Thermitight for thigh laxity?

Question

I am 62 years old, 5'3" and weigh 125 pounds. I have always had slim thighs but over the past few years the skin on my thighs has become so lax to the point where I can't wear shorts. My legs and calves have a nice shape from daily exercise but I can't do anything to tighten the loose thigh skin which Is visibly worse in the inner bottom half of my thighs (above my knees) Will Thermitight tighten this area?

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

The thighs need an evaluation. Sometimes VASER HI definition contouring is best for sculpting and defining with or without ThermiRF for tightening.  We use sculptra to improve wrinkles and fraxel to improve texture and tone.  However, as regular maintenance you should be doing radiofrequency devices like venus legacy, exilis, vanquish treatments.  Profound can improve texture and tighten the skin.  Please see an expert for a consultation.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Morpheus 8 is a non-invasive skin and soft tissue tightening treatment that is consistently amazing in our patients. We use the Morpheus to exact fractional induced RF into the skin or tissue in order to tighten collagen and stimulate contraction of the tissue. For acne scars, it is quite useful to build collagen in patients who have atrophic scars but is not very productive for ice-pick scars which require TCA Cross. For tissue tightening, Morpheus is ideal for the face and neck and we often combine it with CO2 laser or Ultherapy to further enhance results. Chemical peels and skin resurfacing should be done at least 5 to 7 days after, but can be performed earlier, depending on treatment severity. Avoid exfoliating skin treatments before Morpheus and expect a period of 2-4 weeks for skin contraction to set in.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

William Groff, DO · Answer

While I would need to assess you in person to know for sure, I can tell you that ThermiTight is a very effective, nonsurgical method of skin tightening in the right patient. This device delivers radiofrequency energy deep into the dermal tissue via tiny probes. The RF energy gently heats the dermal layers to constrict tissue and boost collagen levels. I encourage you to schedule a consultation with a board-certified dermatologist who has extensive training and experience in the ThermiTight procedure. Through an in-person assessment and discussion of your goals, your doctor can determine whether ThermiTight is the right treatment choice for you.

Kimberly Butterwick, MD · Answer

Thermitight
is a minimally invasive skin tightening system that works by
delivering radiofrequency energy deeply under the skin via a probe.
The energy heats the skin to 50 to 65 degrees Celsius, causing it to
contract. The increased temperature is also ideal for stimulating the
production of new collagen and elastin, creating a newer and stronger
support system for your skin. We use Thermitight to tighten skin in
many different parts of the bodies, including the thighs. Whether it
will work for you will depend on how lax your skin actually is. Other
options include Ulthera above the knees, which has good clinical
evidence to support its effectiveness in this area. Lastly, Sculptra
is quite useful above the knees to thicken loose skin to help take up
the slack. Oftentimes combinations are ideal with Thermi or Ulthera
to tighten and Sculptra to thicken. Don’t worry, you will be able
to wear shorts again with a little work! Please find a
board-certified dermatologist to evaluate your for Thermitight.

Jaime S. Schwartz, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question.

ThermiTight utilizes a small electrode inserted under the skin to heat tissue to a selected therapeutic temperature.  Literature has shown that elevating skin to a therapeutic temperature level can contract collagen molecules and stimulate collagen production, which may give the appearance of lifting or tightening,

To best answer your question,  it  depends on how much skin laxity you have.   ThermiTight can work well in the thigh area to tighten skin that is mild to moderately lax.  . Surgery may be a better option, if you have excessive laxity.   Results with ThermiTight vary from patient to patient.  You should experience some overall improvement.The best way to assess and give true advice would be an in-person exam.

Please see a board-certified plastic surgeon that specializes in aesthetic and restorative plastic surgery.

Best of luck!

Dr. Schwartz

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

#RealSelf100Surgeon

#RealSelfCORESurgeon

W. John Bullis, MD · Answer

ThermiTight is the best thing out there for skin tightening.  However...all skin tightening devices have limitations; and the most important factor that limits the degree of skin tightening a specific patient will get is their starting point.  In general, older patients will not get the same results as younger patients; smokers and sun-worshippers will have less of a result; and people who have been overweight and lost a lot of weight will also have less of a result.  Results are also somewhat genetic: some people simply produce collagen and have better tissue healing than others.  The results one sees from ThermiTight, or any skin tightening device for that matter, are the result of thermal injury to the skin, which stimulates tissue healing.  It is the healing process that causes the skin tightening, as new collagen and elastin fibers are produced over the months following the procedure.  In my experience, everyone gets some improvement with the ThermiTight, but some do better than others.  I hope this was helpful.  For more information, see the links below.

Michael A. Zadeh, MD, FACS · Answer

The answer to your question depends on how much loose skin you have. ThermiTight can work well in the thigh area to tighten mild to moderate skin laxity. If you have excessive laxity then surgery may be the only option. Results with ThermiTight are gradual and it's important to have realistic expectations. See an experienced ThermiTight provider for an in-person consultation and evaluation. Hope this helps.

Dean P. Kane, MD, FACS · Answer

Dear TummyHelp88: Over the last 2 decades, technology has tried to help shrink the skin. Today we have a few items that are starting to really help. The amount of skin tightening depends on the:1.       Quality of skin texture (ie, dermal thinness / thickness),2.       Amount of skin laxity, and3.       The “slide” of the skin over the fatty fibrous tissues underneath.The newer options depend on the ability to stimulate skin collagen shortening and formation. These include:1.       Sculptra injections to stimulated firming and thickening of the skins dermal collagen from the inside2.       Retinoid skin stimulation to firm and thicken the dermis from the outside3.       Silhouette InstaLift to lift and promote upward tightening of the skin and deeper fibrous tissues4.       The newest option is ThermiTIGHT which delivers the RF energy under the skin and achieves the heat required in a painless setting so the patient receives the quality of care required to achieve immediate skin shrinking and secondary collagen contracture.a.       I have found that Lasers that try to penetrate the skin for collagen contracture unfortunately do not deliver what they promise.5.       Surgery with upward advancement of the skin and collagen stimulation upon healing is the fall back to these above non-surgical options. These are all advanced techniques and not practiced by most cosmetic physicians. Please consult with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who provides all aspects of surgical, minimally invasive and non-surgical options to see what is best for you!

Jonathan Berman, MD · Answer

ThermiTight is a proven technology that heats tissue at a therapeutic level to stimulate natural collagen production under the skin. This non-surgical treatment will help with mild-to-moderate skin sagging, since the results appear to lift or tighten the treatment area. As with any surgical or non-surgical procedure, a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon is necessary to determine if this is an ideal solution for you. However, based on your explanation, ThermiTight may be helpful, especially since it treats many areas, including the thighs and loose skin above the knees.

Thermitight for thigh laxity?

Answers (9)