Ask a Surgeon - Liposuction - I have had plastic surgery within the last several months including a full...

Submit your question below about any cosmetic procedure to be considered for posting with an answer from one of our board-certified plastic surgeons.

Submit a Question

Procedure: *

Procedure related to this question.

Question: *

A good title will help more Doctors find your question. Your question title is limited to 90 characters.

Description:

Enter an optional description here for futher detail. Your description is limited to 500 characters.

Name:

E-Mail Address: *

City:

State:

Country:

Are you considering cosmetic plastic surgery?: *

How did you hear about us?: *

Age: *

Gender: *

Would you like to receive e-mail news from ASAPS?: *

Click here to review the terms of use agreement.

By checking this box you agree to the terms of use.

What code is in the image?: *

Enter the characters shown in the image.

If your question is about the cost of a procedure, click here. For referral to a qualified surgeon in your area, see find a surgeon.

Note: ASAPS cannot give advice about specific medical problems nor should answers provided by responding surgeons be substituted for a complete medical history, work-up and an in-personal medical/surgical consultation. Sorry we can't answer all questions. We try to select questions that have the widest general interest.

I have had plastic surgery within the last several months including a full tummy...

Q:

I have had plastic surgery within the last several months including a full tummy tuck, breast lift and augmentation. I’ve had five children, including a set of triplets. I’ve also had a weight loss of 120 pounds which I have kept off for 4 ½ years. I am 5 feet 7 inches and currently weigh 140 pounds. The area that I would like to fix is my inner thighs. I am seriously considering liposuction for inner/outer thighs. However, I have moderate pouches of skin on both of my inner thighs which actually rubs together when I walk. Will the skin sag even more if I only have liposuction, or do I need a thigh lift as well?

A:

You have experienced several events that have stretched your skin: 1) a massive weight loss of 120 pounds, almost 50% of your current body weight of 140 pounds; and 2) five pregnancies, including one with triplets. Subject to these stresses, without good elasticity, the skin stretches and may not return to its former shape.

In addition to the stresses you have described, there are indications that your skin may not have good elasticity: 1) your history of surgery to remove excess skin from your abdomen and breasts (abdominoplasty and breastlift); and 2) the presence of pouches of skin on your inner thighs. Given this history, if liposuction is performed on your inner thighs, the laxity of thigh skin you already describe may increase. In evaluating your inner and outer thighs for aesthetic surgery, the possibility of thigh lift should be considered. Inner thigh lift is a surgical procedure to tighten loose, flabby skin of the inner thighs. The surgery removes excess skin and some underlying fat from the upper inner thighs. Thigh lift may be combined with liposuction if needed. To find out what procedure is appropriate for you, you should consult with a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.