I have large saddle bags on my thighs.The plastic surgeon said they are coming from my buttock & recommended a butt lift.(photo)

I'm glad to hear your rewarding yourself after extraordinary weight loss! Way to go! Liposuction is a great way to eliminate target fat on the saddlebags, abdomen and thighs. If you have excess hanging skin we might consider a lift as well but it's hard to say without seeing better photos. If you want a little more fullness in your buttocks we might consider a procedure called a Brazilian Butt Lift. Patients with a Brazilian butt lift can look forward to a double benefit: reducing areas of unwanted fat while gaining a perkier, rounded posterior. Plastic surgeons plan each procedure according to the individual needs of their patients, harvesting fat from target areas of the torso, thighs or knees and transferring it to create smooth, attractive contours optimized for each person. Many patients welcome the idea that their own tissue can be used to enhance their shape. The amount of fat transferred from love handles or flanks depends on the quantity available and the extent of buttock augmentation you desire. No matter what procedure you decide upon make sure you go with a board certified plastic surgeon with experience in this area.

Hi Jules!First of all, congratulations on losing the weight! Usually saddlebags are isolated issues related to the thighs, and not the buttocks region. Having a butt lift will unlikely help to improve it. I think you will benefit from liposuction and a fitted garment after that.

Excess skin within the outer thigh or saddlebag area is often from undesirably thick fat layers, though it can also be gravity holding down the skin. If you gently lift up on the skin and the contour improves, then this may be mostly a skin problem. If you gently lift the skin and the contour is not what you like and you can pinch thick layers of fat, then liposuction may be a better alternative. Both treatments are often needed to get the ideal outcome. I don't think there is a substitute for an in-person evaluation for what you describe. If you trust your plastic surgeon, his or her online reviews are good, board certification is present and you are happy with their before-and-after pictures, then you may want to consider having that person help you come up with a treatment plan. There is nothing wrong with getting a second opinion as well. You will do much better with an in-person consultation than trying to get online recommendations.Best of luck,Mats Hagstrom, M.D.