How can I make my calves smaller?

[Julia A]

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!

Hi girl, I will say that day 12 is maybe a little rush, I think you will be quite uncomfortable at work too. At week2, your walking might still be slow and limping, if you don't mind your colleagues noticing maybe it will be alright. At 3 months post-op, I still couldn't jump as high as pre-op, it was more like a hop. But now at 5 months post op, everything is normal. For walking Stamina, if I had tied my bandages very very tightly, it will be uncomfortable walking for too long and even worse walking up the stairs. It think it has to do with poor blood circulation and the calves being too confined by the bandages, and less to do with my actual leg strength.

 

[Julia A]

For ladies who are planning to have this surgery done, I will suggest that it will be better to have a more realistic expectation before going in for the surgery. As it is very hard to achieve stick thin legs from an originally chucky calves, after the surgery and the recovery. However a normal and decent calves size is definitely attainable. Of course, this will differ between people and original calves size, or maybe a second surgery if you are up for it.

 

[Girl.]

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!

 

[Julia A]

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!

Hi girl, i am so happy for you! Are you going alone or do you have someone to take care of you?
A good support is very very important especially for the first few days. i will recommend you to bring dry shampoo for the trip. I remembered that i couldn't shower properly the first fews days post op as i didnt want to mess up the bandages. But October in Seoul should be pretty cold already, so you might not have to shower as frequently. Try to bring pants/ skirts/ dress etc.. that are easy to wear, because your bandaged, swollen and bruised calves sometimes make it a little difficult to reach down and take off your clothes. I will also recommend bringing a thick and cushiony indoor slipper to walk around at home. Your feet will become VERY swollen and thick ( can't stress this enough ), and walking barefooted feels quite weird and not as comfortable. Most importantly, make sure you have someone you can talk to/text/ call when you are sad, afraid or in pain. This is very important, especially when you are having a tougher day during the recovery stage. When i was feeling sick in Korea, i sometimes called my boyfriend and asked him to sing me to sleep. This really helped distract the pain and i felt better.

when you reach seoul, buy a steady big umbrella and use it as a cane. There are many steep slopes in seoul (there is one just right outside of the clinic) and it was really impossible for me to climb any of those without the umbrella's help. The umbrella was my good friend for 3 weeks

Bring a facial mist too as Seoul is pretty cold and dry. Before the surgery, It will be best to arrange the room to have all the essentials you need just around you within arm's reach, such as charger, laptops, food etc.. Also make sure you have enough pillows to elevate your legs, before the surgery. Prepare fruits and food that will aid in your recovery ( google them ), and also buy banana. You might have poor appetite after the surgery, so prepare nutritious and simple food beforehand too. You will need to eat 3 regular meals everyday before taking the medication ( 5 pills after every meal ). For vitamins, i will not recommend buying so many. If you are eating a good and balanced diet, you will be getting all the required vitamins already. Plus with the 15 medication pills/day, there are already too many things to swallow. However, pills that help in deswelling such as bromelain, you will have to prepare them.
Bring a icepack or heating pad to help cope with the nerve pain during the second week. A good massaging cream will be great too. PLEASE bring something that can help with the itchiness of the skin under the bandage, you will thank me later

If you have any questions regarding what to pack or about the post op recovery feel free to ask.

 

[Girl.]

Hi girl, i am so happy for you! Are you going alone or do you have someone to take care of you?
A good support is very very important especially for the first few days. i will recommend you to bring dry shampoo for the trip. I remembered that i couldn't shower properly the first fews days post op as i didnt want to mess up the bandages. But October in Seoul should be pretty cold already, so you might not have to shower as frequently. Try to bring pants/ skirts/ dress etc.. that are easy to wear, because your bandaged, swollen and bruised calves sometimes make it a little difficult to reach down and take off your clothes. I will also recommend bringing a thick and cushiony indoor slipper to walk around at home. Your feet will become VERY swollen and thick ( can't stress this enough ), and walking barefooted feels quite weird and not as comfortable. Most importantly make sure you have someone you can talk to/text/ call when you are sad, afraid or in pain. This is very important, especially when you are having a tougher day during the recovery stage.
When i was feeling sick in Korea, i sometimes called my boyfriend and asked him to sing me to sleep. This really helped distract the pain and i felt better.
when you reach seoul, buy a steady big umbrella and use it as a cane. There are many steep slopes in seoul (there is one just right outside of the clinic) and it was really impossible for me to climb any of those without the umbrella's help. The umbrella was my good friend for 3 weeks

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!

 

[Julia A]

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!

Alright, but make sure at least someone close knows that you are coming for the trip. If you feel lonely, scared or in pain, just read through this forum or update us, we will be happy to chat with you. On the bright side, you can binge watch netflix drama and youtube, and be a couch potato without feeling guilty Korean convenient stores has many ready to eat meals like rice and soup( pumpkin soup is good for post op recovery but they dont taste good) etc, but you will need to have a microwave to heat them in your room. I remember that there is a traditional market near the train station where the clinic is, maybe you can explore the food options available there and stock up before the surgery.

 

[amici1992]

Hi all. I will be 6 months post op in 2 days.
Very sorry for being MIA. But I'll be replying to comments this weekend! And of course giving an overall update.

Best of luck to @Girl. on her upcoming surgery tomorrow!

 

[Girl.]

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.....

 

[brobn]

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.....

Oh my goodness, I'm so glad to hear you're ok

 

[Girl.]

(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.

 

[Girl.]

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. For this surgery, they actually have to cut behind the knee and patients have to wear compression stockings. Does it sounds good....? Anyone has a better story to tell......?

 

[Cassandra.007]

Hey guys! So I've seen on here that Dr. Park is popular choice, but the procedure seems to be pretty expensive. I work in the humanitarian field, and I can't imagine anytime within the next couple years at least that illIbe able to save enough to justify spending around $10,000 on the procedure :/ Does anyone else have any recommendations? I saw Dr. Jong's name, from Taiwan I think, but I haven't seen where his prices are yet. This has been such a huge area of insecurity for me that I'm so tired of living always hiding my legs, and it's frustrating to only be held back by the money!

 

[Girl.]

Hey guys! So I've seen on here that Dr. Park is popular choice, but the procedure seems to be pretty expensive. I work in the humanitarian field, and I can't imagine anytime within the next couple years at least that illIbe able to save enough to justify spending around $10,000 on the procedure :/ Does anyone else have any recommendations? I saw Dr. Jong's name, from Taiwan I think, but I haven't seen where his prices are yet. This has been such a huge area of insecurity for me that I'm so tired of living always hiding my legs, and it's frustrating to only be held back by the money!

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.

 

[Girl.]

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.

 

[ongrace]

Hi,
I have decided to go Seoul for my thigh, calf and calf muscle reduction in Dec. Only be there for a week so need to get blood test in singapore. Anyone can recommend where for blood test and GP for stitches removal. Hopefully not too expensive. Tks