"but apparently LR cannot do that."
LR can do it (local editing) and do it very well, however we need to learn how to drive the adjustment brush to get the best from. And adobe are not so silly to have LR do everything as they would still like us to have PS as well . I have to admit I haven't really understood the question so others wouldn't have also. Maybe accobb could post a photo or three to show us.
The more I learn about LR the more there seems to be learnt