Men have different reasons for wanting to have their calves augmented. Those who work out and have a well-built upper body are often ashamed of their “chicken legs” or “bow legs.” They are often frustrated by not being able to build-up their lower body and calves in proportion to their upper body.

They also want to be able show off their pumped build but feel uneasy about wearing shorts. But there are those who seek calf augmentation as a means of restoring calves that have lost volume as a result of congenital or physical defects such as Polio, Spina Bifida, and Club Feet.

37-year-old former body builder Mark,* married with two toddlers, decided that he wanted to pursue a career in fitness consulting. Ever mindful of the reality that his image is what sells his business, Mark trains hard and consistently in the gym for two hours everyday. But despite these long hours and a diet specially designed to build the kind of size Mark was after, his calves just did not match up to the glory of the rest of his physique. “I felt that I looked odd, I had these skinny little chicken legs that refused to grow with the rest of my body. In my profession, things like that are important,” says Mark. He recently underwent a calf augmentation procedure and has been thrilled with the results. “A lot of the guys I train with have had the op and all loved the end result. Financially, I was in a position to do it, so I went for it!”

As many in the industry like Mark will know, calf muscles are particularly difficult to develop. Calf augmentation is accomplished by placing silicone gel-filled implants deep into the envelope of the leg muscles. The implant is placed through a four centimetre incision placed in the skin crease behind the knee. The pocket is usually dissected on the inner side of the leg. Various sizes and shapes of implants are available for selection. The large variety of implants available can be used to match or achieve a spectrum of anatomical and aesthetic outcomes. The operation requires conscious sedation with local anaesthetic infiltration or general anaesthetic. Regional anaesthesia in a form of spinal or epidural block can be used as well.