How Long Does It Take To See The Results Of Lower Leg Liposuction?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I hope you can help me. I am almost 30 and I have had ‘fat’ legs since my early teens. My grandma and mother have the same. When I lose weight my legs still stay fat; I go to the gym regularly and this has gone some way to improve muscle tone but not to achieve any fat loss from my ankles or calves. I would love my legs to look slimmer and more shapely. 

A: Lower leg liposuction can be effective at improving the fuller lower leg from the knees to the ankles and making them more shapely. But it is not done in a circumferential manner as many people think. Rather it is done by treating selective areas to improve their silhouette or profile through inner knee, upper medial calf, and inner and outer lower ankle liposuction. While such lower extremity liposuction can be very effective it can take several months to get to see its benefits. As the lower legs have increased venous pressure and slower lymphatic outflow due to gravity they hang onto swelling for some time after the surgery. It usually takes about three full months to see the final results of the lower leg reshaping.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana