Calf Reduction in Thailand

Calf reduction is a cosmetic procedure aimed to lessen the size and volume of calves by removing fat or muscle from the area to make your legs more skinny and attractive. 

In most cases, calf reduction is the only option for people who want to enhance the appearance of their legs by improving their calves' size and shape.

An increase in this area can be observed in the following cases:

• Swelling or so-called edema — can be a symptom of certain diseases or some associated with overweight, excessive fluid intake, wearing uncomfortable shoes, etc. 
• Excess weight — even a slight increase in subcutaneous fatty tissue gives additional volume to calves.
• Intensive physical activity — can increase calf muscle mass. In this case, small calves can only be returned with surgery.

Calf reduction by removing fat deposits (liposuction) is the best treatment option if the volume increased because of the accumulation of adipose tissue.

The recovery period duration depends on the volume of the removed substance. It can last from several days to several weeks. After the calf reduction with lipo in Thailand, doctors recommend to limit physical activity for 6 weeks and wear compression stockings.

When calves are reduced by removing fatty deposits, only a few tiny scars remain. However, a patient has a significant muscle mass and a small body fat mass, only a slight decrease in calf volume can be expected.

The most effective method of calf reduction. During the procedure, the surgeon removes the hypertrophied muscle that enlarges the calf volume through a 5 cm incision in the popliteal fossa and incision in the middle of the tibia. As a result, the volume can be reduced up to 5-7 cm. The surgery takes 1-2 hours. 

However, calf reduction surgery has some disadvantages. Among them are:

• scarring
• short term strength loss
• removal of healthy muscle tissue
• in patients with a small amount of adipose tissue in the calf area, the inner contour of the upper calf area looks somewhat unnatural.

• The hospital stay takes 24 hours.
• About 3 months after the operation, the patient must wear compression stockings.
• The patient should take heparin to prevent thrombosis.
• In the first 2-3 days the patient moves with crutches. 
• In the first 2 weeks after calf reduction, the patient must rest and upward the legs.
• About 6 weeks the physical activity is forbidden. 
• The fully functional ability of calves is restored in a few weeks.
• In general, the recovery period takes about 6 months.

Read more about the recovery period after calf reduction here.

Endoscopic calf reduction is a surgical procedure aimed at thinning of muscle tissue with an electric knife (a knife that cuts the tissue with the help of electric current and heat). Thus, the natural form of calves is preserved. This calf reduction method is the most widespread in South Korea. 

The partial resection takes 1-2 hours. The technique is popular due to small skin incisions, possibility to make individual calf shape, and short-term recovery period (3-4 weeks). 

The endoscopic procedure is still a surgery, so specialists also remove healthy muscle tissue. It is a partial reduction and the calf volume does not decrease as much as when the muscle is completely removed. If the surgeon cannot make the cut surface smooth, the roughness of the contour may remain noticeable. So choosing a highly-qualified specialist is crucial.

Healthcare is the key development sector of the Thai government. The Thai authorities are convinced that care for the citizens' health should be an absolute priority of state policy and spend about 25 billion baht for healthcare annually.

As a result, 36,673 medical facilities provide excellent medical care in the country. 64 centers in the Kingdom have certificate of JCI (Joint Commission International), the international improver of healthcare quality and safety across the globe. The index of certificates obtained is the largest. To compare, Israel has 20 JCI-accredited facilities, and Germany — only 10 clinics of this type.

The Kingdom of Thailand is also a well-known country globally due to high-skilled doctors that undergo internships in American and European institutions. Patients from Japan, China, Myanmar and the Middle Eastern countries prefer treatment in Thailand to other places.

Highly developed medical centers and first-rate therapeutic services at affordable prices attract people from all over the world. Over 2.5 mln international patients travel to Thailand annually. So Thailand is among Top 10 countries with the most developed medical tourism sector.

Thailand is a top destination for medical tourists because of low-costs. You may save up to 75% on services compared to European countries or the USA due to the average local citizens' income and general price policy within the country.

In the Kingdom of Thailand, hotels of different price ranges and service levels are presented. The level of Thai hotels is comparable to hotels in Tunisia, Morocco or Egypt. Most tourists choose 4 and 5 star hotels with all-inclusive meals. Such hotels have everything for a comfortable stay: varied food, a large well-groomed territory, animation for children and adults. Some hotels have their own water park, which guests can use for free. Budget travelers can afford to book an economical 3-star hotel with half board or no meals at all.

The main advantage of Thai resorts is the long beach season. On the east coast and west coast the climate features are different, so take it into account when planning the trip. The best time to travel is during the cool and dry season between November and early April. A large influx of tourists is in March-May, when the air temperature is +30°C.

For now, the Kingdom of Thailand requires different visa regimens for diverse states. Some foreigners can stay in the country 60 days without visa control, some of them — only 14 days.

How long you can stay in Thailand and what countries can cross the border easy read here.

Visas for travel to Thailand require a number of documents. The necessary papers can be submitted 90 days before the planned departure. The list of documents includes:

• ID card
• confirmation of online registration and filling out the questionnaire
• certificate of income and availability of funds (20,000 baht per person/40,000 baht per family)
• insurance policy for a stay in Thailand (original and copy)
• 2 photos (4x6)
• visa receipt
• booking of round-trip air ticket (paid in full) and hotel
• medical opinion about the need for treatment.