Patient No. 285: Revision calves and ankles liposuction

WARNING: This is a medical blog intended ONLY for medical professionals!!! This blog contains nudity and graphic images of cosmetic surgeries. If you are offended by nudity and graphic images, or if your religion does not allow you to look at such images or to get cosmetic surgery done on yourself, please leave NOW!!! 

This case study was previously published on our YouTube channel. The patient has not returned to Dr Arthur Tjandra of Elixir de Vie since then. However, we decide to re-publish this case study on this Vlog, as it is a very interesting and educational case study.

This middle-aged American in her mid-40s makes the decision to fly all the way from the East Coast of the United States to Indonesia, to look for Dr Arthur Tjandra of Elixir de Vie. She has had whole body liposuction performed on her arms, abdomen, thighs and even calves (!) but is completely dissatisfied with the result. She visits Dr Arthur Tjandra of Elixir de Vie for revision liposuction surgeries on her arms and calves, after reading the good experience of other fellow Americans who have been to Dr Arthur Tjandra of Elixir de Vie and shared their experience on internet. During this visit, she gets revision surgeries done on her arms, forearms and calves on 2 consecutive days. Dr Arthur Tjandra of Elixir de Vie shows the difference between scars left behind by ultrasound-assisted liposuction versus syringe liposuction which he practices, and why it is so much better to get syringe liposuction done. The only downside of syringe liposuction are it is extremely time-consuming and physically-demanding. Only the very fit surgeons who are also endurance athletes like Dr Arthur Tjandra of Elixir de Vie would have the stamina to perform syringe liposuction. Just imagine aspirating liters and liters of fat with just one plastic syringe! This case study also shows that not many surgeons are trained or know how to perform liposuction on the calves, ankles, forearms and wrists! You have never heard of calves, ankles, forearms and wrists liposuction, have you?

This patient had 2 sessions of calves liposuction with 2 different surgeons in the United States, but still found her calves huge. She went to a third surgeon only to be told that there was no more fat in her calves to be aspirated. She was offered a highly-invasive surgery to remove her calves muscles (calves reduction/resection surgery). She did not buy the idea and searched for a second opinion (well, it’s actually a 4th opinion!). She found Dr Arthur Tjandra of Elixir de Vie who eventually removed 1.6 L of fat from her calves with liposuction! Dr Arthur Tjandra of Elixir de Vie also performs forearms and wrists liposuction for her. A surgery which all the American surgeons she has seen advised as “impossible”. Moreover, she was told that she had no fat in her forearms to be aspirated.

There are 3 questions you should ask yourself if you would like to have slimmer calves:

1. Are my calves big because of big muscles or thick layer of fat? If it is due to thick layer of fat, why not remove the fat first, which is a much simpler and harmless procedure before considering other more radical approach, such as calves reduction surgery and neurectomy? Having said that, unfortunately not many plastic surgeons are well-trained to perform calves liposuction. A lot actually have mistaken fat as muscles, hence advising patients a more radical approach of removing and paralyzing muscles, instead of removing fat! Ankles liposuction is almost unheard of! Besides Dr Arthur Tjandra of Elixir de Vie, who else in the world do you know who offers and can show you the result of ankles liposuction? You may watch many videos of calves and ankles liposuction here on our Vlog, as well as on our now defunct YouTube channel.
2. If you really have no fat at all in your calves and it is all due to big muscles, have you really considered the long-term implication of removing your muscles and/or destroying the nerves supplying the muscles? Falls are very common in the elderly because of weak muscles and loss of balance. When you reach 70 years of age, you will realize that strong calves and feet are needed to support your weight and to prevent fall. Falls in the elderly often lead to prolonged immobility which eventually may lead to death because of other complications, such as pneumonia.
3. Do you do sports at all? Almost any sports require calves muscles. If you cut away part of your muscles, or destroy the nerves supplying the muscles, this will definitely affect your performance. Even if you are not a professional athlete, would you trade vanity with diminished performance?

Most surgeons would not bother to explain to you about the long-term implications as long as you are willing to pay. But, it is your own body. You have the responsibility of doing your own research and make an informed decision. This patient made an informed decision not to heed the advice of the other surgeons. She chooses to come to Dr Arthur Tjandra of Elixir de Vie, who eventually removes 1.6 L of fat from her calves and ankles!

Video 13: Result of calves liposuction in the United States.

Video 14: Completion of left calf revision liposuction. A comparison between right and left calves, before and after liposuction.

Video 15: Result of revision calves liposuction by Dr Arthur Tjandra.

For more Liposuction Case Studies, please visit our website: http://elixirdevie.sg/liposuctioncasestudies.html

More liposuction before and after surgery photos can be see here: http://elixirdevie.sg/liposuction%20before%20and%20after.html

Combination of liposuction and autologous fat grafting to breasts or/and buttocks can be seen here: http://elixirdevie.sg/autologousfattransferforbreastaugmentation.html

A list of our patients’ blogs: http://www.elixirdevie.sg/blog.html