While most people generally think of having fat reduction done to their thighs and calves, more women are looking to improve the contours of their legs by adding ankle liposuction to their list of beauty enhancing surgeries.
While this procedure is less dramatic than others and involves the removal of only a little amount of fat, many women find that it can make a dramatic difference in their appearance.
It is important to remember, however, that since the ankle area contains more bone and muscle than other parts of the leg, the procedure must be done with extra care.
Not everyone qualifies for this surgery, and too much of it can do irreparable damage to the blood vessels.
In addition, ideal candidates must be able to "pinch" at least 1 cm of fat around their ankles when standing flat on the ground, and a minimum of 2 cm from their calves when on tiptoes.
Surgery is done on an outpatient basis and usually takes about two to three hours to complete.
The doctor uses a small hollow tube, known as a micro-cannula to suck the fat out as it burrows through the tissue.
After this is done, the patient is given the option to have open drainage done to reduce the tendency for swelling and lessen postoperative discomfort.
However, most are fitted with compression bandages called liposuction ankles, which they must wear for a month, although they can generally go back to work or resume normal daily activities in less than a week.