Is it possible to do a thigh lift if you have cellulite?

Question

Is it possible to do a thigh lift if you have cellulite? A foreign doctor told me I’m not eligible for any type of lipo or skin removal because I have cellulite, and he said I need to lose weight (about 10 kilos/22 pounds.) I've lost 120 pounds and have kept it off for 6 years and counting, and I weigh about 135 at 5’3. I’m not sure that I’ll ever see a weight below 120 or even 130… thoughts/opinions?

Tommaso Addona, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.
Based on my knowledge and the current research available, there is no reason to not having this procedure due to cellulite alone. I recommend speaking with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your concerns.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi Exuberant 861759, thank you for your question regarding whether it’s possible to undergo a thigh lift if you have cellulite. Before I answer your question, let’s explore what cellulite is. Cellulite is a vertical band of scar which tethers your skin to the underlying soft tissue.  Without these vertical bands, your skin would fall off your body. As you age, trauma, infection, inflammation, or significant weight loss, these bands can tighten. As these cellulite bands tighten, there is dimpling of the skin.  Thus, cellulite is dimpling of the skin resulting from contraction of these vertical bands. To treat these areas of cellulite, these vertical bands need to be transected. This can be accomplished with a specific cutting V-shaped tip liposuction instrument.  This technique works well for patients with mild to moderate excess skin and fat of the thighs and significant areas of cellulite. However, if you have moderate to extreme excess skin of the thighs, you may do better with a thigh lift, thigh reduction or thighplasty.  Therefore, it is not true that you are not eligible for thigh liposuction or thigh skin removal because you have cellulite. In fact, almost all my weight loss patients who undergo a thigh lift have cellulite.  The mere fact that you have lost 120 pounds and you were 135 at 5’3”, I believe you are a candidate for a thigh lift at this point. in my opinion you do not need to lose another 15 pounds. In my opinion, you are ready for a thigh lift.  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.)

Gianfranco Frojo, MD · Answer

Yes, you can do a thigh lift with liposuction if you have cellulite. Cellulite is just when the deeper fat pokes through the superficial fat (because the membrane between the two is weakened) causing dimpling on the skin.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

At your current height and weight you do not need to lose further weight in order to be considered a candidate for this procedure.  Cellulite would not prevent you from being a candidate for a thigh lift.  If cellulite is a concern for you after your surgery you can consider Aveli treatments which improve the appearance of cellulite.

Carmina Cardenas, MD · Answer

Cellulite is the classic appearance of saggy tissues after weight loss. 
It is honest to say that cellulite won’t improve with thigh lift. Thigh lift can be done to treat 2 vectors of excess having in mind your thighs did not become shorter but slimmer, so the excess is mainly excess of width, and the ideal procedure is Inner Vertical thigh tightening, but skin won’t be undermined 360 of your thighs. So the improvement will be limited to inner thighs. 
When patients have a very thick and saggy bulge in the inner thigh,  might be candidate for groin incision to remove some excess of length. 
Be sure you consult a board Certified PS expert in After weight loss surgery. 
Dr. Cárdenas

Is it possible to do a thigh lift if you have cellulite?

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Answer: Cellulite

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Is it possible to do a thigh lift if you have cellulite?

Answers (6)

Answer: Thigh lift

Answer: Thigh lift

Answer: Cellulite

Answer: Cellulite

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Everything you need to know about Thigh Lift

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.