Loose skin after lipo. Is my only hope really a thigh lift? (Photo)

Question

I had lipo done about 9 months ago and while I’m very happy overall, I do have loose skin that I need to do something about. Is my only hope really a thigh lift? I knew going in lipo could make this worse so not blaming anyone. There are so many other treatments out there that claim to help tighten skin with laser or ultrasound and whatnot. I don’t want to waste my money. My doc did say it’s more skin laxity than cellulite bc pulling the skin up smooths it out.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi Anderson82,

Thank you for your question regarding loose skin after liposuction and whether a thigh lift is your only viable option. I appreciate the history and pictures you've shared. Upon analyzing your pictures, it's clear that the issue you're facing is loose thigh skin. Some of the fat was removed with thigh liposuction, leaving you with loose, indented thigh skin. You and your doctor are correct in assessing the condition of your outer thighs. The problem is skin laxity, not excess fat. Further liposuction would only exacerbate the skin laxity rather than improve it.

Given that the primary issue on your thighs is excess skin and not fat, the most effective way to address this is through a hip lift. This procedure involves making an incision over the hip region and lifting the outer thighs. Often, a hip lift is combined with an extended tummy tuck or a 360 circumferential lower body lift. A hip lift can dramatically and significantly improve the appearance of the outer thigh.

Therefore, my recommendation would definitely be for a thigh lift, or more accurately, a hip lift, rather than additional liposuction. I hope this answers your questions regarding loose outer thigh skin post-liposuction and confirms that a thigh or hip lift is a suitable option for your situation.

Sincerely, Dr. Katzen

Ira H. Rex III, MD · Answer

Thigh lifts generally only improve laxity of the inner thighs. We usually just do thigh lifts on the outer thighs and severe weight reduction patients. Most skin tightening procedures don't make a significant improvement.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear aanderson82,
based on your photos, it looks like you would benefit from non surgical options to tighten your skin. If you are considering treatment, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination, you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Lutgardo Caparas, MD · Answer

Yes i would highly suggest to do a personal consultation so we can better assess your concern and give proper care

Jon S. Wilensky, MD · Answer

Loose skin after liposuction is a common concern, especially in areas where there has been significant fat removal. While a thigh lift is one option to address loose skin, it's not necessarily the only option, and whether it's the best choice for you depends on several factors including the extent of loose skin, your overall health, and your aesthetic goals.Here are some potential options to consider for addressing loose skin after liposuction:1. Skin Tightening Treatments: Non-surgical options such as radiofrequency, ultrasound, or laser treatments can help tighten loose skin by stimulating collagen production and improving skin elasticity. These treatments may be effective for mild to moderate skin laxity.2. Compression Garments: Wearing compression garments consistently after liposuction can help support the skin and promote better skin retraction. Your plastic surgeon may recommend wearing compression garments for a specific period post-surgery to optimize results.3. Exercise and Nutrition: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise and a balanced diet can improve skin elasticity and overall skin health. Strength training exercises that target the thigh muscles may also help improve the appearance of loose skin.4. Revision Liposuction: In some cases, additional liposuction may be performed to further contour the area and improve skin tightening. However, this approach is typically more effective for addressing residual fat deposits rather than loose skin.5. Thigh Lift Surgery: If you have significant loose skin that cannot be adequately addressed with non-surgical treatments or revision liposuction, a thigh lift may be recommended. During a thigh lift procedure, excess skin is removed, and the remaining skin is tightened to create a smoother, more toned appearance.It's important to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate your specific concerns and recommend the most appropriate treatment options for your individual needs. They can assess the degree of skin laxity, discuss your goals and expectations, and help you make an informed decision about the best course of action to achieve the desired results.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

It does appear you have some mild to moderate skin laxity.  Some options to consider instead of a thigh lift are BodyTite and Morpheus8.  BodyTite is a minimally invasive procedure that uses RF technology both above and just under the skin to tighten the tissues.  No general anesthesia is required.  Morpheus8 is sometimes added to optimize results.  It improves overall skin tone and texture.  I've included a video that I hope you find helpful.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

The truth is, we don’t have good treatment for flabby, five and middle-aged women
If we did we would all be doing the same thing.Delivering consistent quality, liposuction, results is more difficult than most people realize. On top of this lower extremities are technically difficult, and the number of patients who are truly good candidate for lower extremity liposuction is far less than many people realize. Likewise, the number of plastic surgeons who have truly mastered this procedure are not the norm.
A thigh lift is an appropriate procedure for patients who have severe skin laxity due to massive weight loss. Don’t buy into the hype regarding any form of skin, tightening, procedure, other than direct skin excision.
The following are some general guidelines providers. These can also be applied when looking for ideal treatment.
Based on the information provided, I suggest you stop where you are, and not consider further lower extremity surgery
The only exception to this is a procedure called Aveli which is a reasonably good for some patient with cellulite.
To find the best provider.
To find the best provider, I suggest patient schedule multiple in person consultations with experienced plastic surgeons in their community. During each consultation, ask each provider to open up their portfolio and show you their entire collection of before and after pictures of previous patients who have similar body or facial characteristics to your own. An experienced plastic surgeon should have no difficulty showing you the before and after pictures of at least 50 previous patients. An experienced provider should in fact have hundreds or preferably thousands of before and after pictures to choose from for commonly performed procedures. 
Being shown a handful of preselected images, representing the best results of a provider’s career is insufficient to get a clear understanding of what average results will look like in the hands of each provider.
There is no correct number of consultations needed to find the best provider. The more consultations you scheduled the more likely you are to find the best provider for your needs. 
Take careful notes during each consultation, especially regarding the quantity and quality of before and after pictures. It’s not a bad idea to bring pictures of your own body/face to use as reference when reviewing before and after pictures. 
The biggest mistake patients make is scheduling only one consultation without properly vetting or comparing providers before scheduling surgery.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD

Diego Ampudia, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Hello, in your specific scenario, I recommend lipo on your thighs combined with fractionated radio frequency technology such as Bodytite. This method increases skin retraction and quality by 40%.

Loose skin after lipo. Is my only hope really a thigh lift? (Photo)

Answers (8)

More Thigh Lift Questions

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS

Answers (8)

More Thigh Lift Questions

Why do so many doctors not work with insurance companies for thigh lift surgery?

What is the best non invasive procedure for a thigh lift?

Will ALT flap [fat,small muscle] surgery have volume loss over time?

2 years post op - what can I do to correct indent from thigh lift? (photos)

Is it normal to have pain on the suture line along the infragluteal fold 6 months after thighplasty?

Crescent thigh lift after bodytite lipo? (Photo)

WE SEND PRETTY EMAILS

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS