Making that ‘slit’ decision

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Models walking the ramp in the latest designer apparel are probably being looked at less for their clothes than for their “thigh gaps”. With role models like Kate Moss and Victoria’s Secret angels Candice Swanepoel and Miranda Kerr, who are said to have the perfect gap between their thighs, could aspirants be far behind?

More and more celeb and regular women are apparently opting for liposuction procedures to acquire that toned, flab- and cellulite-free shape in the upper leg and glutes that make for those separated thighs. Gone are the days when one went under the knife to correct nature’s imperfections. Today, lunchtime liposuction treatments seem to be the ‘in’ thing, with Lipoglaze, another non-invasive form, gaining in popularity.
Freezing fat cells to get the desired ‘gap’ between the thighs is what is in vogue, and Dr R. Karthik, plastic surgeon, points out its pitfalls. “The problem with such a procedure is that you might just be left with sagging skin, and for those in the entertainment industry, that is not something you want. However, freezing fat cells could have its downside — the changes take over three to six months to show, and one has to follow a very strict diet so that we can monitor the fat cells.”
Cosmetic surgeon Dr Apratim Goel points out that one has to understand one’s own body structure first — some have a lean frame others don’t. “Opting to freeze the fat cells for obtaining the desirable thigh gaps is not something I would recommend,” she says. The side effects could be, apart from the regular redness, blisters, scars, cramps and non-stop bleeding as the skin may not be able to handle the sudden temperature change. “This is where one could opt for procedures to remove fat using radioactive methods and ultrasound. They do not freeze your fat cells, rather they liquefy them, making them healthier,” says Dr Goel.
Then there’s model Samyuktha Shanmughanathan who believes in sweating it out in the gym rather than going under the knife for that thigh gap. “Models down south are still appreciated for being voluptuous and flaunting their curves, so the concept of having thigh gaps is out of the question,” she observes. “However, if people really want to be fit, why not exercise? Opting to have cosmetic surgery done on the face is fine. But I think we are going overboard here. At the end of the day, you need to have the ‘feel good’ factors in life, and I don’t think plastic surgery gives you that,” she says wisely.
Most think this obsession is the current flavour of the month that will soon run its course just as earlier, having crooked teeth was a big deal, notes supermodel Priya Nayak. “It’s absurd to see people go to doctors to reconstruct their bodies. There doesn’t seem to be a limit to anything today, people do not realise that the body needs to be taken care of. Now it’s become more of a commodity, a means to get somewhere. Without even thinking about it a second time, people just jump in, join the bandwagon, follow the trend. This is just another impulsive decision.”