Can Liposuction Make My Thighs Skinny?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am 5’6” and weigh 125lbs. I am fairly thin for my height but my thighs are just to big for my body. My lower half doesn’t fit my upper half and no amount of exercise or weight will change that. I now know that fir sure as I have tried for years. I am a size 6/8 in jeans and that just drives me crazy . I know that liposuction removes fat and helps contour areas of the body. But does that mean it can give the appearance of thinner legs and make me able to fit into smaller jeans?

A:  Your question  is both a good and a common one. I  have seen many people who are disproportionate in various body areas. They are not overweight but one area of their body doesn’t fit the rest. This is very common in the thighs or saddlebag areas. Liposuction can effectively reduce prominent saddle bags and, when combined with inner thigh and knee liposuction, can give the leg a much improved silhouette. For some patients this will make their leg thinner and they may be able to fit into smaller jeans. For other patients, despite the improved look, they make not end up with truly thinner legs and may only feel more loose in their current jean size. I think it is always best to think of liposuction as contouring or spot reduction. Making any body area truly thinner may be expecting more than the procedure can do in many cases.  

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana