What Kind of Surgery Do I Need to Slim Down Leg Calves and Thighs

Large calves and thighs may be the result of fatty deposits, enlarged bones and muscle, or a combination of all three.  If is difficult to give advice without the benefit of seeing you in person or photographs. If the enlargement is due to fat deposits, then liposuction may be the solution. I would recommend a consultation with a Board-certified plastic surgeon.

Best regards, Andrew Lyos, MD, FACS

Some people are born with hypertrophic muscles but this is much more rare than being born with a predisposition to have a larger subcutaneous compartment (fat layer). In order to reduce the thighs and calves enough to make a visible impact, the amount of fat needed to be removed would be evaluated by the surgeon examining you.  Only then could the risks of the procedure and possible results be discussed. 

This is far more common in asia. Reduction in the muscle is accomplished with literally resecting the muscle. In the States, liposuction of the subcutaneous fat is more commonly performed and can reduce the thickness of the fatty (adipose) layer if this is the primary contributing factor to your large calves and ankles. There are no accepted methods for reducing "big bones"

Liposuction as an outpatient procedure under I.V. sedation can easily reduce the bulge that some people have in their ankles. The skin typically retracts well and the incisions are easily hidden in the body's natural contours in the sides of the ankles. Because a procedure on such bony body parts requires delicacy, I use several innovative forms of liposuction, including SmartLipo, in order to contour and resculpture the area while providing the most beautiful results with minimal scarring. SmartLipo, used in combination with other forms of liposuction or alone, is a procedure that uses laser light to liquefy fat and tighten the surrounding skin. It involves less downtime and side-effects than traditional liposuction and is particularly good for small areas of fat deposits like the ankles. New technology that's gentler and faster than ever before not only allows the removal of fat, but also resculpts the body.
 

When looking for a surgeon for something very specific, such as liposuction of the calves and ankles, it is important to find a doctor who routinely performs the procedure and who can show you before and after pictures of patients that they have operated on. These images will not only give you a sense of the surgeon’s skill, but will help you to better visualize the procedure for yourself.
 

While circumferential thigh liposuction is commonly practiced, PS' enthusiasm for liposuction of the calves and ankles has been decidedly luke warm because the incidence of complications and patient dissatisfaction is typically higher in these zones.  Many thick calves are the result of large gastrocnemius muscles, which in turn, is genetically determined.  In reviewing the French and Chinese PS experience with removal of strips or subtotal muscle belly excision, I've been impressed that the post-op results were not dramatically better for the exchange of a scar.  Ambulation becomes much harder because of pain and swelling, so the theoretical risk of clot development is real.  If a clot develops in the calves, (deep venous thrombosis) this can, in principle, travel to the lungs and cause significant health problems.  Try any nonoperative options before proceeding.  good luck.