Can a mini thigh lift be done with a smaller incision?

Question

I had liposuction 6 months ago on my saddlebag areas. Unfortunately, the areas are a bit lumpy now after healing. I was told I could have a touch-up lipo procedure to help smooth the areas, but I don't have a lot of confidence that this will be a great solution.  I am wondering about the possibility of a mini outer thigh lift. If I gently pull up on each outer thigh from my waist area, it does seem to appear much smoother. It does not require much pulling up to get this result, but I wondered how extensive the thigh lift surgery would have to be.  Can a mini thigh lift be done with a smaller incision? What is the simplest, smallest procedure that could give these results? Is it absolutely necessary to separate all the layers of muscle, fascia, etc from the skin, and if so, how far down the leg must this extend? I would appreciate any info on this, as there is not a lot of information on outer thigh procedures, particularly mini lifts. Thank you.

John LoMonaco, MD, FACS · Answer

Unfortunately, the only way to surgically lift the outer thigh and saddlebag area is by a rather extensive incision.  I perform it using a tummy tuck incision and lift upwards, so it's going to be a bikini-type incision.
Most of my patients at http://www.drlomonaco.com/forwlp.htm had this done.  As you can see, it can correct that skin pretty wel but it's not perfect, especially in older patients or those with poor tone or a lot of skin.
I am planning to use Refirme in those patients to try and get a bit more tightening after surgery.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question regarding whether a mini thigh lift can be done with a smaller incision. Regarding your question, it appears that you are talking about two different areas—mainly your inner thigh and saddlebag region. The inner thigh lift will not significantly impact the saddlebags. Regarding the saddlebags, if you think they will disappear better with an incision, that is what I would advise. I would suggest an incision in your hip region for the saddle bag region to lift the skin and tighten the saddlebag region. This is a standard procedure performed by experienced plastic surgeons who deal with weight loss patients. This is called a hip lift. Another alternative to address the saddlebag region is to make an oblique or diagonal incision from the infragluteal fold to the anterior superior iliac crest. That means an incision forms the fold where the buttocks meet the thigh to your hip bone. This is a diagonal line; this is quite an extensive procedure and may not be exactly what you need.
Regarding the inner thigh lift, the inner thigh lift can be made smaller, but the results will be less dramatic. If you are concerned about the saddlebags, I will stick with the incision over the hips. To get the best result, separate all the layers you have asked necessary. To determine the length of the incisions, you need to decide which areas bother you the most. If it is just the upper inner thigh, I would suggest the crescent or mini thigh lift, where an incision is made in the groin, and a crescent area of skin and fat is removed. If it bothers your 4-6 inches in the inner thigh, then I would suggest thigh liposuction combined with a modified, vertical medial thigh lift. With an incision from the groin to the knee. A large area of elliptical skin and fat is removed during this procedure.

Richard J. Bruneteau, MD · Answer

A variety of treatment options are available when patients develop contour irregularities following liposuction. The specific procedure chosen will depend upon the patient's anatomic findings and their aesthetic goals.In this particular case, it's difficult to make a recommendation without a physical examination or pictures. Depending upon the results of this examination, revision liposuction, fat grafting or a thigh lift variant might be necessary. The specific type of thigh lift would depend entirely upon the physical examination.It appears that you no longer have confidence in your original surgeon. Under these circumstances, it's probably reasonable to obtain a second opinion from a board certified plastic surgeon with experience in this area. This surgeon should be able to formulate a treatment plan that addresses your concerns.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

There are many variations of a thigh lift procedure that can be performed based on your needs and expectations. Some of these have shorter scars. Raffy Karamanoukian Los Angeles

Joseph Michaels, MD · Answer

Without examining you this is a tough question to answer. If the lateral thigh skin appear smooth and there are no contour abnormalities when you look in the mirror, then revision liposuction may be sufficient. If there are some contour issues, then fat injections may be able to correct these areas. If the problem now is excess skin, then you need an excisional procedure (outer thigh lift). If you are happy with your abdomen, a lateral thigh incision can be created that lies under your bikini line and ends anteriorly in the groin and posteriorly on the buttock. There is no "mini" outer thigh lift unfortunately. If you are unhappy with you abdomen, this procedure can be combined with the lateral thigh lift (aka extended tummy tuck). I recommend seeing a plastic surgeon  that performs a lot of body contouring procedures to examine you and give you their opinion.

Can a mini thigh lift be done with a smaller incision?

Answers (8)

Answer: Thigh Lift in Los Angeles

Answer: Thigh Lift in Los Angeles

Answer: Outer thigh lift versus fat injections

Answer: Outer thigh lift versus fat injections

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Thigh Lift

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

Can a mini thigh lift be done with a smaller incision?

Answers (8)

Answer: Thigh Lift in Los Angeles

Answer: Thigh Lift in Los Angeles

Answer: Outer thigh lift versus fat injections

Answer: Outer thigh lift versus fat injections

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Thigh Lift

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.