Lipodermatosclerosis. Tapering of the leg in an 87 year old female patient with lipodermatosclerosis. This is a form of panniculitis, an inflammation of the layer of fat underneath the skin, that affects the lower legs. In lipodermatosclerosis tissue beneath the skin becomes fibrous and the skin itself becomes hardened. Significant narrowing of the lower end of the leg causes an inverted champagne bottle appearance.