Can a tummy tuck also tighten the skin on the upper front thigh?

During the tummy tuck, there is the ability to lift the mons and the labia.  However, there is very limited ability to tighten the skin of the front thighs, and almost no ability to tighten the skin of the inner thighs.  A lower body lift, which includes a tummy tuck and is circumferential around the back, would tighten the skin of the front thighs, side of the thighs,  lift the buttocks and raise the mons and pubic area.  However, it will not tighten the inner thighs.

The pubic area is lifted, and the skin of the anterior thigh is minimally lifted. Find a plastic surgeon with ELITE credentials who performs hundreds
of tummy tuck procedures each year. Then look at the plastic surgeon's
website before and after photo galleries to get a sense of who can
deliver the results. Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Thank you for your question which is very interesting. The specific kind of a tummy tuck called lateral tension abdominoplasty will actually need help lift the lateral or outside portion of the thighs as part of the procedure. Making the scar extremely low will help lift the labia and mons region and occasionally extends to the inner thighs. This must be planed carefully with an experienced plastic surgeon. Additionally, you may undergo laser Liposuction of the inner thighs to tighten the skin in the region. This combination is commonly performed in my practice.

During an abdominoplasty, you will certainly see a certain degree of your mons pubis lifted. I make it a point to liposuction the mons pubis during the surgery to "debulk" the area  and place tacking sutures to elevate the mons pubis. However there is a limited effect to the upper thigh with this surgery. In general the goal is to pull "down" the upper abdominal skin, so the vector of pull is opposite to what you would want in the thigh region. In addition there is areas of adhesions where the skin is tightly bound to the underlying "fascia" in the region of the groin/upper thigh limiting any significant upward pull in this area.

Thank you for your question.A tummy tuck tuckm procedures helps you with the repair of the abdominal muscle, tucks down the excess skin towards the pubic area and in some cases that area gets lifted to, this depends on the body type you might have, sometimes you can request a little liposuction there as well to give you a more enhancing and even body. The tummy tuck also gives you a new belly button and removes the excess skin from the tummy area but it does not lift any part of the inner upper thigh excess skin, this will have to be a separate procedure.  In regards to how many inches, it depends on each individual patient.To best help you, send in some pictures consisting of a front, back, left and right side view of your body as well as your height and weight to determine which procedures and techniques will be best for your case.

It would be distinctly unusual for a abdominoplasty to have enough power to effect any significant change in your upper thighs or labia. If you talk with your surgeon before the procedure it is likely they can go low and effect the way the pre-pubic area looks.

I definitely see very significant tightening in the pubic area with tummy tuck and even some anterior and inner thigh improvement, but to a variable and unpredictable degree. I always describe it as a side effect, not a goal of abdominoplasty. The surgeons markings can determine how much lower tightening you get since a low scar under the greatest tension will have more effect there than a higher incision closed under less tension. One way to get a "guesstimate" of your possible improvement is to have your surgeon draw his incision and then pull up on it very firmly. I draw my incision in water color on every tt consult to clearly show where it will be and the range of final position of the scar after the surgery. You'll notice a definite effect on the tissues below the incision when you do this, giving you an idea of the maximum change you are likely to see.