Question:
I have very thin legs and I want shape down to my ankles. Can I have a calf implant that will give me that?
Answer:
You will probably need a combination of calf implants with fat transfers to the lower leg. A calf implant alone won’t give you the look you want. Here’s why:
Calf implants are specifically designed to enlarge the look of the muscle of the calf. This comes from the gastrocnemius muscle, which gives shape to the upper leg. This muscle divides, attaching to both the inside and outside of the upper leg. This is what gives the upper leg its shape. Depending on the look you want, you may need one implant in each leg over the inner muscle. Or you may want more shape with two implants per leg, one on either side. Whichever you choose, your upper leg will now be nicely shaped.
Implants cannot go lower than the muscle – they will irritate the tendons. However, you can shape your lower legs with fat transplants. Fat is taken from another part of your body, such as your hips, and injected under the skin from just below the implant down towards the ankle. (Fat transplants are not often done around the ankle itself because the skin is thin and can be damaged by injections.)
There is a big difference between calf implants and fat transplants – implants don’t absorb. They are made of a very soft solid silicone – and are permanent. The implant doesn’t get smaller.
Fat transfers on the other hand are living tissue. Not all the injected fat will survive. As much as 60% of the injected fat on average absorbs – and at times, it all absorbs. Even if this doesn’t happen, you are likely to need at least two sessions of fat injection to get the look you want.
Calf implants are done with you asleep so if you want fat injections as well, it makes sense to do the first fat injections with the calf implants – that way, you have one recovery. The second set of fat injections might be done in the office, depending on what is needed, your health and how you tolerate local anesthesia.
For more information, just give us a call. We would love to help you.