its slimming effects depend on leg length and skin elasticity.  

Eligibility For Calf Liposuction

Furthermore, not everyone is a suitable candidate for leg liposuction, especially those with large amounts of loose skin, such as those who have lost a lot of weight. 

• Selective Nerve Blocking

Selective nerve blocking is another procedure to slim down large calf muscles. Calf neurectomy is a minimally invasive surgical treatment that includes removing nerves that control the calf muscles.  

The lower leg muscles begin to weaken and shrink as the calf muscles receive fewer signals to move. 

Pros: 

1. Permanent Results 
2. Minimally Invasive 

Cons: 

1. Accidental injury to nearby nerves, which can affect calf function, is the most serious danger linked to neurectomy. 
2. Unpredictable and limited results 
3. Long recovery period 

• Calf Slimming Using Radiofrequency Nerve and Muscle Ablation

This nonsurgical treatment damages the nerves in the calf muscles using radiofrequency energy. This causes the muscles to shrink and appear slimmer with time.  

Moreover, RF energy can also heat fat cells in the calves, causing them to die and be drained naturally over time. 

Pros: 

1. Provides long-lasting results 

Cons: 

1. May cause hematoma 
2. Long recovery period 
3. Full results may take as long as 4-6 months to become visible 
4. May result in possible nerve injury 

What Is Botox?

Botulinum toxin is a toxin produced by a species of bacterium. It is dangerous in greater concentrations. Very small, weak dosages of Botulinum toxin is used to treat face wrinkles. 

Botulinum toxin is a toxin that interrupts nerve signals that cause muscles to contract when injected. The muscles relax, which reduces wrinkles. This effect lasts 3–6 months on average. After this period, the muscles begin to move again, and wrinkles appear.

Botox Injections for Calf Slimming and Leg Contouring

Even though Botox injections are less invasive than surgical procedures such as:  

•  Calf muscle removal 
•  Liposuction 
•  Nerve ablation 

They can still deliver dramatic and long-lasting results for clients who want slimmer, sculpted lower legs.  

Moreover, Botulinum toxin treatment may be a simple and safer option to contour large calf muscles. Unlike surgery, the treatment does not disturb the client’s daily life and has a minimal healing period.

How Botox Injection Can Treat Big Calf Muscles? 

The gastrocnemius muscle is the most superficial calf muscle responsible for the calf’s mass and definition. Botox, using a number of syringes, is injected evenly throughout the gastrocnemius muscle.  

The muscles are selectively weakened, and as a result, their volume decreases as they stop contracting with the same strength as before the injection. Furthermore, there is no restriction of the calf’s muscle activity. Hence, there is no loss of the function of the muscle.  

This entire process may take up to an hour. However, it may take at least two treatment sessions to achieve visible results.  

Also, the patient will need to schedule maintenance treatments. 

Clinical Assessment For An Effective Treatment

 The major aim is to collect all of the information needed to select the best treatment option for your patient. Also, a clinical assessment is important to customize a treatment, even in the case of Botox calf reduction.  

• Some of the crucial features of a good clinical assessment include:  
• Analysis of the impact of treatment results through expert visual assessment.  
• Take a complete medical history, including the reason for seeking treatment.  
• Probe about the emergence of the problem, current lifestyle (active or inactive)  
• Understanding the patient’s desired goals and expectations from the treatment.  
• Comparison of muscle volume before and after treatment by measuring the perimeter of muscle mass. The image assisted reconstruction tool can help measure the volume to determine the volume of muscle at the end of the session. 

Past History

What could have led to large calf muscles; exercise, sports, high heels.

Assess the patient from in front and behind standing and then rising up onto their toes. Photos are essential for supporting the consultation and for record keeping. If the bulky calves relate to hypertrophic or enlarged muscles then Botox may be a suitable treatment. Also, if the two gastrocnemius muscles are undefined on contraction then assess extent of subcutaneous fat. If this is the cause of their large calves then discuss diet, exercise and possible referral for liposuction.  Mark the areas of the gastrocnemius causing maximum bulging.

Anatomical considerations

Botox will weaken the superficial fibers of the gastrocnemius muscles causing them to atrophy through disuse. Depending on the clinical presentation, medial, lateral or both muscle heads can be injected.

Dosing & Injection technique for Calf Slimming

Whilst the patient stands on tiptoes mark the areas of muscle bulk to be targeted. The patient should then be positioned supine face down. A 30G needle is adequate and typical doses are 50 Botox / 125 azzalure units per gastrocnemius. Injections are spaced around 1cm apart and if necessary gridlines can be drawn to ensure systematic placement of Botox.[/vc_column_text]

How Many Botox Units Needed for Calf Reduction?

To reduce its strength, the calf muscle requires a high number of units of Botox. For face slimming, the masseter muscle usually requires, 25- 30 units per side (a total of 50 – 60 units). However, to slim down the calf muscle, far more units are needed than the bite muscle, at least 100 units for each muscle. 

Botox Injection Sites for Calf Slimming

Benefits Of Calf Slimming Using Botox Treatment 

Practitioners like Botox treatment because of its minimum invasive nature and less risky outcomes. Moreover, the treatment delivers surgery like results, despite being temporary along with the need for regular maintenance. 

• Little to no downtime  
• Short treatment time   
• A relatively safer option to surgery and other intrusive solutions.  
• A simple procedure that does not require any special surgical skills  
• The treatment does not involve significant risks or complications such as scars  
• Botox for calf slimming shows quick results in as early as 2 weeks  
• Maximum effects of the calf muscle reduction can be noticed within 2 months post-procedure  
• Subtle and natural reshaping of legs is possible using Botulinum Toxin injections

Cautions and complications

Patients with enlarged calves secondary to subcutaneous fat are poor candidates for this treatment.

Counsel patients that initial treatments to debulk the muscles are typically every 3/12 and they may require three treatments to achieve the desired effect. Maintenance treatments are typically every 9-12 months but this could be dependent on lifestyle.

Contouring the calves can be unpredictable and uneven areas of flattening or bulging can occur depending on Botox diffusion. Furthermore, remaining bulky areas of the leg are usually address in the follow-up treatments.

Deep injections can lead to problems with leg weakness and balancing if diffusion into the soleus muscle occurs.

A Final Word 

Botox injections are fairly safe and effective against muscle overgrowth and are also a preferred choice of doctors and patients alike. 

With proper clinical assessments of the patients and their conditions and careful injection techniques, the treatment can deliver desirable results.  

Therefore, aesthetic understanding and training become crucial to achieving maximum results and the patient’s content.   

Learn, Upskill & Prosper with The Harley Street Institute 

Harley Street Institute is one of the leading aesthetic training centres in the UK. The institute believes only in quality learning that is propped by professional training steered by top leaders in the beauty industry.  

Through its variety of valuable hands-on training programmes and courses, HSI prepares you for all possible challenges. Our handpicked experts mentor and guide you from the simplest procedure to a task as daunting as calf slimming and body contouring.  

Please visit us, discover the possibilities and explore your potentials.