Say Goodbye to Thunder Thighs: 4 Plastic Surgery Solutions

For individuals who have worked hard to get and stay within a healthy weight range, the extra bulk on the legs can be a source of frustration. It can be challenging to find jeans that fit well, and one’s body image can suffer. If this describes you, consider visiting a plastic surgeon. During your consultation, you can find out whether you’re a good candidate for various treatment options, such as liposuction, a thigh lift, or CoolSculpting.

Is liposuction the right solution for thigh fat?

Liposuction is a type of surgery that is ideal for removing fat in specific locations. For instance, you could use liposuction to achieve the much-coveted “thigh gap,” or to get rid of stubborn cankles. To be a good candidate for liposuction on your thighs, you should be within 10 percent of your ideal body weight for your height.

Liposuction is minimally invasive, and is performed on an outpatient basis. Most people are back at work within five to seven days, although strenuous activity should be avoided for about six weeks.

Should you choose conventional liposuction or Smart Lipo?

Increasingly, plastic surgeons are embracing the benefits of laser lipo or Smart Lipo over conventional liposuction. Smart Lipo is often preferred because it removes fat cells more gently, causing less trauma to the area and shortening the recovery process.

During laser liposuction, the surgeon makes very small incisions and inserts a high-tech surgical instrument that emits laser energy directly to the fat cells. This energy liquefies the fat cells, making them easier to suction out without harming the nearby tissue. As an added benefit, the laser energy stimulates the healing process and encourages the post-lipo skin to be smoother and more firm.

Consider combining liposuction with a thigh lift

You may have poor skin laxity in addition to unwanted fat deposits in your thighs. This is a common problem among people who have successfully lost a great deal of weight, but still have some problem areas. If this applies to you, your plastic surgeon may suggest a thigh lift combined with liposuction.

During this procedure, the surgeon will perform liposuction to remove excess fat deposits, and also reshape the thighs and tighten the skin. This surgery requires a more extensive recovery time than lipo alone. Most people are back at work in two weeks, with a full recovery by eight to 12 weeks.

CoolSculpting: A nonsurgical solution

Perhaps you only have a couple of extra inches around your thighs, and you aren’t quite ready to commit to plastic surgery. CoolSculpting is a nonsurgical option that effectively eliminates fat and inches over time. During your treatment, the plastic surgeon applies special cooling plates that target the fat cells. The fat cells are killed and naturally processed out of the body during the coming weeks.

This means it will take a little time to see the results, but no recovery process is needed. You can return to work immediately.

Receive one-on-one plastic surgery counseling in NYC

Visit the Park Avenue office of Dr. B. Aviva Preminger for your confidential consultation, during which you’ll be invited to discuss your aesthetic preferences, concerns, and questions. Dr. Preminger is widely known as a plastic surgeon of exceptional skill, artistry, and integrity. She works closely with each patient to help them achieve greater confidence with their self-image. You can reach Dr. Preminger’s New York City office at (212) 706-1900.