How much sagging and laxity should I expect after thigh liposuction? (photos)

Lipo with bodytite RF/morpheus under local with iv sedation for complete comfort would make a huge improvement with very little worsening of your skin laxity. It can improve it a lot in many cases. Avoid general anesthesia at all costs if you want quality results.

The photos show significant skin laxity and cellulite/texture changes along the inner and outer thighs, with only some removable fat. Liposuction can debulk fullness, but it does not reliably tighten skin; in an area with this degree of laxity, aggressive liposuction can make hanging, waviness, or crepiness more noticeable. At 55, skin recoil is typically less predictable, so I would expect contour improvement only if the lipo is conservative and the goal is modest reduction, not a tight thigh.

The key exam is the pinch test: how much of what you see is fat versus loose skin. If most of the concern is skin laxity, a thigh lift is the procedure that removes extra skin, but it trades that improvement for scars and a longer recovery. Energy devices may give mild tightening in selected patients, but they will not correct substantial laxity. See a board-certified plastic surgeon for an in-person assessment of inner thigh, outer thigh, knee area, and skin quality before deciding; sometimes a staged approach is safest.

Thanks so much for your inquire,

The amount of sagging and skin laxity after thigh liposuction varies from person to person, depending on several factors. The more fat that’s removed during thigh lipo, the more the skin has to tighten. If a significant amount of fat is taken out, there’s a higher chance that skin laxity will be noticeable.

adding skin tightening treatments is often recommended alongside or after thigh liposuction, especially if there’s a concern about loose skin

If you’re concerned about sagging, it’s a good idea to discuss skin-tightening treatments with your surgeon. Combining these with liposuction can help you achieve smoother, more contoured thighs with minimal sagging.

Sincerely,
Dr. Emmanuel Mallol

From you photographs, it seems you have generally have poor skin tone and a lot of irregular contouring. You surely need to see a board certified plastic surgeon to evaluate you as a candidate for liposuction. Depending on your expectations, perhaps you might want to trade off increased laxity for a generally smaller thigh. It is extremely important to discuss these expectations with your plastic surgeon because skin laxity of the thighs cannot really be fixed.

Your skin will hang after liposuction. You would be better off with medial thigh lift and liposuction. This will give a better result.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Based on your post of photos, I recommend superficial liposculpture with J – plasma skin tight technique fee $10,000-$15,000. Best virtual consult with.

You have some now, so more may be present. I would suggest adding minimally invasive skin tightening, like Renuvion, with your liposuction to have better results.

Based on the posted photos you currently have moderate skin laxity with contour irregularities. This would likely worsen with thigh liposuction. I encourage you to visit with a board certified plastic surgeon near you for a consultation to discuss your concerns and learn more about your options. I've included a video about liposuction that I hope you find helpful.