The space that the Royal Spanish Academy devotes to the word TWIN, in its fifth meaning, refers to “twin muscle.” And once there, the definition proposed by the academics is this: “5. m. Anat. Each of the two that contribute to the movement of the leg. U. m. in pl.”
It is a term referring to anatomy, yes, and it is used in the plural: “the calf muscles”. In reality, the gastrocnemius muscle, located in the posterior region of the leg, is the most superficial muscle of the calf which, together with the soleus and the plantaris, forms the so-called triceps surae, a muscle group that football players and fans of that sport hear so much about.
And its importance, from an aesthetic point of view, has grown so much in recent years. Of course, it is still not one of the most popular cosmetic procedures, but every day more people with excessively thin and straight legs, that is, with no curve in the calf, ask us whether something can be done. Especially when not even continuous physical exercise guarantees satisfactory development.
Well, yes. Men and women can undergo calf implants with equal success, and when they decide to do so, except in rare cases, they usually have them placed in both limbs in order to achieve symmetry. It is a quick procedure, lasting approximately 45 minutes, for which we do not use general anesthesia but local anesthesia plus sedation.
In addition, as a complementary procedure, women who have thick muscles and knees with relatively thin calves can undergo leg and knee liposculpture to shape the entire limb.
Since this is a procedure on the legs, the pillars that keep us standing in and before the world, patients who are considering calf augmentation are interested in knowing how long it will take before they can stand up. The answer is simple: after the procedure, the patient is fitted with compression stockings et voilà!, they are allowed immediate standing.
Of course, it is not a question of starting to run. After the procedure, the patient can walk but must rest with the legs elevated to avoid excessive swelling, and only 48 hours later they will be able to lead a completely normal life.
By the way. We said at the beginning that the RAE does not mention the twin muscles until the fifth meaning, but in the third one something can already be sensed. Twin: “3. adj. Ordinarily said of equal elements of different orders that, paired, cooperate toward the same purpose.” Of course, the two halves of the gastrocnemius muscle, known as “the calf muscles,” do so: they cause plantar flexion of the foot, contribute to leg flexion and are the main motor in propulsion at the start of walking.
If you would like more information, contact our team at Clínicas Fernández Blanco, call 915 54 09 24 (Madrid) or 952 850 468 (Marbella, Málaga).
Dr. Alfredo Fernández Blanco
The plastic surgeon Dr. Alfredo Fernandez Blanco stands out in his branch of medicine, as the best breast surgeon, he is also a pioneer in the so-called secondary surgeries or sequelae. With more than 30 years of experience and thousands of successful cases, he continues to achieve the most natural results that can be expected in a cosmetic surgery operation.
