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Thigh Lift Scars: Vertical vs. Horizontal

asked 1 year ago by lol20102010 in canada
Latest answer by Marshall T. Partington MD, FACS
Question viewed 2,266 times
Tags: comparison, scar

i had a liopscution in May and planning to do thigh lift as i have saggin in the inner thigh and little sagging from outer thigh. i heard is vertical scar is bad as it's get wide and it's visiable as the horizontal scar which will be in the bikini area so it's not visiable and usually its good scar. so what would you recommend ? and also am planning to do tatto on the scar. so how long i need to wait to get the tatto on the scar ?

17 answers to Thigh Lift Scars: Vertical vs. Horizontal

Thigh lift

There are very few indication for the vertical scar medial thigh lift. It is usually reserved to extreme excess that extend to the knee area and even below.The scar is wide and may become thick (Hypertrophic). But this method tightens the thigh significantly, with very good results and very bad visible scar. The transverse grion scar will tighten moderate laxity of the medial thigh, the scar is well hidden. Unless the scar is not well fixed to the pubic bone and muscle fascia to... more

Samir Shureih, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

Horizontal incisions for thigh lifts

In general I rely on horizontal incisions and I avoid vertical incisions when doing thigh lifts. This usually gives a better cosmetic outcome while adequately addressing loose skin.

Marshall T. Partington MD, FACS
Kirkland Plastic Surgeon

Scarring after a thigh lift

The vertical scar is longer and more noticeable than the medial thigh lift scar. However, it's difficult to tell you without actually examining you what will give you the best result.

Jeffrey E. Schreiber, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

Vertical vs horizontal scar

Without looking at a picture it is hard to say in your case. In general if you have laxity to the mid-thigh you will need a vertical component to your lift. I place this scar in the middle of the medial thigh and the scar does fade with time. You are trading a scar for contour. Good luck.

Vishnu Rumalla, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Thigh lifts - vertical vs. horizontal

The vertical design thigh lift removes more skin, and gets more of a better improvement in the mid and lower thigh than the smaller horizontal design, but at the expense of a significantly longer scar. It's more commonly needed in people that have had MWL (massive weight loss), or significant previous liposuction of the inner thigh. It's a trade-off of amount of improvement vs. amount of scar. Hope that helps,

Thomas Fiala, MD
Altamonte Springs Plastic Surgeon

Thight lift scar issue

Depending upon a patients skin laxity, I will perform either a medial thigh lift with an incision in the groin crease, or will use an "L" shaped one extending down the inner thigh in a vertical fashion.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Thigh lift scar placement

The answer to your question depends on your anatomy. In other words, where is the excess skin and fat in your thighs? If the excess is localized to the upper thigh or upper medial thigh, then a horizontal scar hidden in your groin crease would suffice. However, if you have more excess skin and fat extending down your thigh to the knee area, depending on the severity of excess skin, you may need to the vertical (medial inseam) incision line.

C. Bob Basu, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Vertical vs. Horizontal scars for Thigh Lift procedure

The incision that is chosen depends on the amount of skin laxity and its location. Moderate skin laxity in the upper thigh can be reduced with a horizontal excision in the bikini area, which is better for hiding the scar. For greater skin laxity extending to the knee allows for more tightening, a vertical scar may be required. But with a vertical scar it may heal wider and of course be more visible. Tattooing the scat can be done when the scar has improved as much as... more

Robert Sleightholm, MD
Brampton Plastic Surgeon

Thigh lift scar options

Excess skin has to be surgically removed. Surgery results in scars. Regarding vertical scars in a thigh-lift: This technique is largely reserved for patients who have had a large weight loss, like a post-bariatric surgery patient with an extreme amount of loose skin I have not personally experienced widening of the scars in my patients It HAS been my experience that the resultant scar is much less unsightly than the loose sagging skin the patient had before... more

William A. Wallace, MD, FACS
Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon

Thigh lift scar placement

The type of incision will depend on the degree of laxity and how far this laxity extends down your thigh. Body contouring is really a trade off between skin and scar and you have to know in yourself what you will be able to tolerate. Horizontal scars are better hidden, but the tradeoff is that it really only corrects laxity in the superior portion of the thigh. Unfortunately it is not possible to get an adequate lift of the middle/lower thigh through this type of incision. Placing too... more

Joseph Michaels, MD
Bethesda Plastic Surgeon

Thigh Lift Types Balance Scars vs Amount of Improvement

The type of thigh lift that is best for any patient, like most every other body tightening procedure, is about trading off scars for the amount of lift and tightening. There is no question that a combined horizontal and vertical inner thigh lift produces a better result than that of a horizontal lift only...but at the price of an unfavorable vertical inner thigh scar. You have to choose which one of those is more acceptable...residual loose thigh skin or a scar. As for scar tattooing, one sho more

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD
Indianapolis Plastic Surgeon

Vertical or Horizontal Thigh Lift Scar? How about BOTH

In reality, for major thigh laxity following major weight loss, both a vertical AND horizontal incision for removal of vertical and horizontal excess are useful for removal of thigh cutaneous redundancy in 3 dimensions. However, you are correct about the cosmetic appearance with many individuals reporting satisfaction with correction of skin ecess but dissatisfaction with the visibily of the scar. Therfore many patients chose a compromise with the length of the vertical component.... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Scar location for a thigh lift

There are two types of scars used for a thigh lift. A horizontal scar placed in the groin crease is best for patients who have significant vertical laxity(loose skin which can easily be pulled upward). A vertical incision along the inner aspect of the thigh from groin to knee is best used in you have significant horizontal skin laxity or looseness. The specific incision needs to be tailored to your specific anatomy. I would add that the scars can migrate or widen from... more

William Bruno, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Tattooing only draws attention to thigh lift scars!

But if you must tattoo your scars, I would wait until the scars have fully matured and you and your doctor have decided that no touch-up or revisional surgery is recommended. A year (rarely more) may be necessary for maximum scar softening, settling, and fading (maturation). Vertical or horizontal incision choice depends on the distribution and degree of skin laxity. No one answer is "correct" for all patients, especially for those who have has massive weight loss and have lots... more

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

Scar depends on your needs

Depending on the deformity that you have you may need a vertical scar and you may need a horizontal scar. If you have a great deal of excess thigh skin you may need a vertical scar to get ideal contour, if you refuse the option and limit the scar to only horizontal you may also limit the improvement that you seek.

Walter D. Gracia, MD
Arlington Plastic Surgeon

www.graciaplasticsurgeon.com

Thigh lift vertical scar gives great shape but a more visible scar

Though a horizontal incision alone for thigh lifting puts the scar in a well hidden location, if you have a great deal of excess skin lower on the thigh avertical incision is best. As in many plastic surgery procedures, a longer incision gives better shape, but unfortunately a longer scar. Wait at least 6 months before getting a tattoo.

Mark Broudo, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Thigh scar placement

The scar placement is for the inner thigh lift is dictated by the degree and location of the excess skin. If the skin laxity is minimal and is present in the upper inner thigh than a horizontal incision in the groin crease is the correct placement of the incision. If the laxity is more dramatic and extends to the mid thigh or knee than there is excess skin which can only be addressed by a vertical incision. When comparing scars, the groin crease incicion is... more