Background: A disproportionate lower leg size compared to the body, or even to the thighs, is often given the name ‘chicken legs’ This obviously refers to the very small size of the legs that most birds have compared to their bodies. While such a leg size is of no concern to birds, it can be quite disconcerting to some women. For those so afflicted, it is a source of embarrassment and may even prevent them from wearing any clothing that exposes their legs above the ankles.
A thin lower leg is usually due to small calf muscles. Underdeveloped calf muscles will make the lower leg between the knee and ankles look like a near straight pole without upper muscular bulging or shape. While there are two calf muscles per leg, both inner and outer gastrocnemius muscle are usually small. To make a visible size increase, all four heads or muscle bellies of the calfs need to be augmented.
Case Study: This 47 year-old female had been bothered about the small size of her lower legs for years. Because of her small calfs she would not wear shorts, dresses or any clothing that revealed her lower legs.
Under general anesthesia and in the prone position, 3.5 cm long inner and outer skin incisions were made in a popliteal skin crease above each calf muscle head. Through these incisions a subfascial pocket was developed on top of the gastrocnemius muscles. Small soft silicone calf implants were placed over each muscle head with two implants for each leg. (15cms long, 5cms wide and 1.5 cms thick)
For many female calf augmentation patients, a four implant approach is needed. The goal is to make the overall calf size bigger without one side of the calf being disproportionate to the other side. By placing roughly 75cc implants on each muscle belly, or 150cc additional volume per leg, the calf is increased in size and still appears natural. For a small petite female these calf implants are appropriate. For larger female medium size calf implants (135cc per implant) may be needed.
Highlights:
1) Females with ‘chicken legs’ had small medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscles.
2) A four calf implant calf procedure is needed to treat the thin lower legs in female calf augmentation.
3) Four small incisions behind the knees is needed to insert subfascial calf implants.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana