Is a beautiful thigh lift result possible?

Question

I’ve been diagnosed with stage 1/2 Lipedema and have had the necessary liposuction surgeries. I am now post 2 leg surgeries and one arm surgery. My arms look fantastic, but the skin on my thighs is awful. Bumpy, dented, loose, awful. I’m considering a thigh lift but unfortunately I’ve never seen an “ amazing” result. I’ve seen improvement, but not beautiful results. Is a beautiful, tight result possible? Like a thigh that never had Lipedema?

Paul M. Steinwald, MD · Answer

. . . almost across the board, in the sense that the skin is rarely ideal, and you're always fighting gravity post-operatively. Yes, nice improvements can be made (and I think there is a role for early lymphatic massage by a certified professional, especially for more difficult cases), but the skin tone/quality - especially after age 30 - is probably the most limiting factor, so it's important to be realistic in this regard before making a substantial investment.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question regarding whether a beautiful thigh lift would be possible. I'm sorry that you have been diagnosed with lipedema. Based on your history and pictures, I would propose to you that now you have excess thigh skin.  Thigh liposuction can do this, especially in patients who have thigh lipedema. The only way to remove excess skin is with a thigh lift or thigh reduction. The majority of my patients think their thighs are “beautiful” after a thigh reduction. However, as they say, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Some family member and non-lipedema may not consider my patient’s thigh reduction results “beautiful”. I would suggest you review multiple plastic surgeons websites.  Look at thigh lifts and thigh reductions in particular. Consult with as many plastic surgeons as you can find, to achieve a consensus.  In my opinion, I believe you will get significant improvement with a thigh lift.  I hope that I have answered your question regarding achieving beautiful thigh in the presence of lipedema.  I specialize in thigh lifts.  I hope that I have answered your questions regarding the thigh reduction.  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, please contact my office.   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. (“Verified” Plastic Surgeon, 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 and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

The answer to this question depends upon your goals.  While the thigh lift is certainly effective in its removal of tissue and correcting issues of skin laxity and reducing size and circumference, the scar produced is often objectionable to many patients. The Bodytite technology can be used to avoid the longer scars associated with thigh lifts.  Bodytite can be used in conjunction with liposuction to tighten the tissues of the thighs by about 40%. Although Bodytite will never reproduce the excisional surgical results, optimal treatment by an expert in Bodytite can come pretty close. You would need to be evaluated in person by a board certified plastic surgeon who is an expert in both procedures.

Joshua A. Halpern, MD, PA · Answer

There are different types of thigh lifts; inner and outer. In addition there are multiple inner thigh lifts. One thigh lift lifts the upper inner thigh skin and the scar is in the groin crease. Another inner thigh lift is aliptical and oriented up and down. This tightens skin more in a horizontal direction. A third inner thigh lift is a combination of the above two. For patients who have moderate skin laxity they may be a candidate for a new and exciting technology called Renuvion/ j plasma. This tightens skin utilizing radio frequency energy. (Please see the Renuvion/j plasma videos on our Osage). Please note that this does not tighten skin as tight as a skin excision but one advantage is no long scars. I recommend you have a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon. I hope you find this information useful. Please see the enclosed video.

Is a beautiful thigh lift result possible?

Answers (4)

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