Which procedure would be best for achieving tighter arms and legs? (photos)

Hello, and thank you for your question about getting skinnier arms and thighs. Thank you for your history in your pictures. First, it’s important to lose as much weight as you can. Once your weight has plateaued for approximately three months, you may want to consider plastic surgery. It is not wise to undergo plastic surgery before you have met your goal weight. Once you reach your goal weight, your further weight loss may change what plastic surgery procedure you need. At this point, you would benefit from VASER arm and thigh liposuction. It is possible that your skin can retract without the need for an incision and a scar. Alternatively, if you lose so much weight, the fat may dissipate from your arms and your thighs. This will leave you with excess skin on your thighs and arms. You may require a brachioplasty or arm reduction if you lose significant weight. If that is the case, you would probably need an incision from the armpit to the elbow. Regarding your thighs, most plastic surgeons would recommend seeing what happens with further weight loss. You may need a thigh reduction. Some thigh reductions can be done through a crescent incision in the thigh; however, in your case, you would probably benefit more from an incision from the groin, partially down the inner thigh, or even to the knee. Most thigh lifts include thigh liposuction. The thigh lift from the groin to the knee includes removing a large elliptical area of skin and fat from the inner thigh. In conclusion, most plastic surgeons would recommend you lose as much weight and reach your goal weight before considering plastic surgery. Once you’ve hit your goal weight, consider VASER liposuction of the arms and thighs, brachioplasty (arm reduction), or a thigh reduction. Good luck. 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, 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.)

The result from your tummy tuck looks very good. You do have some cellulite of your buttocks and the back of your thighs. The skin tone of your arms does not look awful. Liposuction would not be very useful. You could benefit from an outer/thigh lift. I call it a near-circumferential thigh lift. That is the only way to deal with skin laxity of the buttocks and outer thighs. The tummy tuck scar could be revised simultaneously. However, your skin tone is not terrible and you could possibly hold off on this procedure.

For the arms, I recommend liposuction and probably brachioplasty. The combination takes 1-2 hours. At the same time, you can undergo liposuction of the thighs or a thigh lift.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.