Thick Calves
Got Thick Calves?
A significant percentage of the population have what are considered to be thick calves. This is generally not a problem with men, who tend to associate thick calves as a natural part of an otherwise muscular body. Women often view thick calves differently, considering them to be unsightly and something they wish they could make go away. Even worse for women, is a situation in which both calves and ankles are thick, a condition sometimes described as having "cankles".
Fat Or Muscle? - Thick calves often are associated with general obesity and when the individual loses weight, the calves reduce in size in proportion to the diminishing size of the rest of the body. Women who are naturally athletic, especially those who participate in running or tennis, where the muscles in the legs become highly developed, consider thick calves as part of the price paid for athletic success and enjoyment. These women recognize that the calves, like the ankles, are mostly bone and muscle, and contain a limited amount of fat.
There are essentially two ways to deal with thick calves, three ways if you consider ignoring the situation as an approach. One way is to take advantage of the power of illusion, the other way is to deal with the issue surgically.
The Power Of Illusion - Unless one's lower legs resemble tree trunks, having no noticeable tapering between the knee and the foot, what one wears, both in terms of style and in color, can make the calves appear thicker or thinner, the latter being the goal. The power of illusion is not so much disguise as it is of tricking the brain into seeing something in a way slightly different from what is actually the physical case. Disguise is wearing knee-high boots. Some women do opt for boots that stop below the knee however. Such boots hide the calves and can be very attractive at the same time, depending of course on what else is being worn. Open toed shoes with a thick heel will tend to give the lower leg and foot a more balanced look, while flat slippers or stiletto heels tend to draw attention to the thick calves.
It's the same with skirts or pants. A clinging skirt will draw attention to the calves, while a skirt that tends to flare out at the knees will make the calves appear thinner. Full length pants will of course hide the calves, while Capri pants or anything that's cut off at the knees or just below, will draw attention to the calves, making them look even thicker. In short, what one wears can sometimes, though not always, compensate for the appearance thick calves have.
Liposuction - The other approach is through surgery, be it plastic surgery or liposuction. When people choose to lose fat through liposuction, the surgery usually stops below the hips, or at least above the knees, and the lower leg and ankle are usually not involved. The problem with liposuction as far as thick calves or ankles is concerned is there is not a lot of fat to get rid of, and one does not want to start removing muscle. Liposuction can help in some cases, though great care must be taken not to disturb the veins or muscles in the calf. Smaller instruments are generally used, and many surgeons will not even consider operating in this manner below the knees.
Spot Reduction Or Circumferential Surgery - There are two types of surgery to choose from. One is spot reduction, where the goal is as much to shape the calves as to reduce the size. The other is circumferential reduction where the goal is to reduce the circumference, hence the overall size of the calf. In many cases, both the calf and ankle are treated at the same time, as a high percentage of people having thick calves also have thick ankles. Thin calves and thick ankles might look even worse.
One should probably consider working with the power of illusion initially. If the right shoes and clothing can be worn, making the calves appear thinner, it will be a lot less expensive, and painful, than undergoing plastic surgery on the lower legs. The other option, just ignoring the situation, may for some require development of a thick skin.