Loose skin on inner thighs from weight loss - will I need a thigh lift or would anything else help? (Photos)

Question

I lost a lot of weight on GPL, so I have loose skin all over. My main concern is my legs. I am so embarrassed to look at them myself. I've never worn shorts, low skirts or even a dress and would like to change that by starting with my legs. Do my legs look like I have Lipedema? Would I be a candidate for a mini inner thigh lift or procedure where it's like a crescent cut in between the inner bikini underwear line? Would any machines or laser/radio frequency work on my degree of elasticity loss ? Any recommendation is sincerely appreciated

Serdar Bora Bayraktaroglu, MD · Answer

Following massive weight loss, non-surgical radiofrequency or laser treatments cannot correct severe skin laxity, and a mini crescent lift usually fails to address widespread lower leg sagging. A standard vertical medial thigh lift is typically required to remove redundant skin effectively and achieve smooth contours. While this leaves a visible inner-thigh scar, it is the only reliable method to eliminate hanging tissue and restore the confidence to wear shorts or skirts. Schedule consultations with board-certified plastic surgeons to evaluate your specific elasticity and anatomical needs for safe, optimal lower-body results.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello RealSelfMember291827,  Thank you for your question regarding loose skin on inner thighs from weight loss and whether I will need a thigh lift or if anything else would help. Thank you for your history and pictures. Congratulations on your weight loss—great job! In regard to your inner thigh, this condition often happens to patients who lose weight. Your pictures depict Type 3 thighs with moderate skin laxity, moderate stria, moderate wrinkles, and moderate lipodystrophy in the upper and middle inner 1/3 to 1/2 of the upper inner thigh. You would do best with either a crescent (mini or bikini) thigh lift or a modified longitudinal thigh lift. During a crescent thigh lift, the incision is strategically placed within the natural creases of the upper inner thigh to help camouflage the scar. It begins in the infragluteal fold, where the buttock meets the back of the thigh, and extends forward along the groin crease, following the natural fold between the pubic region and the labia before continuing into the inner thigh crease. Through this incision, excess skin can be removed and the upper inner thighs tightened, resulting in improved contour while keeping the scar as inconspicuous as possible. However, the crescent high lift has potential significant complications. There is a chance that the scar may migrate outside the panty line, spread to the labia, and open the introitus (the entrance to the vagina). To minimize these risks, it is critical to anchor the scar to the pelvic periosteum (thick connective tissue layer covering the pubic bone) with permanent sutures. Another way to address excess skin on the inner thighs is through a modified longitudinal vertical medial thigh reduction. During this procedure, a vertical incision is made beginning in the groin and extending downward along the inner aspect of the thigh. The incision is designed to extend beyond the lowest skin fold to remove and tighten the excess tissue effectively.
The primary disadvantage of this approach is that the resulting scar is more visible compared with a crescent thigh lift, as the scar extends vertically along the inner thigh rather than being concealed primarily within natural skin creases. However, the modified longitudinal vertical medial thigh reduction technique reduces the risk of scar migration, labial spread, and introitus opening. Lasers, radio frequency, and Morpheus 8 will not work—save your money. Good luck. I hope this information helps. To obtain an accurate assessment of what exactly you need, schedule a free virtual consultation. Most plastic surgeons offer free virtual consultations. If you have any more questions regarding the thigh lift, thigh reduction, vertical thigh lift, medial thigh lift, spiral thigh lift, crescent thigh lift, or thigh lipo, contact an experienced plastic surgeon. Please seek an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon with significant experience performing thigh lifts. Do your research. Make sure your chosen plastic surgeon has performed at least 100 thigh lifts. Make sure they have the before-and-after pictures to prove it. Carefully examine their before-and-after pictures and check their reviews on RealSelf. Sincerely, Dr. Katzen, MD, MBA (President of  the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons; Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery; Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, International College of Surgery, and American Board of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery; and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, RealSelf Hall of Fame, and RealSelf Doctor Advisory Board for Medical Review and Consumer Panel.)

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS · Answer

You don't have lipedema and skin tightening devices will fail you. You need a thigh lift to remove the degree of skin excess.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear noelialsoca,

it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. Based on your photos, it looks like you would need thigh lift. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination, you will get more information and recommendations.

Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

It is unlikely that any other procedure but thigh lift would improve current condition? In person consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon is recommended. Good luck.

Loose skin on inner thighs from weight loss - will I need a thigh lift or would anything else help? (Photos)

Answers (5)

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