Could CoolSculpting help smooth out inner thighs after they were botched from lipo? (Photo)

Question

My inner thighs had lipo, which left me with horrible looking legs. Rippled & dented. I let the surgeon try and graft them, which isnt the answer. Pulling up on skin doesnt help, its tissues under. Would coolsculpt lessen the high areas & bring a more smooth look? I wont try lipo again. Its been a nightmare and ruins connective tissue in skin layers as well as causes cannula track marks you see here. No mors shorts, skirts or dresses unless longer. A nurse mentioned coolsculpt. Will it help?

Monica Boen, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question and I’m sorry you didn’t get the results you hoped from your lipo treatment. While it is difficult to tell from photos alone, it does not appear that CoolSculpting will provide you with the results you want. I would recommend a combination treatment with a radiofrequency device, like ThermiTight, to cause a skin tightening effect and also even out the fat, and dermal fillers to help further smoothen the ripples on the skin. I recommend you visit with a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist for an in-person assessment and treatment recommendations.

Kimberly Butterwick, MD · Answer

Theoretically, having a CoolSculpting session may allow you to achieve a more uniform look on the inner portion of your thighs but that is a tricky undertaking with your degree of loose skin. CoolSculpting does create a tightening effect as your skin adjusts to the loss of fat volume, but whether that’s sufficient in your case can only be determined in person. Also, depending on the fat irregularities, one type of CoolSculpting applicator may be better than another. Your inner thighs are wavy, and it may be possible to overlap or shingle the applicators to smooth it out. However, because CoolSculpting is limited by applicator size, it may not exactly fit the problem of your inner thighs. Another option may be a tightening device like Ulthera together with diluted Radiesse to fill in and smooth the dents. The only way to really get the answers to these questions is to start consulting with board-certified dermatologists who offer the full array of CoolSculpting applicators and who perform liposculpture and other procedures as well, so their expertise can help guide you to the best choice. In the end, it may be that a more invasive procedure will be necessary, like a thigh lift. An experienced cosmetic dermatologist can guide you in the right direction.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

For best results with Coolsculpting, I recommend a combination approach. I often suggest adding radiofrequency treatments like truSculpt iD, Vanquish, Venus Legacy, and Exilis Ultra for skin tightening - and then adding ZWave/Cellutone to smooth out the skin. VASER with ThermiRF is a great alternative and would give you the most toned, sculpted results. Don't let distance dissuade you; see a body contouring expert for a formal evaluation. Best, Dr. Emer

Himansu Shah, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question and photos. Cool sculpting can help freeze the fat and with time it can thin out however it does not tighten up the skin. It is best to consult with a board certified plastic surgeon. Good luck.

Benjamin Gonzalez, MD · Answer

Unfortunately coolsculpting will not do much to improve the issues you describe. Though it is difficult to be specific based on the photos I can tell you that a heat based therapy such as radio frequency (Pelleve or TempSure) or SculpSure will have some skin tightening and smoothing of the underlying fat that is there. Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy is also an excellent option to improve the area but again, it depends on the physical exam and what you actually have going on. The single best thing to do is get a second opinion from an experienced medical provider who knows how to manage these types of complications. Also, I recommend a full functional medical evaluation looking at your hormones and micronutrient status to try to maximize efficient healing after a procedure.

Aurora DeJuliis, MD · Answer

Sorry you had a bad experience with liposuction and that is a reason why I would not recommend you have more liposuction done. Although it is difficult to give you specific advice looking at your pictures, I suggest you get evaluated by an experienced physician in body contouring. I think you could benefit from a combo treatment with CoolSculpting Petite to decrease some of your fat pockets and Venus Legacy using the combined RF with deep suction in order to smooth out the area.
Good luck.

Center for Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery - Grand Rapids · Answer

Hello there! I would recommend trying a combination of skin tightening/fat melting/and mechanical massage. Skin tightening with Exilis Ultra will help to tighten the skin, as well as melt and smooth some of the fatty lumps that you see. The tighter the skin is, the smoother the area will look. I also would recommend using Cellutone to further help with circulation, smoothing, and fat reduction. Cellutone will further damage fat cells affected by the Exilis, increasing your result. It also helps to loosen connective tissue bands that cause a cellulite. It also may help to soften the lumpiness you see by gently moving and adjusting fat deposits. You could even try Vanquish to further melt fat in the inner/outer thigh. I would consult with a body contouring specialist who has all three of these machines available for use. Good luck to you! Sarah RN BSN

Leonard Grossman, MD · Answer

The fat will be reduced in its amount everywhere where the applicator from cool sculpting will be placed. Therefore, everything will become thinner in the area of treatment, including thicker and thinner parts. This will result in the same amount of unevenness that you currently have, just thinner layer of fat. you should visit a plastic surgeon with a great deal of experience in liposuction and undergo corrective surgery. Good luck from New York City

Christine Sullivan, MD (retired) · Answer

CoolSculpting is not going to help you with texture. I would suggest that you schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to determine which procedure may help address your specific concerns.  Best wishes!