For a lot of women in their late twenties and beyond, keeping their legs firm, sculpted and beautiful is a constant challenge. Often, women are battling genetics, which is one of the reasons why their legs don’t always respond to diet and exercise the way they’d like them to. We’re the first to admit that like belly fat, leg fat can be stubborn too!
Blame your mom. Blame your grandma, or maybe even your father’s genetics. If your fat settles on your thighs, or if you have chubby knees, it’s hereditary. Of course, we can’t blame genetics for everything. A poor diet and lack of exercise, and the constant stressors of everyday life are often partially to blame. We have good news for you – if you’re not happy with the size and shape of your legs, there are a number of options at your fingertips when no amount of diet or exercise will yield the results you desire.
What Are My Options?
One of the most popular options is liposuction, which when performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon, can contour the legs. Aside from using liposuction to remove excess fat, a plastic surgeon can also use fat – the liquid gold – to add volume, contour and reshape the legs. For example, if a woman has very small calves, fat can be removed from another part of the body and injected into the calf area to add natural-looking volume that is well-tolerated. This procedure is known as “fat grafting,” and it can be used to add volume in the legs, face, breasts and buttocks.
Before we had fat grafting, plastic surgeons would use calf implants to enhance men and women’s calves. However, a study published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal found that fat grafting for small calves was a better alternative to implants because it involved smaller incisions, it was better tolerated because it used patients’ own fat, and it was better at creating tailored results.
“What are my alternatives to traditional liposuction?” Another option is liposuction with laser or Radiofrequency to permanently melt away fat cells and help to tighten the skin. Cellulite may be treated with a device called Cellfina or an external radiofrequency treatment with Velashape.
If you’re unsatisfied with the appearance of your legs, you can meet with our Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Yuly Gorodisky. He can examine your problem areas and discuss which procedures would help you achieve your aesthetic goals. He’ll explain which techniques can shape your legs, remove fat, improve cellulite, and tighten your skin. To schedule a consultation, contact our office today.