Is liposuction the best way to deal with my Inner thigh chub rub?

Question

I am a 20 year old professional athlete and I am very muscular. However, since I was 7 years old, it has been painful to walk because of how much my thighs rub together, I've had tears in my skin after field hockey games that were bad enough that I had to get stitches. I had to give up a college field hockey scholarship because of it. Is this a common problem that you see and is lipo the best way you would say to get rid of this problem or maybe something like a tummy tuck in my inner thighs?

Ryan Neinstein, MD, FRCSC · Answer

Thanks for the question, this can be a troublesome area for many people that does not respond to diet and exercise. In thin people I typically only use laser and ultrasound to melt and tighten, than I will add some lipo if needed and rarely I cut out skin. So there are any successful and safe ways to treat this area!

Mitchel Goldman, MD · Answer

Without photos, I can give you only a general answer, but from your description you would probably do well with liposuction to remove the excess fat from your inner thighs. If you are athletic and your skin quality is good, then your skin will probably accommodate to the reduced volume once the fat has been removed. If your skin is poor quality and is inelastic, you might need ThermiSculpture, which is a combination of liposuction to remove fat and ThermiTight to tighten the skin. You may also want to consider noninvasive fat-elimination techniques, such as Vanquish and CoolSculpting. Please consult a board-certified dermatologist who has successfully contoured the inner thighs with liposuction and noninvasive fat-elimination techniques.

Ashley B. Robey, MD · Answer

If you are only 20 and you don't have a history of significant weight fluctuations, you are likely a good candidate for medial thigh liposuction to address this fullness (assuming the fullness is fat). Any existing excess skin could potentially become more lax with liposuction alone. 
If you are having skin tearing, I would certainly meet with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options. The advantage of liposuction is that you have a smaller incision and a shorter recovery than that associated with a medial thigh lift.

Best of luck!

John L. Burns Jr., MD · Answer

Yes, liposuction would be the best option to give you an inner thigh gap and prevent rubbing.  The fact that you are young and athletic means you should have an excellent result.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Yes, for areas like the thighs, I recommend a hi definition procedure like VASER liposuction. I use VASER HI DEF with ThermRF and fat grafting to get the most fat removal, skin tightening, contour and definition. This combination will give you the most toned result. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a hi definition physique expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Michele A. Shermak, MD · Answer

Hello! Without any exam, it sounds like you would benefit from a thighlift, particularly if you are really muscular and don't have fat localized to the inner thigh. This is a tricky surgical procedure that should be done by a surgeon who is very familiar with it - it's common to do in weight loss patients. I have actually created a procedure for this very problem. Check out my website on thighlift - can do it for individuals with minimal skin laxity up to significant skin laxity. Not having seen you though, liposuction may be a possibility.

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question.  Without an in-person examination it is difficult to offer definite advice but at 20 years old you should be an excellent candidate for liposuction of the inner thighs to help reduce their bulk.  Formal thigh lifts are better for those patients with significant skin laxity where liposuction would only worsen the appearance.  Hope this helps.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Liposuction may be a reasonable alternative, but an exam will be necessary to determine if this is appropriate.  You are probably borderline between liposuction and groin incision thigh lift, and I would find a board certified plastic surgeon who performs many of both to help you make the decision.
Based only upon your description, I would recommend liposuction first.  Allow your body to heal for about 6 months so that the swelling is gone, and the contours can be assessed.  If you are happy with the results, you are done.  If you need skin tightening, then a groin incision thigh lift could be performed.
Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Los Angeles, CA

Raymond A. Capone, Jr., MD · Answer

As long as the skin fold thickness, as performed by your surgeon at your consultation, demonstrates that fat is the reason for your excess fullness in your medial thighs, liposuction, by most any  technique, is very successful in younger patients such as you.   Given your lifestyle as a professional athlete, your surgeon must  rule out the possibility that it is due to muscle hypertrophy.   I would doubt that lax skin is an issue in someone of your age, but that must also be assessed by your surgeon.  If present a simple skin excision with hidden scars could be done at the time of your liposuction.  Be sure your surgeon is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and verify his credentials at the board's web site.

Reza Momeni, MD, FACS · Answer

I'm sorry to hear about your troubles.  Without at least photos or even better, an in person exam, it's not possible to give you specific surgical recommendations, but both lipo and excision surgery are options for patients like you if you're a good candidate.  Be sure to discuss your goals and concerns with your board certified plastic surgeon and consider the pros and the cons. Be certain your surgeon is properly certified.  I've attached a link where you can start your search.

Is liposuction the best way to deal with my Inner thigh chub rub?

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