Botulinum toxin a for aesthetic contouring of enlarged medial gastrocnemius muscle.
BACKGROUND
Oversized, muscular calves can cause psychological stress in women. Botulinum toxin A has been used in the treatment of benign masseteric hypertrophy with correction of the squared facial appearance. It is believed that botulinum toxin might also be effective in reducing enlarged calf muscles.


OBJECTIVE
This study was performed to investigate the effect of botulinum toxin A in reducing enlarged medial gastrocnemius muscles in volunteers with muscular legs.


METHODS
Botulinum toxin A of 32, 48, or 72 U was injected in each medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle in six women. Clinical photography was taken and the leg circumferences were measured. The functional evaluations were performed by examining range of joint motion and motor and sensory examination.


RESULTS
All of the enrolled subjects showed a reduction in the medial gastrocnemius muscle after the botulinum toxin injection. The reduction in medial calf was noticed even after 1 week and the effect of was well maintained for 6 months. Leg contouring was obtained by the botulinum toxin treatment. The middle leg circumference showed a slight decrease in five subjects. No functional disabilities were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Botulinum toxin A can be used to contour the aesthetic enlargement of the medial gastrocnemius muscle with slight reduction in volume. Botulinum toxin-induced atrophy of the muscle caused no functional disabilities and the clinical improvement was well maintained for 6 months after the botulinum toxin A injection.
Lee
Hyun-Jeong
HJ
cnpskin9@hanmail.com
Lee
Dong-Won
DW
Park
Yeon-Ho
YH
Cha
Mi-Kyung
MK
Kim
Hong-Sik
HS
Ha
Seog-Jun
SJ
D000328:Adult; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007866:Leg; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods
D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A