Will this procedure really help me scale down my thighs?

Question

I went to my Dr. and had a second consultation for the Smart Lipo procedure. I am not 100% sure if I am a good candidate for this and I left the office still feeling confused. I have large thighs (always have) and as I am getting older, (I am 42) they are getting more jiggly. I do work out 3x's a week, but my thighs never seem to shrink in size. Will this procedure really help me scale them down a bit, or should I work out more often instead of spending the $4,500?

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Laser assisted liposuction with Smart lipo provides added benefits to regular liposuction. Smart lipo and VASER ultrasound assisted liposuction melt fat and also produce some skin shrinkage. These techniques minimize contour irregularities associated with regular liposuction.

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

You can certainly try exercising and dieting however your thighs are probably affected by stored fat deposits that won't respond well to this. In addition, you may also be affected by loose skin. As a result, you may want to ask first if you have a lot of loose skin. If yes, then no form of liposuction will adequately address this. The fat may be eliminated, but you'll be left with more loose skin that will continue to make your thighs "jiggly". Loose skin can be removed with a thigh lift, which will also address unwanted fat.

Misbah Khan MD, FAAD, FACMS · Answer

SmartLipo can decrease the thigh girth by reducing the amount of fat that envelopes the thigh muscles. "Jiggly" thighs can be a result of loose muscle tone or excessive fat overlaying toned muscles. before a patient decides to go thru the procedure it is important to understand and to clarify with your doctor what your main concern is. if its "jiggle" due to loss of muscle tone then its better to tone up the muscles with exercises and then seek another opinion for a possible SmartLipo. if the "Jiggle' is due to excessive fat that can be improved and then further skin tightening can be acheived with regular exercises

Young R. Cho, MD, PhD · Answer

Using a laser liposuction device is a great option if you have moderate to good skin tone and want to reduce volume in certain areas. I would stress that your weight should be relatively stable and that you maintain your balance of diet and exercise to maintain that. To better answer whether Slim Lipo or Smart Lipo is an option for you, it would be helpful to have a picture to see. Both procedures have a very high satisfaction rate. Good luck.

David Shafer, MD, FACS · Answer

Smarlipo and Lipo work by removing fat cells. There is some tightening of the skin due to fibrosis of the underlying tissue and contraction of the collagen. Smartlipo is great for targeted areas such as the thighs, hips, abdomen, chest (for men), arms, chin, etc.

Steven Teitelbaum, MD · Answer

Any kind of liposuction removes fat to make an area thinner.
But it will not make you less "jiggly."  In fact, with less "stuffing" in the skin, the perception of looseness sometimes increases.
Patients need to understand this.  It makes people thinner, but not younger.
The claim that certain methods of liposuction tightens skin is as old as the procedure itself. And like miracle fountain of youth drugs, NOT ONE has ever been shown to achieve this. Ultrasonic liposuction and superficial liposuction have long been claimed to increase skin tightening.  But this has never been proved.  And at best, they might only make up for some of the increased laxity that results from the removal of fat of the procedure, but they would never increase the tightness relative to where someone started out before surgery.
SmartLipo is the latest fad liposuction procedure, claiming the ability to tighten - but without any proof.  The buzz at the recent American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery meeting was that SmartLipo was a gimmick, and the procedure is held in disrepute as a marketing device by many respected plastic surgeons.
So, if you want to be thinner, get lipo. But don't expect the jiggle to get better; you should even be prepared for it being worse.

Louis D. Cole, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. SmartLipo and microcannular liposuction are excellent choices to contour the thighs and reduce their circumference. Care must be taken to ensure smooth results are obtained. The procedure is effective in removing stubborn fat that is resistant to exercise and dieting. The procedure can be done on the anterior thighs, lateral thighs, and medial thigh’s. It is sometimes advisable to do these areas of the leg in stages to reduce postoperative swelling. Good Luck on your search!

Paul Fondacaro, MD · Answer

Smartlipo is an excellent procedure to use for sculpting the thighs and reducing inches. The laser helps melt the fat making it possible to use smaller cannulas to remove the liquified fat.

Yung Chen, MD · Answer

Smart Lipo is used to remove subcutaneous fat and help shrink the skin. If you have large thighs due to large muscles then it will not reduce the size.  It is very important to contour and shape the buttuck and thigh together so the desired curves are achieved. after consultation you should have a very good understanding of what the final results will be.  If your not sure then keep looking for other options.

Arnold S. Breitbart, MD, FACS · Answer

SmartLipo is a very effective liposuction technique to reduce the fat and get some skin tightening.  As with all liposuction techniques, it works best to treat localized areas of disproportionate excess fat.

Will this procedure really help me scale down my thighs?

Answers (14)

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