Can These Thighs Be Fixed? After Losing 100 Lbs, the Thighs Are Ugly and I Just Want to Hide. (photo)

Question

There is nothing uglier to me than the way I look in anything across the area between my knees and lower torso. Ugh.. stretched out skin, genetics, lumpy, cottage cheese that even looks awful under clothes. Things that fit in the waist don't fit in the thighs. I've quit exercising because no amount of walking, climbing or anything seems to do a darn thing and there are a lot of doctors, who say there's no hope. Is there any hope for visual improvement?

Kurtis Martin, MD · Answer

A medial thigh lift performed in the longitudinal method will correct your deformities. This can be performed with minimal complications

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question regarding whether your thighs can be fixed after losing 100 pounds. Congratulations on your weight loss. You will now probably live longer. It would be best if you focused on your weight loss and the significant health benefits you have achieved from it. Regarding your thighs, I would suggest a thigh lift, thigh reduction, or thigh plasty. During this procedure, thigh liposuction is combined with skin removalskin. You may even wanter 360-leg liposuction, which means liposuction on the front, inner, and outer thighs. Once thigh liposuction is performed, you may consider returning 6-8 months later for a final thigh plasty. If the skin around your knees bothers you, I suggest an incision from the groin to the knee. This incision removes a sizeable elliptical area of skin and fat between the thighs. IF the inner knee does not necessarily bother you and it is only the upper thigh, then I suggest an incision would be made from the groin down to where the thighs stop touching; in your case, this would be the middle of the inner thigh. This would be a modified or limited T-incision thigh plasty. Thigh plastics take approximately 3-4 hours to perform and are performed under general anesthesia. You will need to wear your garment for about 6-8 weeks after your thigh plasty and remain for approximately 2-3 weeks. Thank you for your question regarding whether your thighs can be fixed after losing 100 pounds.
 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.)

Richard J. Bruneteau, MD · Answer

It's not unusual for massive weight loss patients to develop loose, saggy thigh skin. This excess skin can cause a multitude of functional and aesthetic problems. For this reason, it's not unusual for patients to request surgical correction of this problem.A variety of surgical treatments are available to treat this condition. These procedures are tailored to meet the patient's aesthetic goals and address their anatomic findings.Your pictures demonstrate excess skin in both the transverse and vertical directions. Correction of this deformity will require a medial thigh lift. This procedure will require a groin incision which is extended along the inner thigh toward the knees. The procedure removes excess skin in multiple dimensions and significantly improves leg contour. It's associated with excellent clinical results and high levels of patient satisfaction.If you're considering a medial thigh lift, it's important to consult a board certified plastic surgeon with experience in this area. This surgeon should be able to formulate a treatment plan that addresses your anatomic findings and achieves your aesthetic goals.

Ali Adibfar, MD, DDS · Answer

Hello;

	Congratulations on your major weight loss.

	You seem to have saggy skin following your weight loss in conjunction with some residual lipo dystrophy in the lower extremity.

	You could benefit from a circumferential body lift in addition to a vertical scar medial thigh lift

	Some "debulking " may have to be done with liposuction during this surgery in order to maximize the lift and excision of loose skin.

	You should get this specialized procedure done by a plastic surgeon with extensive experience in advance body contouring.

	Best wishes.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Just from looking at the pictures, the medial thigh lift would make a dramatic improvement on the look of your thighs. Other procedures can be performed after that, but I would start with that. Find a plastic surgeon with ELITE credentials who performs hundreds of body contouring procedures each year. Look at website before and after photos and decide which surgeon can give the results you desire. Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Can These Thighs Be Fixed? After Losing 100 Lbs, the Thighs Are Ugly and I Just Want to Hide. (photo)

Answers (5)