The thighs are one of the most common areas of the body to hold onto excess fat. Loose, droopy skin is also a common problem around the thighs. This can be a particular concern as a patient ages or following significant weight loss. Whatever the cause of the problem may be, excess fat and skin on the thighs can compromise your body contours and make it difficult to find clothing that fits properly. Body contouring treatments tighten and tone the thighs to enhance the figure and allow patients to achieve their aesthetic goals. Dr. Brian J. Kobienia is happy to offer body contouring treatments for the thighs at his plastic surgery practice. Here, he discusses the differences between a thigh lift vs. thigh liposuction, and how our Edina, MN patients can determine which is best for their unique situation.
Thigh Liposuction
Liposuction is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures. It is a great solution for stubborn fat deposits that fail to respond to diet and exercise. Liposuction can be performed on various areas of the body, and the thighs are particularly responsive to this cosmetic treatment. During liposuction treatment, Dr. Kobienia will make a series of tiny incisions around the thighs. These incisions will be just large enough to allow for the insertion of a cannula, which is a long, thin surgical tool. The cannula is moved in a back and forth motion and serves to break up fat deposits and suction them from the body. Thigh liposuction can permanently eliminate excess fat deposits to leave the thighs noticeably slimmer.
Thigh liposuction is well suited to patients whose primary concern is excess fat, and for those who still retain a good amount of skin elasticity. For optimal results, the skin will need to conform to the patient’s new body contours. Patients who may not be ideal candidates for thigh liposuction are those who have a significant amount of excess skin and those who are experiencing sagging around the thighs.
Thigh Lift
A thigh lift is different from thigh liposuction in that it addresses the presence of excess skin. During this procedure, a single incision is made along the groin and inner length of the thigh. This incision is used to remove loose skin. After removing excess skin tissue, the remaining skin is smoothed and the incision is closed. This surgery leaves patients with thighs that are more toned.
A thigh lift is an ideal treatment option for patients who are experiencing loose, saggy skin around the thigh area. These patients lack the skin elasticity that is necessary to fully benefit from liposuction treatment. Instead, it is necessary to remove this excess skin and re-drape the remaining skin to give the thighs a smooth, toned appearance.
When considering a thigh lift vs. thigh liposuction, it really comes down to how much skin and fat tissues are present. In many cases, patients can actually benefit from a combination of a thigh lift and liposuction. Dr. Kobienia is happy to discuss each of these procedures in further detail and help patients determine which treatment option will be most successful in allowing them to achieve their aesthetic goals.
Schedule an Appointment
If you are interested in toning and tightening your thighs to enhance your figure, the body contouring treatments offered by Dr. Brian J. Kobienia can help. Schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience to discuss your aesthetic goals and get a personalized treatment plan from Dr. Kobienia.
