Lumps on inner thighs 7 months after liposuction. What are my options?

Thank you for your question and I'm sorry to hear that you are dealing with some issues. Depending on the situation, sometimes we can go back in and break down some of the scar tissue using certain types of cannulas. Skin tightening treatments may also be an option to help deal with the skin issues. I would suggest speaking to a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in person to evaluate you and discuss your options. Best of luck to you.

Dear amatviv1,
I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment, it would be difficult to determine what went wrong. It is best that you visit your plastic surgeon for further assessment or ask for a second opinion. Only after a thorough examination, you can get proper recommendations and advice.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Lumps on the inner thighs that develop after liposuction can occur due to various reasons, including residual fat deposits, uneven fat removal, scar tissue formation, or fluid accumulation. Here are some options you may consider if you're experiencing lumps on your inner thighs after liposuction:
1. Consultation with Your Surgeon: The first step is to schedule a follow-up consultation with the plastic surgeon who performed your liposuction procedure. They can assess the lumps, determine the cause, and provide recommendations based on your individual circumstances.
2. Massage Therapy: Gentle massage therapy, such as lymphatic drainage massage or manual lymphatic drainage (MLD), may help reduce swelling, improve circulation, and break down scar tissue or fibrous adhesions that contribute to the lumps. It's essential to consult with a skilled massage therapist experienced in post-liposuction care to ensure safe and effective treatment.
3. Compression Garments: Wearing compression garments as prescribed by your plastic surgeon can help minimize swelling, support the healing process, and promote even skin retraction after liposuction. Compression garments can help reduce the appearance of lumps and contour irregularities over time.
4. Ultrasound or Radiofrequency Treatments: Non-invasive treatments such as ultrasound therapy or radiofrequency (RF) skin tightening may help improve skin texture, reduce the appearance of lumps, and promote collagen production in the treated area. These treatments can help smooth out irregularities and enhance overall skin quality.
5. Fat Grafting or Fat Transfer: In some cases, fat grafting or fat transfer procedures may be recommended to address contour irregularities or asymmetry after liposuction. This involves transferring fat from one area of the body (such as the abdomen or thighs) to fill in hollow areas or correct volume loss in the treated area.
6. Surgical Revision: In severe cases where lumps persist despite conservative treatments, surgical revision may be considered to address residual fat deposits, uneven contours, or scar tissue formation. Your plastic surgeon can discuss the potential risks, benefits, and outcomes of surgical revision based on your specific concerns and goals.
It's essential to communicate openly with your plastic surgeon about your concerns and preferences, as they can provide recommendations and guide you through the appropriate treatment options to achieve your desired results.

Very carefully done micro fat grafting or Sculptra injections could be helpful to restore lost volume.

I'm sorry to hear of the issues you have had since your procedure. This is a difficult issue to fix. A thigh lift may be indicated but an in person examination is needed to determine which next steps would be most beneficial.

Inner thigh Liposuction is technically difficult and not a lot of people are great candidate for quality outcomes in this area. It’s also a very difficult area to treat without creating Contura regularities. Most patients do not get results consistent with what they had hoped for.
One reason why they area fails to deliver is the upper inner part of the thigh has flabby loose skin in this skin is what contributes to contour far more than the subcutaneous fat layer below the skin. One reason why they area fails to deliver is the upper inner part of the thigh has flabby loose skin in this skin is what contributes to contour far more than the subcutaneous fat layer below the skin. by reducing the fat layer of the skin still drips based on its lack of elasticity and laxity. So the problem really isn’t fat distribution and for that reason removing fat doesn’t give that great of an improvement. Inner thigh Liposuction is also technically challenging because the lower extremity is round and simply reaching the area in order to be able to do quality work is challenging. The procedure is best done with Patience laying on their side. When done under general anesthesia most plastic surgeons do it with patients laying on their back and this causes gravity to drape the skin giving different contours then when patients are in a standing position. It’s very difficult to take out fat in an even consistent smooth manner when the positioning of the patient is less than ideal.
At three months liposuction results are final and no secondary treatment is going to have any impact or improve your outcome. results are 100% a direct reflection of each patient’s candidacy and the skill or lack of skill of the surgeon.
Scheduling a multitude of massages and doing radio frequency treatments isn’t going to compensate for poorly done Liposuction. The number of plastic surgeons who can do quality liposuction of the inner thighs and even have the skill to make an assessment in regards to who is that sufficiently good candidate for the procedure is pretty limited.
Liposuction is a permanent and irreversible procedure. Once done it’s very difficult to improve upon the results.
One way to explain inner thigh liposuction I sometimes use during consultations to convey how challenging they are young can you be is to ask patients to To try to find a single five star review for just inner thigh Liposuction.
It’s simply a difficult area and most patients are not good candidates for liposuction in this area. Plastic surgeons should use restraint, be honest about what they can or cannot deliver and patients should be aware of how this area responds to the procedure. Personally I don’t believe massage or Radio frequency are going to have any impact on the final outcome which is exclusively determined by how the procedure was performed. It performed well on someone who is a good candidate quality results will follow. If done poorly or the patient was not a good candidate there’s no possible way to get good results and wasting money on massage and non-surgical treatments is probably just kicking the can down the road wasting valuable time and resources as well as unnecessary financial expense on top of the procedure.
If you want us to make some kind of assessment you’ll need to post the proper before and after pictures. If you don’t have before and after pictures and ask your surgeon to forward the ones they took him. If you want a proper second opinion consultation then schedule those as in person consultations for the other board certified plastic surgeons in your community. For Second opinion consultations patient should come prepared bringing with them proper before and after pictures and a copy of your operative report which are all available from your previous surgeons office by request.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD