Calf implants in Turkey

Two things decide the shape of a lower leg: the size of the muscle and where the muscle ends. Training changes the first within limits. It cannot change the second. Someone whose gastrocnemius inserts high has a short, high muscle belly and a long tendon below it, and the leg reads as thin however strong it is.

That is worth saying because most people who reach this page have already tried, often for years, and have been told they are not training hard enough. Frequently they are. Understanding that the limit is anatomical is what makes the decision about surgery a real decision rather than a last resort after imagined failure.

• Thin calves, high insertion

  The classic cosmetic case. Training has done what it can and the outline is set by tendon length. An implant changes the outline; nothing else does.

• Asymmetry after illness or injury

  Polio, clubfoot, trauma and congenital hypoplasia all leave one calf smaller. This is a reconstructive use and often the strongest reason to operate.

• Wants bulk as well as shape

  An implant adds contour, not strength or performance. If the goal is athletic, this is the wrong operation.

• Poor circulation or a clotting history

  Lower-limb surgery with weeks of reduced walking is a specific risk combination. This needs raising before anything is booked.

For implants elsewhere on the body see butt implants, and for reshaping by removing rather than adding see liposculpture or full body sculpting.

1. 1

   Assessment and sizing

   Measurement of the leg, the position of the muscle belly and how much skin cover you have. Thin legs show implant edges more, and that has to be planned for rather than discovered.
2. 2

   Choosing the implant

   One or two per leg, and the shape and profile that matches your muscle. Ask for the manufacturer and model in writing, and keep the documentation.
3. 3

   The incision

   Usually in the crease behind the knee. It is short, but its position and healing are worth asking about because the back of the knee moves constantly.
4. 4

   Placement under the fascia

   A pocket is made over the muscle and the implant is placed in it. The pocket has to be exactly right, because a loose one lets the implant move and a tight one raises pressure.
5. 5

   The first days

   Elevation, very limited walking and close attention to pain. This is the window in which compartment pressure matters most and it is the reason the first days are not the time to travel.
6. 6

   Weeks before normal walking

   Walking returns gradually and exercise later still. Ask for the real timeline in writing before booking your return flight.

• Anyone who cannot rest properly afterwards. The early recovery depends on limited walking and elevation, and a job or a journey that prevents that changes the risk.
• Anyone with circulation problems or a clotting history. This combination of lower-limb surgery and immobility deserves a medical opinion before a cosmetic one.
• Anyone hoping for strength or performance. An implant changes the outline. It does not make the calf stronger and it is not a training aid.
• Anyone unwilling to consider removal. If an implant becomes infected or persistently uncomfortable, taking it out is the answer, and that has to be an acceptable outcome.
• Anyone who has not been examined standing and on tiptoe. That is how the muscle belly and the tendon length are assessed, and it cannot be done from a photograph.

• The implants themselves. Manufacturer and whether one or two are used per leg. The brand belongs in your paperwork.
• One leg or both. A single-side correction for asymmetry is quoted differently from a matched pair.
• Anaesthetic and theatre time. General or regional, and how long the operation takes in that surgeon's hands.
• Hospital or clinic and length of stay. Given the early monitoring this operation needs, an overnight stay is not an upsell.
• Garments, aftercare and mobility support. Compression, dressings and how many reviews are covered before you fly home.
• What removal or revision would cost. Ask now. Removal is a real possibility with any implant in a thin-cover site.

The clinic listing on this page shows each clinic's current price with a note of what it covers. For instalments, see payment plans. For other body implants see butt implants and for reshaping by removal see liposculpture.