Liposuction of Calf for Lipedema in Seattle? (Photos)

Hi bananabread200; The area of the lower leg and ankles used to be problematic to treat prior to energy based techniques using laser assisted liposuction, (we use the Smart Lipo Triplex system) or Vaser. It can be accomplished with very small diameter cannulas as well, but the laser is especially good at treating the legs and arms because it is ideal to penetrate to the fibrous type fat that is found there. I have had success with either but prefer the laser. If ankle or leg fullness is the result of a low soleus muscle this will limit the results based on the size of the muscle. The recovery from liposuction of the leg and ankle is slower than other areas due to the propensity of the leg to stay swollen, so patients need compression stockings and sometimes Manual Lympahtic Drainage or sequential compression devices. The result can have a great sculpted look in the upper part of the lower leg by removing the fatty areas around the muscles of the "calf" and the inside part of the knee as well. It can be a great treatment in patients with this concern; a consultation and exam of your legs is needed to provide a recommendation. 

Hello,It does appear that you have a column-like look to your calves and ankles and if I can see in these photographs, it even looks like you have a little bit of early cuffing of the lateral aspect of the calves and ankles. If you also have symptoms of either pain or swelling, then this is definitely lipedema. Typically, it would not only be expected to occur in the calf and ankle area, but it usually involves the entire leg area that goes up to the groin area in a circumferential pattern. Calf and ankle liposuction itself is a very particular type of liposuction procedure that should be done in a highly specialized fashion. The way I go about doing it is to do the entire calf and ankle area as a unit three-dimensionally, all the way from the knee area down to the ankle to create the right type of three-dimensional shape. I do not believe it should be done in a piece-mail fashion in bits and pieces and corrected later on. That’s only from just a cosmetic standpoint, and from a lipedema treatment standpoint also, it needs to be done in a circumferential pattern, because with lipedema, there is almost always involvement in the anterior area of the calf and ankle too that must be done at the same time in one surgery. My recommendation to you is to find a specialist and a surgeon that has extensive experience with not only calf and ankle liposuction, but with lipedema too. It is important to pay attention to the pre care and post care and the surgery itself and to ensure it is done in a lymphatic sparing way. I wish you the best of luck in your care. Please contact my practice if you feel you have any further questions, thank you.

Thank you for your pictures and questions. Liposuction in this area can be helpful. You need to make sure you are seeing a qualified local plastic surgeon. Please go to the ASPS website and use the surgeon finder to find someone near you.Best of luck!