What is Calf Botox?

What is Calf Botox?

What is calf botox? It is the injection of Botulinum toxin into the big calf muscles to reduce their appearance when the cause is muscular. It is a cosmetic treatment.

It’s common to have calf Botox

In Asia it is quite common for many young ladies to have calf Botox injections to reduce their calf size when they wear high heels. I see patients who have concerns about the size of their calves, which is due to muscle rather than fat, and assess them for Botox injections (botulinum toxin) into their calves.
I explain to them that the gastrocnemius muscle – which is the muscle that looks hypertrophied and big – reacts when they go on to their tiptoe so that it will become more noticeable when walking and when they wear high heels.
When walking, the lift-off part of the step involves going on the toes, and then the muscle becomes more noticeable. Young ladies who do a lot of sport often have more muscle hypertrophy, and one of the complaints I get is that they cannot fit into their boots or they have large calf muscles in comparison to their overall slim build and slim ankles.
By injecting botulinum toxin in quite a large dose into the gastrocnemius muscle, with 10 to 15 individual injections, we can reduce the calf hypertrophy in its position of action and cosmetically improve the appearance of the calf.
However, I look at the gait of the patient and discuss with them their sporting activities and their shoes. This is because some patients who are looking at having calf Botox may do better by seeing a podiatrist to get inlays to put into their shoes that alter the way they walk and the way the muscles contract.
In other words, calf hypertrophy may be genetic, or the way in which someone walks or their gait may induce it. Or it may be because of excessive sporting activity, and the approach may not always be that of Botox as a first line treatment.
If you think you have calf hypertrophy, we will be pleased to see you at Clinica London, but you should also consider seeing a podiatrist to look at your gait and decide whether you require insoles to help improve your stride and reduce the muscle action.