Will a crescent thigh lift cause circumference change? (Photo)

Question

Post 100 pounds weight loss ,diet / exercise. I’m now fit and weight stable. Am I understanding correctly: crescent lift will only tighten excess skin vertically and an incision going down the thigh affects the circumference excess skin. Is were your fingers meet grabbing excess skin a good indicator or what will be removed. I struggle to see much difference with before and after photos.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question regarding what to do with your thighs. You ask some fascinating questions with an exciting approach. The crescent thigh lift is an incision done high in the groin. It removes a crescent area of skin. You're correct that it only vertically removes and lifts the skin. Usually, on the maximum pull, only about three finger breaths from the groin to the inner thigh can be resected. That is approximately 6 centimeters. So what you pinch in the pictures will not be removed with a crescent thigh lift. However, if you proceed with a longitudinal vertical medial thigh lift with an incision from the groin going down the inner thigh, which you are pinching, it is removed. The crescent thigh lift removes excess skin and fat in a vertical dimension by pulling the skin up. The longitudinal incision from the groin down the knee removes it vertically and horizontally. You are correct in that the longitudinal incision improves the leg's circumference. The crescent improves it somewhat but not as much. I hope this helps answer your question. Further questions can be clarified with a virtual consult. Thank you for your thigh lift questions. 
I specialize in thigh lifts.  I hope that I have answered your questions regarding the thigh reduction.  If you have any more questions regarding the thigh lift, thigh reduction, vertical thigh lift, medial thigh lift, spiral thigh lift, crescent thigh lift, or thigh lipo, please contact my office.   Please seek an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon with significant experience performing thigh lifts. Do your research.  Make sure your chosen plastic surgeon has performed at least 100 thigh lifts.  Make sure they have the before and after pictures to prove it.  Carefully examine their before and after pictures and check their reviews on RealSelf.   Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. (“Verified” Plastic Surgeon, President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons, Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, International College of Surgery, and American Board of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, and ​member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)

Will a crescent thigh lift cause circumference change? (Photo)

Answers (1)

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.

Will a crescent thigh lift cause circumference change? (Photo)

Answers (1)

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.