Ever heard of the term “thunder thighs?” Sometimes it can be a compliment, but other times it can leave your confidence shaken. Lunges, squats, and glute bridges are just a few of the plenty of exercises that can improve your legs’ appearance to give them a more contoured look — working out, however, isn’t the only way. Cosmetic surgery works on areas beyond the face and abdomen thanks to procedures like liposuction. When stubborn fat can’t be worked away through diet or exercise, this procedure can be the solution. One notable problem associated with leg fat is that it is mainly superficial since legs do not have deep compartments where excess fat can be stored. The lack of deep storage leads fat to develop near the surface much faster.
To begin to understand what areas of the leg you can treat with liposuction, it’s essential to understand what liposuction is. Also known as suction-assisted lipoplasty, liposuction is a conventional cosmetic surgery that removes stubborn fat deposits from various targeted areas. While the patient is under anesthesia, small incisions will be made in the desired area where a thin hollow tube called a cannula can be inserted. The cannula is moved in controlled back and forth motions to loosen the excess fat, which is then suctioned out through the tube.
Thighs are a common area of the legs people target with liposuction. The thighs can be done as you receive liposuction on other areas, like your love handles or back, but can also be done its own. The knees commonly have overhanging fat tissue and stubborn pockets of fat accumulation. Knee liposuction involves the removal of fat deposits from the inner knee and is often performed in conjunction with thigh or leg liposuction. This procedure goes hand in hand with liposuction of the thighs because treating the full cosmetic unit helps to achieve a more contoured look. Even your lower legs can receive liposuction if you so desire. Treating your calves and ankles can be included as part of lower leg liposuction, especially if you have a bulge of fat just below the knee, which can be troublesome for many.
After the procedure, your surgeon will close up the incisions and cover the area with compression bandages to control bleeding and swelling. Some side effects to keep an eye out for are bruising, excess fluid accumulation, numbness, or pain. Loose skin is also a side effect, and to address this issue, you may need an additional procedure to remove the excess skin; be sure to talk to your surgeon if this is to be expected.
Liposuction is a safe procedure that has only improved with time and improved techniques. Enjoy the confidence that you’ll surely experience with a more contoured figure. Don’t hide behind sweat pants or other baggy clothing when you can give your legs their day in the sun. Talk to a board-certified plastic surgeon to determine if you are an ideal candidate for leg liposuction.