I Have Wobbly Skin on the Thighs After Weightloss, is Liposuction Enough, or Do I Need a Lift?

Thank you for your question regarding wobbly skin after weight loss, whether liposuction is enough, or whether you need a thigh lift, thigh reduction, or thighplasty. In your description, you mentioned that your skin is saggy, and you want it gone. It appears and sounds like you lost weight and still have excess thigh skin. The only way to remove excess thigh skin is with a thigh lift, thigh reduction, or thighplasty. Liposuction will not remove thigh skin; you may get mild (very mild) skin retraction with liposuction on the thighs. However, with your history of weight loss, I would strongly suggest a thighplasty; in regards to what kind of thighplasty is required, this depends on your plastic surgery consultation. Crescent thigh lifts remove a mild amount of skin in the upper third of the thigh. A much better procedure is a modified or a full thigh lift from an incision to the groin, partially down the inner thigh, or entirely through the knee. During this procedure, an elliptical area of skin and fat is removed. Excess thigh fat is removed.
All in all, you need a consultation with a plastic surgeon. However, I would strongly lean towards an inner thigh lift or a full thigh lift for optimal results. I do not think liposuction will give you the results you need, and I believe you will be disappointed if you only have liposuction.
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.)

It's not unusual for massive weight loss patients to develop significant amounts of loose, saggy skin. This can effect almost any area of the body including the thighs. When this problem occurs, a variety of treatment options exist.After a significant weight loss, your history suggests a large amount of loose, saggy thigh skin. This excess skin occurs in multiple dimensions. Correction of this problem will most likely require a medial lift of the thigh. This procedure removes excess skin in both the transverse and vertical dimensions.The procedure involves an incision in the groin crease which is extended along the inner thigh towards the knee. This procedure can dramatically improve thigh contour. It's associated with excellent clinical results and high levels of patient satisfaction. In contrast, liposuction would result in worsening skin sag, and the need for additional surgery.If you're considering massive weight loss surgery for your thighs, it's important to consult a board certified plastic surgeon with experience in this area. This surgeon should be able to formulate a treatment plan that addresses your anatomic deformity and achieves your aesthetic goals.

Hello;

Liposuction does not improve the laxity of the skin that you are describing.

According to your description , it seems that you may benefit from a medial thigh lift for more optimal results. Whether this is going to be a short (groin) or long (vertical) scar thigh lift can be decided by your plastic surgeon who should be well trained in any advance body contouring procedure .

Best wishes.

 

Liposuction generally won't correct a loose skin problem in the medial thighs. This would require a longitudinal medial thigh lift (scar down the thigh) or a direct lift in the groin. Either way, the lift will correct the deformities you describe.

     If you have wobbly skin, then a medial thigh lift will probably give you the superior result.   The liposuction could possibly make the area worse, but an exam would be necessary to make any concrete recommendations.    Find a plastic surgeon with ELITE credentials who performs hundreds of body contouring procedures each year.  Look at website before and after photos and decide which surgeon can give the results you desire.

Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Dear Flimsy,

thank you for your post.  Definitely 'wobbly' skin will become more 'wobbly' and less tight as it deflates with fat loss (lipo).  You need a skin tightening procedure such as an inner thight lift for this. 

Best Wishes,

Pablo Prichard, MD

It is difficult to answer your question with out at least a picture better an examination. In general if you have excess skin only surgical excision will improve the lax wobbly skin. Groin scar medial thigh lift will improve lax skin in the upper medial thigh, it does not translate to the lower thigh.

A tummy tuck will lift the medial thighs quite a bit as a secondary benefit.   If skin is saggy there is no option to a surgical thigh lift.  Liposuction and all the tech advertising of cellulite correction will  not work a hoot.   See several experienced ABPS surgeons. This is not an easy operation and it must be precise.  I have been referred many that were awful to say the least.  Be cautious.  My Best,  Dr C