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Are Thick Ankles Genetic? The Secret Behind Your Cankles

By: Thomas Su, M.D.

6/2/2021

Are Thick Ankles Genetic? The Secret Behind Your Cankles

If you have poorly defined lower legs, you may wonder – are thick ankles genetic? Knowing the reason why your ankles and calves are less than perfect can be helpful. After all, you can resolve some causes of thick ankles medically. Here, we take a closer look at some of the possible reasons why you have cankles.


Are You on Medication?

The first thing to consider is whether you’re taking medications. Some prescribed drugs can cause swollen ankles. These include some blood pressure drugs, some antidepressants, and diabetes medications. If you are on hormone replacement therapy or use birth control pills, these could cause your problem. There is also an association between steroids and testosterone and lower limb swelling. NSAIDs can also cause swollen ankles. If you take one of these medications and have cankles, the drugs could be to blame. Talk to your doctor to see if there are any alternative solutions.


Are You Pregnant?

If you’re pregnant, you are likely to experience some ankle swelling. This is especially likely in the third trimester. Pregnancy affects the hormone levels in your body, as well as your fluid retention and vein efficiency. This is common, although uncomfortable, and will subside after birth. Should your ankles swell rapidly, though, you should seek medical attention. It could indicate preeclampsia, which requires treatment. If you have difficulty breathing, dizziness, or a severe headache, as well as rapidly swelling ankles, seek help.


Could You Have A Medical Condition?

Some medical conditions cause swollen ankles. Congestive heart failure, liver disease, and kidney disease all result in ankle swelling. If you suspect you may have one of these medical problems, you should see your doctor.

You may also be consuming too much sodium in your diet. A diet that contains too much sodium can result in edema or swelling. If this is the cause of your problem, you’ll notice your ankles look slimmer after you’ve rested. You may be able to alleviate the problem by reducing the amount of sodium you consume.


The Role of Genetics

Although there are medical reasons for cankles, in most cases, the cause is genetic. If you have family members with cankles, there’s a good chance you will have them, too. If your cankles are genetic, they won’t look slimmer after you’ve been resting with them elevated. Unfortunately, genes determine how the body distributes fat. Some people simply have a greater tendency to accumulate fat in their lower legs. There is little you can do about this naturally. Although dieting and exercising may help in some cases, most often, they will not. This is because it’s impossible to reduce fat in any area of the body. Even very slim people can suffer from genetic cankles.


The Surgical Solution

The only effective solution for genetic cankles is to have liposuction of the lower legs. If your thick ankles are genetic, the team at Artistic Lipo and Plastic Surgery can help. We offer 360-degree lipo of the calves and ankles to give you beautiful, slim legs.

* All information subject to change. Images may contain models. Individual results are not guaranteed and may vary.