“Saddlebags” are an accumulation of fat on the outer thighs, giving them a bulging and sometimes even sagging appearance. This excess accumulation of fat is referred to as saddlebags due to their resemblance to the bags that hang off the sides of a horse saddle.

Saddlebags can be difficult to target with exercise alone, as spot reduction is not possible. Even with a combination of exercise, strength training, and improved nutrition to help reduce overall body fat, these little (or big) stinkers sometimes hold on for dear life.

VASER Liposuction is an effective method to not only reduce excess outer thigh fat, but to also tighten loose outer thigh skin. However, Saddlebag Liposuction must be done meticulously and strategically. Too much liposuction in this area can cause an indentation of the outer thigh that looks like a shark bite. Not a good look! Saddlebag Liposuction can be performed with either general anesthesia or local anesthesia (Awake Liposuction). Dr. Millicent Geers has extensive experience performing Outer Thigh Liposuction with either type of anesthesia. Dr. Geers’ preference, however, is to perform Outer Thigh Liposuction with local anesthesia. Why? 

As a female board certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Geers knows firsthand that a woman’s thighs look different lying down versus standing up. Certain positioning either accentuates or diminishes the appearance of fat. With Awake Liposuction, you are able to stand up, if and when needed, during your procedure so that the areas of your thighs which need attention can be precisely sculpted to optimize your final result. With general anesthesia, there is never an opportunity to assess your thighs as they would appear when you’re standing, thus in inexperienced hands, there is a higher risk of over-suctioning and creating awful indentations! Fortunately, Dr. Geers has extensive experience contouring thighs with either type of anesthesia.

– Dr. Millicent Geers

Well, here we go again. What is old, is new. Yesterday’s “thigh gap,” is today’s “legging legs.” Legging Legs is a term used to describe the apparent “perfect” shaped legs for wearing leggings. This “perfect” shape entails two criteria: 

1. Toned legs
2. A “thigh gap” 

A thigh gap refers to a space or gap between the inner thighs when a person stands with his or her feet together. It has become a beauty trend and a sign of attractiveness in recent years among some women. Some women strive to achieve a thigh gap through dieting, exercise, or plastic surgery. It is important to note that the primary determining factor for a thigh gap is the natural width of your hips and how your femurs (thigh bones) insert into your hips (see illustration). Neither exercise nor Liposuction  will give you a thigh gap if you don’t have a wide angle (illustrated by wider green lines). This is the reason you can see two people of the same height and weight, but one person has thighs that touch, and the other person has a significant space between the thighs. Thigh liposuction performed on these two people will render very different results. 

Therefore, if you’re considering Liposuction of your thighs to achieve “legging legs,” your goal should be to seek an enhanced version of your physique and not to emulate another person’s physique. 

With decades of experience and accolades, Monument and Colorado Springs Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Millicent Geers, is a female board-certified Plastic Surgeon, Harvard Cum Laude graduate, and Duke Medical School graduate. Dr. Geers’ specialized Plastic Surgery residency training at Northwestern University, additional specialized Aesthetic Surgery training in the Beverly Hills and Hollywood areas, and multiple publications make her a respected and globally-recognized authority in Liposuction and Body Contouring. She has performed thousands of liposuction procedures with exceptional results.

– Dr. Millicent Geers