How can I make my calves smaller?

[bronte77]

Thank you for sharing your experience! I have a couple questions for you:
Do you see the results right away in day one?
Are you satisfied with the results?
Were your feet really swollen to the point they look deformed?
Do you see lumps on your calves?

sorry, I'm starting to worried about the size of my calves because they still look big.

Hi, to answer your questions...

Do you see the results right away in day one?
No, on the first day my calves looked the same as in pre-op. I did not see any difference at all until some of the swelling went down by the 3rd week.

Are you satisfied with the results?
I am satisfied with the results but my very serious concern is the nerve pain that started after the first week and still persists. Dr. Park said that some people have numbness but he has never seen significant damage to nerves so I am just waiting and hoping that it goes away soon because I still cannot bandage my calves properly due to the pain and so it probably will effect the final result.

Were your feet really swollen to the point they look deformed?
Yes, by the end of the first week they were completely black and blue and very swollen. The bruising and swelling moves down the body and pools at the feet, so to speak, and so that is completely normal.

Do you see lumps on your calves?
I did see some irregularities and this is due to swelling and fluid accumulation. After aspiration and with time the swelling will go down and that should make the irregularities disappear. Remember, this is not like liposuction where bumps can be irregularities of tissue and fat since the doctor blindly pushes the canulla through. An entire portion of muscle was removed so there should not be any bumps on the remaining muscle to cause a lumpy calf.

I hope that this helps and wish you an easy recovery.

 

[ffxlulu]

Hi, to answer your questions...

Do you see the results right away in day one?
No, on the first day my calves looked the same as in pre-op. I did not see any difference at all until some of the swelling went down by the 3rd week.

Are you satisfied with the results?
I am satisfied with the results but my very serious concern is the nerve pain that started after the first week and still persists. Dr. Park said that some people have numbness but he has never seen significant damage to nerves so I am just waiting and hoping that it goes away soon because I still cannot bandage my calves properly due to the pain and so it probably will effect the final result.

Were your feet really swollen to the point they look deformed?
Yes, by the end of the first week they were completely black and blue and very swollen. The bruising and swelling moves down the body and pools at the feet, so to speak, and so that is completely normal.

Do you see lumps on your calves?
I did see some irregularities and this is due to swelling and fluid accumulation. After aspiration and with time the swelling will go down and that should make the irregularities disappear. Remember, this is not like liposuction where bumps can be irregularities of tissue and fat since the doctor blindly pushes the canulla through. An entire portion of muscle was removed so there should not be any bumps on the remaining muscle to cause a lumpy calf.

I hope that this helps and wish you an easy recovery.

Thank you for your answers. I hope your nerve pain will recover soon.

 

[joo_joo2704]

Hi, to answer your questions...

Do you see the results right away in day one?
No, on the first day my calves looked the same as in pre-op. I did not see any difference at all until some of the swelling went down by the 3rd week.

Are you satisfied with the results?
I am satisfied with the results but my very serious concern is the nerve pain that started after the first week and still persists. Dr. Park said that some people have numbness but he has never seen significant damage to nerves so I am just waiting and hoping that it goes away soon because I still cannot bandage my calves properly due to the pain and so it probably will effect the final result.

Were your feet really swollen to the point they look deformed?
Yes, by the end of the first week they were completely black and blue and very swollen. The bruising and swelling moves down the body and pools at the feet, so to speak, and so that is completely normal.

Do you see lumps on your calves?
I did see some irregularities and this is due to swelling and fluid accumulation. After aspiration and with time the swelling will go down and that should make the irregularities disappear. Remember, this is not like liposuction where bumps can be irregularities of tissue and fat since the doctor blindly pushes the canulla through. An entire portion of muscle was removed so there should not be any bumps on the remaining muscle to cause a lumpy calf.

I hope that this helps and wish you an easy recovery.

Hi bronte77!

Hope you are doing well. Thanks for updating us. I have two questions:

1.In Dr.Jong's website, he has mentioned that he has a monitor in the surgery room which shows the relevant nerve so the surgeon can have a better look to take care of it. So do you have any idea if Dr.Park has the same device or not?! I saw one in the pics of the renovated surgery room in the clinic web, but not sure if it is the exact one or not!

2. Where did you get the info about the lump? I am really worried about it!

I hope that you get rid of the nerve pain very soon.

 

[bronte77]

Hi bronte77!

Hope you are doing well. Thanks for updating us. I have two questions:

1.In Dr.Jong's website, he has mentioned that he has a monitor in the surgery room which shows the relevant nerve so the surgeon can have a better look to take care of it. So do you have any idea if Dr.Park has the same device or not?! I saw one in the pics of the renovated surgery room in the clinic web, but not sure if it is the exact one or not!

2. Where did you get the info about the lump? I am really worried about it!

I hope that you get rid of the nerve pain very soon.

Hi Joojoo, I do not know if Dr. Park has such a machine... I wish I had known this before so I would have asked. The nerve that is affected by this surgery is the sural nerve that runs down the calf to the outside of the foot and the fourth and fifth toe. The sural nerve is one of the nerves that does not really serve a significant purpose in the body and is often used when doctors need a viable nerve to replace a damaged or dead essential nerve elsewhere in the body and so the sural nerve is just removed and added in another part of the body. Unfortunately, many nerves are extremely unpredictable in how they react to being touched or even being 'seen' as some doctors say. If the nerve is removed then the patient will be left with a numb heel, outside of the foot, and the two toes. However, if the nerve is disturbed or bruised in any way then it can cause extreme pain while the nerve calms down. What this really means is that a doctor would possibly need to just push this nerve out of the way when removing the muscle in the calf and that is routine and causes no damage but the nerve just flares up. No doctor can really predict this... it is just individual to each patient's body. I got very unlucky but many patients will experience the numbness in the foot without the pain. The numbness can last from several weeks to 6 months or more. Also, and this plays a huge part, the swelling in the calf pushes and puts more pressure on the nerve as there is so much fluid and blood inside the calf. It squeezes the nerve and causes it to flare up. This is why aspiration helps.

I really am speculating regarding the information of the lumpiness in the calf but I have watched many cosmetic surgeries performed. It also seems logical to me that unless there is some trauma like a seroma, hematoma, or severe scarring <which would never show up a only few days after surgery> that there is no tissue in the calf that would be lumpy just after surgery.

Thank you all very much for your good wishes

 

[ffxlulu]

Bronte, I was wondering when exactly you started to have nerve pains. Did you go out for the first week or you stayed in hotel and elevate your legs ? thanks

 

[plasticbuns]

Planning on getting my calves done in a couple years.

 

[joo_joo2704]

Hi Joojoo, I do not know if Dr. Park has such a machine... I wish I had known this before so I would have asked. The nerve that is affected by this surgery is the sural nerve that runs down the calf to the outside of the foot and the fourth and fifth toe. The sural nerve is one of the nerves that does not really serve a significant purpose in the body and is often used when doctors need a viable nerve to replace a damaged or dead essential nerve elsewhere in the body and so the sural nerve is just removed and added in another part of the body. Unfortunately, many nerves are extremely unpredictable in how they react to being touched or even being 'seen' as some doctors say. If the nerve is removed then the patient will be left with a numb heel, outside of the foot, and the two toes. However, if the nerve is disturbed or bruised in any way then it can cause extreme pain while the nerve calms down. What this really means is that a doctor would possibly need to just push this nerve out of the way when removing the muscle in the calf and that is routine and causes no damage but the nerve just flares up. No doctor can really predict this... it is just individual to each patient's body. I got very unlucky but many patients will experience the numbness in the foot without the pain. The numbness can last from several weeks to 6 months or more. Also, and this plays a huge part, the swelling in the calf pushes and puts more pressure on the nerve as there is so much fluid and blood inside the calf. It squeezes the nerve and causes it to flare up. This is why aspiration helps.

I really am speculating regarding the information of the lumpiness in the calf but I have watched many cosmetic surgeries performed. It also seems logical to me that unless there is some trauma like a seroma, hematoma, or severe scarring <which would never show up a only few days after surgery> that there is no tissue in the calf that would be lumpy just after surgery.

Thank you all very much for your good wishes

bronte77!

I really appreciate your patience! With such a spirit of fear that I have, will definitely get so uncomfortable with the recovery section!
Actually I also know that the sural nerve is used for the purpose of nerve implant...but I am wondering if numbness happens, it will last for ever or just temporarily? I asked the same thing from Dr.Park and he answered in details but I couldn't understand if the numbness is permanent or not. I am so sorry to ask you such a kind of question while you are already concerned with your painful nerve!
I hope you get well very soon and also get satisfied with your new legs

 

[joo_joo2704]

Thanks for your review, bronte.
I am having my calf surgery next week with Dr. Park, too.

Why do they need to place you on a heating pad?

How are you doing ffxlulu?

I hope both of you will heal soon!

OneTrackMind!

Do you mind if you ask Dr.Park about the monitor that facilitates observing the sural nerve so the surgeon does not hit it?! Just ask if you are also curious to know cause I can realize that you might be nervous in these days near to your surgery and I don't want bother you
I also hope that everything goes well with you in Korea

 

[ffxlulu]

OneTrackMind!

Do you mind if you ask Dr.Park about the monitor that facilitates observing the sural nerve so the surgeon does not hit it?! Just ask if you are also curious to know cause I can realize that you might be nervous in these days near to your surgery and I don't want bother you
I also hope that everything goes well with you in Korea

I will ask tomorrow since I'm going to see dr.park tomorrow at noon. I got a feeling he might not have that monitor.

 

[ffxlulu]

So this is my fourth day post op:

Some personal tips I would like to share that may make your recovery period more 'enjoyable'

- practice sleeping while elevating your legs so that you will get used to it (I've been sleeping like a pig since first night)
- relax and do your breathing exercises right when you stretched which I've learned from yoga. I would suggest those who doesn't have yoga experiences to start taking some
- play a five min yoga relaxing song during your five min stretches instead of just timing yourself. I found that a lot more relaxing

 

[bronte77]

bronte77!

I really appreciate your patience! With such a spirit of fear that I have, will definitely get so uncomfortable with the recovery section!
Actually I also know that the sural nerve is used for the purpose of nerve implant...but I am wondering if numbness happens, it will last for ever or just temporarily? I asked the same thing from Dr.Park and he answered in details but I couldn't understand if the numbness is permanent or not. I am so sorry to ask you such a kind of question while you are already concerned with your painful nerve!
I hope you get well very soon and also get satisfied with your new legs

Hi Joojoo,

Please try not to worry too much. The more you imagine a great difficulty the more stress will cause you to feel the pain acutely. It is better to just deal with whatever comes up as it comes up.

The sural nerve may cause numbness but it will not be permanent because the nerve is still alive and just in shock, so to speak. Also, many people do not have any nerve issues at all. The numbness is not so bothersome either way.

On a positive note, the nerve pain is going away on its own as the swelling goes down so it turned out as Dr. Park predicted. The result as of today is very good. I think that after the 3rd week the recovery period speeds up considerably so that is something to look forward to. I can wear the bandage again.

Best of luck to you and no worries! It is totally worth it.

 

[bronte77]

Bronte, I was wondering when exactly you started to have nerve pains. Did you go out for the first week or you stayed in hotel and elevate your legs ? thanks

Hi Ffxlulu,
The nerve pain started after the first week but now at the beginning of the fourth week it is now going away.
I began walking around on the first day to a grocery store by OZ Clinic and then to Starbucks next to the hotel on the second day. I also went to the gym in the hotel to do some exercises for my arms. I walked very very slowly and then came back to my room to do the stretches.
However, this may not be the best idea for everyone, I have been a dancer for years so my muscles are very used to stress and being constantly in use. I think that everyone should listen closely to what their body tells them regarding how active they should be.

Take good care!

 

[bronte77]

OneTrackMind!

Do you mind if you ask Dr.Park about the monitor that facilitates observing the sural nerve so the surgeon does not hit it?! Just ask if you are also curious to know cause I can realize that you might be nervous in these days near to your surgery and I don't want bother you
I also hope that everything goes well with you in Korea

Hi OneTrackMind,

I don't really know why the heating pad but I think that it is the same principle as when a patient goes under general anesthesia. Many patients wake up shivering and cold after full general anesthesia so maybe the same thing after the local spinal anesthesia applies. Possibly some of the other girls can confirm this...

Take care.

 

[joo_joo2704]

I will ask tomorrow since I'm going to see dr.park tomorrow at noon. I got a feeling he might not have that monitor.

Thank you so much ffxlulu!

 

[joo_joo2704]

Hi Joojoo,

Please try not to worry too much. The more you imagine a great difficulty the more stress will cause you to feel the pain acutely. It is better to just deal with whatever comes up as it comes up.

The sural nerve may cause numbness but it will not be permanent because the nerve is still alive and just in shock, so to speak. Also, many people do not have any nerve issues at all. The numbness is not so bothersome either way.

On a positive note, the nerve pain is going away on its own as the swelling goes down so it turned out as Dr. Park predicted. The result as of today is very good. I think that after the 3rd week the recovery period speeds up considerably so that is something to look forward to. I can wear the bandage again.

Best of luck to you and no worries! It is totally worth it.

Yes, we should not anticipate anything!
Thanks god that the numbness is not permanent!
I am also so glad to hear that your pain is fading! We are waiting for more good news from you.