Nothing makes us feel more glamorous than our chic designer bags—the sleek, little Prada crossbody or an elegant YSL envelope bag. But one accessory that doesn’t quite evoke that same confidence? Our saddlebags.
Unlike their fashionable counterparts, these bags have a way of stirring insecurity and clashing with our ideal aesthetic. Fortunately, you have your pick of saddlebag reductions to help you sculpt your dream silhouette.
At Dr. Cat Plastic Surgery, we know how difficult it is when the way you look doesn’t quite resonate with your inner sense of style. After helping thousands of patients redesign their physiques, we’ve mastered the art of restoring beauty and self-confidence. Now, it’s your turn.
Let’s explore the anatomy of saddlebags, as well as surgical and nonsurgical saddlebags reduction options. Ready to find your ideal path to legs you adore? Keep reading.
Saddlebags: What They Are and Why They Happen
Saddlebags refer to those fleshy, fat deposits on the sides of your outer thighs. Hence, the name refers to the storage pouches that hang from the sides of a horse’s saddle.
Classy, right?
As we know, everyone’s body is unique. Therefore, not everyone has saddlebags. In fact, they’re more common in women than men.
Now, you might chalk up your saddlebags to a mere twist of fate. After all, we don’t really have a say in our natural anatomy, do we? In reality, there are specific factors that often contribute to the development of saddlebags.
Causes of Saddlebags
Saddlebags can be caused by a number of reasons, mainly:
- Genetics – Your genetic makeup often dictates where stubborn fat pockets tend to accumulate. In some people, that tends to be around the thighs and buttocks.
- Lifestyle choices – A poor, unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyle (little to no exercise) can cause weight gain, prompting the production of saddlebag fat.
- Hormones – Certain hormonal fluctuations, like estrogen, can cause weight gain and cellulite in the thighs and booty.
- Muscle atrophy – When your muscles are underused, it can reduce their size and strength. When it comes to your derriere, this muscle atrophy can lead to saddlebags.
- Puberty – As the reproductive organs develop and mature, fat also begins to accumulate in the hip region, breasts, thighs, and butts. Sometimes, saddlebags can develop as a result of these changes.
While we’re all about embracing your natural curves, we know some insecurities aren’t always easy to accept. Fortunately, you can choose from several saddlebag reductions to get you back to loving the skin you’re in.
Saddlebags Reduction: Surgical and Non-Surgical Solutions
Whether through exercise for saddlebags or saddlebag liposuction, your insecurities don’t have to be a permanent fixture in your life. With the right treatment, you can take back your confidence and give yourself a body that mirrors your sense of self.
Let’s start with non-surgical fat reduction treatments.
Non-Surgical Solutions
Exercise for Saddlebags
It’s not always possible to reduce specific fat deposits through exercise. However, some workouts will help activate your glutes and quads, potentially reducing saddlebag fat.
Here are a few of those exercises:
- Hip thrusts
- Glute bridge
- Squats
- Lunges
- Hip raises/dips
- Pilates
- Step-ups
- Leg press
Diet for Hip Fat
Regular exercise, combined with a balanced diet can make all the difference in saddlebags reduction.
Ultimately, it comes down to the same principle for losing body fat. Eat less calories than you burn and stick to a diet rich in protein, greens, healthy fats, and low-cal options.
Reduce your consumption of high-sugar, high-fat, and high-carbohydrate foods that trigger weight gain.
The catch? Saddlebag fat can be easy to gain but hard to lose. Luckily, Dr. Cat offers a transformative, non-invasive approach to thigh contouring.
ThermiSmooth Body
ThermiSmooth Body uses radiofrequency therapy for thighs to smooth and tighten the skin. Dr. Cat achieves this with a device that deposits warm, radiofrequency energy deep into the skin’s tissues. This prompts cellular changes, like higher collagen production, which tightens and firms drooping skin.
Oh, and did we mention results are visible in just one session?
Unlike laser lipo or cryolipolysis on thighs (fat-freezing like with Coolsculpting), which are accompanied by a higher risk of complications and adverse effects, ThermiSmooth carries minimal risk. The best part? Most of Dr. Cat’s patients say it feels like a soothing, hot stone massage.
But ThermiSmooth isn’t ideal for everyone. For starters, you may need more than one session to achieve your desired results. Additionally, patients with significant excess fat may benefit more from surgical treatment.
Surgical Solutions
Liposuction for Hips
Liposuction is a plastic surgery procedure that targets stubborn areas of fat to artfully resculpt the body. This is done via thin tubes, called cannulas, that suck fat directly out of your trouble spots.
Unlike non-surgical treatments that may require repeat maintenance and investment, liposuction creates immediate, long-lasting results. Downtime and full recovery can take between a few weeks to a month.
Your key to maintaining liposuction results? Adhere to your surgeon’s post-operative guidelines, and you’ll enjoy your silhouette for years to come.
Thigh Contouring
Body contouring surgery allows you to take that unwanted saddlebag fat and use it to enhance other parts of your body, such as your buttocks or breasts. This is done by combining liposuction with fat transfer, which literally transfers the fat elsewhere.
This type of procedure allows you (or rather your surgeon) to precisely shape and define your ideal silhouette. Depending on your case’s complexity and other combined procedures, it can take between one and two months to fully recover.
Of course, all surgeries carry some risk of complications. This can include:
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Anesthesia reactions
- Uneven fat removal
- Fat embolism
- Lumpy, dimpled texture
- Changes in skin sensation
- Dissatisfaction with results
However, with Dr. Cat at the helm, you can have peace of mind that your transformation will be as safe as it is life-changing. And as for unsightly scars or painful post-op massages? You can put those worries to rest, too.
Dr. Cat Plastic Surgery: Saddle Up for Unshakeable Confidence
Whether it’s post-pregnancy hormones or an inherited trait from your family line, your saddlebags don’t have to mean a life sentence of insecurity and physical discomfort.
Saddlebags reduction surgery and non-invasive treatments offer promising paths to a rejuvenated sense of self, sky-high confidence, and a better quality of life. After all, you only get one body in this lifetime—why not do everything you can to make it one you’re proud of?
A healthy lifestyle and nonsurgical approaches can yield subtle improvements, but the dramatic changes made possible through surgical intervention remain unparalleled.
With decades of experience under her belt, Dr. Cat is versed in combining both surgical and nonsurgical solutions to deliver exceptional results. Once she performs her tailored saddlebag treatment, the only ‘bags’ you’ll think about will be strictly fashion-related.
