Can You Get Rid of Saddlebags?

Perhaps one of the biggest requests we hear is related to saddlebags, an area of excess fat around the hips and outer upper thigh that can throw off your silhouette. Most common in women, saddlebags are actually a bit of an optical illusion—while they may look like a simple bulge of the thigh, they are often the result of an underdeveloped glute-hamstring tie-in. While toning and strengthening the glutes can help prevent saddlebags, once this fat accumulates, it can be tricky to get rid of it on your own. That’s why even thin patients may have a lumpy appearance in the upper outer thigh area.

So, can you get rid of saddlebags even when hitting the gym hasn’t worked? Yes! Saddlebags are one of the most common areas patients improve via cosmetic surgery and non-surgical treatments—and there have been a few impressive technological advances that make getting rid of saddlebags easier than ever, allowing us to slim the area with less downtime and quicker, more satisfying results when compared with traditional plastic surgery methods.

What causes saddlebags?

Saddlebags typically develop due to a combination of genetics, hormonal changes (especially estrogen during puberty), and the natural tendency for women to store fat in the hip and thigh area as an evolutionary trait related to fertility and childbearing.

How do you get rid of saddlebags?

Here at Berks Plastic Surgery, there are two technologies we typically use for reducing saddlebags, depending on the severity of the concerns and whether or not a patient is a good candidate for surgery.

Surgical reduction of saddlebags

For larger saddlebags or patients seeking more dramatic results, we recommend traditional liposuction. Modern liposuction techniques have advanced significantly and remain the gold standard for saddlebag reduction, offering precise fat removal and excellent contouring results.

Here are a few things our patients love about liposuction for saddlebags:

• Precise fat removal allows us to sculpt and contour the area for a smooth, natural-looking silhouette that complements your body’s proportions
• Immediate, dramatic results that continue to improve as swelling subsides over the following weeks
• Single procedure typically achieves the desired outcome, unlike non-surgical options that may require multiple sessions
• Proven track record with decades of refinement making it a safe, reliable option for body contouring

Non-surgical saddlebag treatment

For people with less fat on the upper outer thigh or those who aren’t interested in scheduling surgery, CoolSculpting non-surgical fat reduction can be a fantastic option. With its growing popularity, many of you will have heard of CoolSculpting, but here’s a quick refresher:

• CoolSculpting uses cryolipolysis (fat freezing) to precisely target and cool fat cells, causing them to die and be naturally metabolized by the body.
• The CoolSculpting device cools to the exact temperature to target fat cells without harming surrounding tissues. (Lesser versions of this technology are risky and can leave you with poor results.)
• Treatment typically takes around 30 minutes, and we can treat both sides of the body at once with our two machines.
• While the cold can feel a bit shocking at first, patients report they go numb within just a few minutes and can handle the treatment comfortably.
• Results gradually appear over the course of two to three months.
• While CoolSculpting will likely require a few treatments to get dramatic results, our patients love the gradual slimming of the saddlebag area.
• After your CoolSculpting treatment, you may experience a small amount of soreness, but you should be able to resume all of your normal activities the day after treatment.

CoolSculpting vs. liposuction for saddlebags: which is right for me?

While both CoolSculpting and liposuction can be great options for reducing saddlebags, what works for one person may not work for you—and there are a few things to consider:

• Liposuction will deliver quicker, more dramatic results and is best for those hoping to enjoy a new shape before a specific time such as spring break or a wedding.
• CoolSculpting is great for those who prefer to gradually slim down over a number of months and want to avoid surgery.
• Liposuction typically provides more comprehensive results in a single procedure, while CoolSculpting may require multiple sessions to achieve similar outcomes.

Ultimately, this decision should be made between you and your plastic surgeon during a consultation. Want to find out which option is the perfect solution for you? We’d love to help! Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with our board-certified plastic surgeon.