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Thigh Liposuction Vs. Thigh Lift

I want to get plastic surgery to improve/reduce my thighs, and I'm having trouble figuring out whether I need liposuction or a thigh lift. My thighs are large (larger than what would be expected for someone of my size), but they aren't smooth. On the inner thighs (the area I want done), there is some wrinkling that almost gives the appearance of sagging. I'd assumed it was fat, because I thought excess skin could only be caused by a large weight loss, which I haven't had. Is this true? I'm in my early 20's and wondering what type of procedure I should seek.

Asked 32 months ago by S112308 in Tampa, Florida

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You shouldn't decide what you want before you see experts for their advice

S112308: It will not be necessary for you to pick a therapy (lift or lipo or combo) before you have in-person consultations with experienced plastic surgeons. They can assess your general health, body proportions, the condition of your skin and subcutaneous fat, and the laxity or support. With these issues in mind they can discuss alternatives specifically tailored to you. In general liposuction improves localized excess fat, and a thighlift improves lax skin and subcutaneous fat in some... more

Sutton Graham II, MD

Greenville Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Usually liposuction leads to more loose skin

Normally, liposuction leads to more loose skin. However, there are several technologies now which can tighten skin, from Thermage, to laser liposuction to Velashape. If there is too much laxity, a thigh lift can still be the best alternative. try to find a surgeon who is well versed and offers all of these technologies so you can choose the one that is truly best for your situation.

W. Tracy Hankins, MD

Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

You may need both

The medial thighs can be a difficult area to treat. If there is significant contour irregularity it is likely due to both skin and fat. Without a picture my guess is that you will need both liposuction and a thigh lift. If there isn't significant skin that needs to be removed the thigh lift can be performed using only an incision in the groin crease and not down the leg. However, if there is significant skin than a axial or longitude incision will be needed. See several board certified... more

Christopher L. Hess, MD

Fairfax Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Thigh Lift or Lipo?

First of all, a consult is essential, for there is a "touch and feel" element on the Doctor's part as to what he can accomplish with his techniques. Having said that, a few comments: 1 Excercise will not tighten your skin, neither will liposuction 2 Lipo will change the contour of the thigh, but not improve (or may even worsen) the rippling in your skin. 3 A thigh lift can tighten skin AND change contour, but it has a longer recovery, and the scar has to be managed carefully. 4... more

Ricardo Rodriguez, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Thigh contouring options

Liposuction and removal of excess skin of the thighs are both good options to contour them. Sometimes, both are done! A lot depends on whether you have just loose skin or loose skin and excess fat. Either way, you can get a great result. Talk with several plastics surgeons to get an idea of what you need and who you feel most comfortable with. Look at their before and after pictures as well. Good luck!

Jeffrey E. Schreiber, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Can't tell without pictures

Excision of thigh tissue, a thihg lift, is usually done after weight loss to decrease the very loose skin on the inner thighs. The thigh lift leaves fairly prominent scars on the inner thighs, which might be worse than the loose skin you have now. A liposuction of the thighs will remove fat, but will leave the skin looser and possibly indented areas. Another 'trade-off' which could be worse.

G. Gregory Gallico III, MD

Boston Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Liposuction vs a lift for the legs

This is something that can be evaluated during your consultation. Liposuction can be performed to debulk the legs but excessive treatment may cause skin laxity especially if the skin was of poor quality.

Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

This requires a lot of judgement.

HI! You really need to be examined by an expert in cosmetic surgery. In general, since you are young and have not lost a lot of weight, I would say that circumferential (all around) liposuction of the thighs is what you need. But what you describe in your inner thighs really needs to be evaluated carefully. You could conceivably need an inner thigh lift, which is the only kind of thigh lift that we do in New York. My web site has links to the plastic surgery societies, where you can find... more

George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Liposuction

Dear 112308 You ask a very good question.... and it really can only be answered with a consultation and a physical examination. There may not be a perfect solution for the irregularity of your skin. A medial thigh lift can help but unless you have a lot of skin laxity you may be trading for a scar that can be unsightly. With Warmest Regards Trevor M Born MD

Trevor M. Born, MD

Toronto Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS

Depends on the source of your fullness: lax skin or localized fat

Being at your ideal body weight is an ideal first step. Subsequent to that you need to determine if your condition is due to: Lax skin or Localizied fat or Both of the above. You Board Certified Plastic Surgeon will likely be able to provide you with the best advice so get a consultation and discuss your options. From your description, wrinkles are not generally caused by localized fat and it is my impression that you would benefit from a thigh lift but that is a large operation and one... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Optimize your lifestyle first

The first thing you should do is examine your lifestyle. Optimize your activity level, exercise routines, and diet. The more fit you are, the safer and more specific the surgery will be. Unless you have loss significant weight and have skin laxity due to loss of elasticity and perhaps the presence of stretch marks, someone you age is usually not looking at a thing lift. However, even though much of your large thigh might be due to fat, the lack of smoothness might be a significant drawback... more

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Thigh liposuction versus a thigh lift

Liposuction is an excellent option for someone with good skin tone but extra fat. A thigh lift is more appropriate for someone with excess skin that has less elasticity. A thigh lift is commonly performed in people who have lost significant amounts of weight.

Christopher J. Davidson, MD

Wellesley Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Liposuction or Lift

The two procedures are very different. Liposuction addresses excess fat deposits and a Lift addresses skin laxity. I would advise you to consult with an experienced board certified plastic surgeon that can show you before and afters of the procedure or procedures you are interested in having done. Dr. Bernard Shuster, Miami Florida

Bernard Shuster, MD

Hollywood Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Thigh lift with liposuction

When there is a combination of excess fatty tissue and sagging skin, a combination of liposuction and thigh lift is necessary. A consultation is a must to determine whether your expectations will be met.

Frank Agullo, MD

El Paso Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Don't seek a specific procedure; seek a consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon to learn your options

The point of a personal consultation is to discuss your goals and what procedures, if any, might meet them. Liposuction removes extra fat, but doesn't tighten skin. A thigh lift is a much more complicated procedure that removes extra loose skin from the thigh (either just the upper thigh or all the way down to the knee). Your surgeon should be able to discuss both options with you and tell you which one (if either) is the right procedure for you. more

Carmen Kavali, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

THigh Lift

If you have loose inner thigh skin, then you will need liposuction with a thigh lift. If your skin quality is great with no laxity or wrinkles, then an inner thigh lift may work. I would expect for you not to have too much skin laxity since you are so young. But without pictures, it is very difficlut to tell.

Siamak Agha, MD, PhD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Sagging thigh skin solution is a thigh lift, not lipo

The sagging you describe is best treated with a thigh lift- this is all conjecture since I don't have photos to review but the medial thigh connective tissue does become lax with time. The medial thigh is notorious for looking more lax after aggressive liposuction. The skin in this region loses its elasticity rapidly, and thus does not tighten in response to volume reduction with liposuction. A thigh lift will tighten the connective tissue elements of your thighs to smooth them... more

Scott Sattler, MD

Bellevue Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Thigh Liposuction or Thigh Lift best determined in a consultation

Without an actual exam it’s difficult to determine which of these procedures will be your best option, or if a combination of the two will be needed. Liposuction works to remove unwanted, excess fat and can change the contour of the thigh. If your skin elasticity is good, this alone can be a solution. If your skin elasticity is poor, this may worsen your condition and require additional procedures to gain good results. A Thigh Lift gets rid of sagging and excess skin, but does not... more

Scott W. Mosser, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Thigh lift will address excess skin and fat problem

Thigh lift will take care of the excess skin and fat.The trade off is a scar. A proper clinical exam is needed before giving you a definite answer. In general, marked skin excess will require a lift procedure.

Hisham Seify, MD, PhD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Thigh surgery for excess thigh skin and fat

Biggest determinant wis amount fo fat/volume relative to the amount of skin excess. If the main problem is fat and it is lovalized to either inner thigh or outer thigh or both and the skin relatively tight, then liposuction alone may help. If there is significant bulk.volume, then better to stage this- first stage is to do liposuction (ultrasonic or laser liposuction) to deflate or debulk the thighs; then 2nd stage, a thigh lift where the excess skin is excised. Thigh lifts can be done... more

J. Vicente P. Poblete, MD

Cleveland Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Lipo

If you skin tone is good and there is excess fat then liposuction would probably work for you. If, on the other hand, your skin has lost elasticity and is starting to become lax, liposuction alone may worsen the situation. You should consult with an American Board of Plastic Surgery certified plastic surgeon in your area to determine what procedure would work best for you. Find someone by going to www.plasticsurgery.org.