Will my recovery time be less than someone with more fat to remove? Considering having liposuction of the cankles and knees.

Question

I’m considering having liposuction of the cankles and knees. I don’t have a large amount of fat but want to sculpt the areas a bit. Will my recovery time be less than someone with more fat to remove?

David Hansen, MD · Answer

Recovery time is so fast and easy when getting the tum. lipo under local with the micro canulas .  Cankles and knees look great when sculpted but there are only a few of us who specialize in these areas.

Robert M. Tornambe, MD · Answer

Waitchester. There is good news and bad news regarding liposuction of cankles and knees. Yes, recovery with regard to getting back to normal activities should be shorter because these areas will not require removal of a lot of fat, only sculpting and contouring of the region with smaller liposuction cannulas (micro liposuction). However, it can take longer for swelling to subside after liposuction to the lower extremities, especially down by the ankles. It will probably take as long as six months for 100% of the swelling to subside from the lower legs. However, your results should be worth the wait! Come see me or another board-certified plastic surgeon in the area for a consultation to explore the best options for you. Good luck.

Michelle Copeland, MD, DMD · Answer

Thank you for your question! Although it is difficult to say without an in person examination, liposculpture as an outpatient procedure under I.V. sedation can reduce the bulge that some people have in their ankles and restore a more shapely leg. If you have less fat to remove, it is possible your recovery time could be reduced. Unlike other areas of the body the ankles and calves require a certain delicacy which is why I use several innovative forms of liposuction, including SmartLipo, 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’s thought to involve 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 legs. 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. I suggest making an appointment with an experienced board certified plastic surgeon who can explain in detail to you what your options are.

Robert L. Kraft, MD, FACS · Answer

You are correct that, the smaller the procedure, the easier the recovery.  For lower extremity lipo, I generally recommend waiting out the warm weather so that the compression garment can be concealed under slacks.

Will my recovery time be less than someone with more fat to remove? Considering having liposuction of the cankles and knees.

Answers (4)

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