Lots of people these days are looking at different types of cosmetic treatments to enhance or alter their body shape, including calf augmentation for the lower legs. Getting conventional calf augmentation or calf implants requires going through a surgical process and involves a series of doctor visits, as well as recovery time and other aspects of an invasive procedure. For many who are on the fence about whether to seek a calf augmentation procedure, some helpful alternatives can be handy.

Training

One of the most basic and common alternatives for calf implants is targeted exercise that grows the calves naturally through hard work. Specific weight loaded exercise will train the calf to a larger size. Some of these activities are called ﾓexplosiveﾔ training when they put heavy demands on the calf or gastrocnemius muscles.

Before going ahead with a surgical plan to grow the calves, it makes a lot of sense for most active adults to try training first, and to keep at it for a significant period of time. On the other hand, those who suffer from lifelong conditions such as spina bifida are often prime candidates for a surgical procedure to correct deficiencies in the leg tissues or muscles.

Fat Grafting

The conventional calf augmentation uses a kind of silicone implant. Another alternative for this process is to use body fat. A type of liposuction brings fat from other parts of the body to the calves for an altered shape on these lower leg areas. However, as some doctors point out, the fat grafting approach is likely to be less permanent than a classical calf implant procedure.

Macrolane and Fillers

Some specialists might mention another kind of alternative to a regular calf implant. A product called Macrolane is one of the materials that doctors might use to create calf enhancements with a natural element called hylauronic acid, which is an avian type of material. These kinds of hylauronic acid implants can be a bit less invasive than a silicone based implant, although many patients would not regard them as totally non-invasive, and the hylauronic acid has been known to provide a less than permanent solution as well.

Although people who don't like the shape of their calves might be enthusiastic about going ahead with a surgical calf implant treatment, in many cases, the right kind of training can make this process unnecessary. Be sure to consult at length with a family doctor and a specialist before signing on for a surgical calf procedure, and look at some results to see what your legs might look like after one of these sessions.

Doctors can explain more about the specific benefits of the calf implant versus the risks and potential side effects. Be sure to tell doctors about any medical conditions or medications that may interact badly with the calf implant material, anesthesia, or any other aspect of the process, and ask about whether you are generally a good candidate for a calf augmentation or any of these alternatives.