Americans use liposuction, injectables and sometimes even implants to shape their calves, but it’s a much different story in Japan.
One popular procedure there treats what’s known as daikon-ashi, or radish-shaped calves, which affects a large percentage of Japanese women. To correct this, the nerve behind the knee is severed, which causes the surrounding muscles to weaken and wither. The result: calves become up to 40% smaller.
While liposuction would be the treatment of choice for a similar-looking result in the U.S., it may not be effective on Japanese women because the radish shape is due more to muscle than fat.