Ask a Surgeon - Liposuction - I had a couple of questions about liposuction. I am considering having it done to...

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I had a couple of questions about liposuction. I am considering having it done to my...

Q:

I had a couple of questions about liposuction. I am considering having it done to my inner thighs only. I have heard the skin in this area is not very elastic. Is this still an area that has a high success rate?

A:

The inner thigh is an area that is often suctioned. The patients who undergo this area of suctioning are usually pleased with the improvement, as long as they have realistic expectations. The procedure makes the thigh appear more slender and the leg longer. It frequently corrects the inner thighs from rubbing against each other.

Like lipoplasty in other areas of the body, it should be performed to contour excessive bulging of the fat in that region. It is not a weight loss procedure. Patients who are in good medical health, have localized areas of fullness that will not respond to exercise and diet, and have reasonable skin tone are good candidates for the procedure.

Any patient must be realistic about the limits of what can be achieved. If there is satisfactory elasticity to the skin in the inner thigh, then the skin will generally contour nicely. If there is poor elasticity and the skin has significant sagging in the inner thigh, suction alone may not produce a pleasing result. Patients with poor skin tone in the inner thigh may benefit from an inner thigh lift in conjunction with lipoplasty.

Inner thigh lipoplasty can be performed as an isolated procedure, in conjunction with lipoplasty of other areas, or with other cosmetic (aesthetic) surgical procedures. If a member of my family was going to have the procedure, it would be performed by a plastic surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and in an accredited or state-licensed ambulatory surgery facility.