What can I do about my sad looking thighs? (Photo)

Question

I’m a woman in my 50s and I’m way too young to have legs that look like this. I have suffered severe muscle atrophy because of advanced hip arthritis and not able to workout. Wondering if a thigh lift is needed. What can I do so I can feel like myself again?

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello, Easygoing787443 in Brooklyn, NY. Thank you for your history and photos. Thank you for your question regarding what you can do about your sad-looking thighs. On your medial (inner), anterior (front), and lateral (outside) thighs you have cutis pleonasmus (excess skin) and dermatocholosis (loose skin). You do not have much thigh lipodystrophy (excess fat). Since thigh liposuction targets thigh fat, it will not work because you do not have much thigh fat. You need removal of thigh skin. The procedure you need is called a thighplasty. Since you have excess thigh skin and fat from the groin to the inner knee, you would need a longitudinal vertical medial thigh lift or thighplasty. During a longitudinal vertical medial thigh lift, an inner thigh incision is made from the groin to the knee. A large elliptical area of skin and fat is removed from the inner thigh, and the skin is tightened to flatten the anterior, lateral, and posterior thigh. A thigh lift is performed under general anesthesia and would take approximately 3 to 4 hours to complete. Plan on a 2 to 3 week recovery. You'll need to wear compression garments for at least six weeks. Drains are used to enter and are typically removed 2 to 3 weeks after the procedure, depending on drainage. You should be able to return to a sitting job after approximately 2 to 3 weeks. You should be able to return to activity 6 to 8 weeks after the surgery. Good luck. I hope it will trigger a question regarding what you can do about your sad looking thighs. I hope I have answered your question about what you can do for your sad-looking thighs. 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, contact an experienced plastic surgeon.   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 certain 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, MD, MBA. (President of  the American Society of Bariatric 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, RealSelf Hall of Fame, and RealSelf Doctor Advisory Board for Medical Review and Consumer Panel.)

Chet Mays, MD · Answer

Thank you for your inquiry!!  From the photos sent, it would appear that a thigh lift would be advised.  We would love to have a face to face with you for a hands-on approach.  Schedule a consult with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon so that we can help you reach your goals.

Richard Zienowicz, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. A thigh lift would help address contour deformity and loose skin on the back of, the middle of, and the front of your legs. The lateral (outside) of your legs might need to be addressed with an additional treatment - a consultation is needed to review your anatomy and options with a board certified plastic surgeon.

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

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

You can do a thigh lift.  This will increase the skin tone and hopefully smooth out the contour deformities.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Randal Haworth, MD, FACS · Answer

Based on your pictures, it looks like you would be a great candidate for Collagen Induction Therapy (also called Needling).

Best of luck !

Diego Ampudia, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Hello, I would recommend a combination of liposuction, Bodytite (a fractionated radio frequency technique), and a thigh lift in your specific scenario. The majority of your concerns will be addressed as a result of this.

What can I do about my sad looking thighs? (Photo)

Answers (7)

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