Thin skin and stretch marks - What kind of thigh lift would correct this? (Photos)

Question

I had inner thigh, Lipo with body tight and it left my thighs completely deflated. I am 64 years old.. I have thin skin with stretch marks..

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi Thriving450175 in Fayetteville, AR, Thank you for your question regarding thin skin and stretch marks and what kind of thigh lift would correct this. Thank you for your history and photos. In analyzing your pictures, you have inner thigh cutis pleonasmus (excess skin), dermatocholosis (loose skin), and striae (stretch marks). Further liposuction would make your thighs worse because you have a skin issue, not a fat issue. You need a thigh lift. There are 6 different types of thigh lifts: crescent, modified vertical medial, longitudinal vertical medial, complete medial, horizontal hip lift, and outer thigh lift. Since you have excess skin from the groin to below your knees, you have type 4 thighs. Therefore, you would do best with a longitudinal medial thigh lift with an incision from the groin to below the knee. The longitudinal vertical medial thigh lift/reduction is performed under general anesthesia and takes about 3 to 4 hours to complete. Allow yourself a 3 to 4 week recovery period. For the first 2 weeks you should avoid stairs. You will have drains that are usually removed 2 to 3 weeks after the thigh lift. To get an accurate assessment of what exactly you need, most plastic surgeons offer free virtual consultations. I hope that I have answered your questions regarding the thigh reduction you need after thigh liposuction. 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 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, 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.)

John LoMonaco, MD, FACS · Answer

The skin and tissues of the inner thigh are naturally thin, and at your age there is additional laxity.  Lipo under these corcumstances almost always causes loose, saggy skin that needs to be lifted.

You would have a scar in exchange for a less saggy leg with better shape.

Frank Agullo, MD · Answer

BodyTite was not the tool for the job. RF skin tightening requires skin elasticity to contract against the heat. In someone 64, with thin skin and stretch marks, the substrate was not elastic enough. Lipo drained volume that held the skin envelope up. The result is exactly what you describe, empty skin that has lost the tissue meant to fill it.

The fix is an inner thigh medial lift. Given your tissue and hang, it would probably be a vertical inner thigh lift. The incision goes from the crease of the groin down along the medial leg to remove the empty, stretched skin flap. A horizontal inner thigh lift just under the groin does not reach far enough down the leg where your skin is loose. When indicated, I will plump some deflated areas with fat at the same time to soften the skin.

It is a real procedure with a visible scar, no soft sell on that. But if you have thin, lax, depleted inner thigh skin, it is the only procedure that truly reshapes the contour. 
#StayBeautiful,

@RealDrWorldWide

Thin skin and stretch marks - What kind of thigh lift would correct this? (Photos)

Answers (3)

More Thigh Lift Questions

6 years post BBL - Can I get fat transferred to my thighs? (Photos)

Would I need to have a thigh lift for good results or would liposuction with J-plasma be enough? (Photo)

Best procedure to address loose skin of bilateral medial thighs due to striae? (Photos)

Vertical Thigh Lift and Knee Area Liposuction - Unhappy with Results. What are my Best Options? (Photos)

Can you have an extended tummy tuck and thigh lift in the same procedure?

2 Days until surgery- More scars than anticipated - are there any other options? (Photo)

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS