1.The best candidates have specific pockets of fat
Liposuction of the thighs can be done on the inner thighs, outer thighs, or both. Your body may be predisposed to storing fat in a specific area – this is what gives some women “saddlebags” on the outer thighs or “chub rub” on the inner thighs. Liposuction is an excellent option in these cases as it can permanently remove fat cells in the area, which will change your body’s overall shape regardless of whether you lose or gain weight later on.
At Houston Lipo Center we are careful to consider overall body aesthetics. Liposuction targets and sculpts specific parts of the body. Liposuction can create a thigh gap, eliminate chub rub, and get rid of saddlebags, but it won’t reduce fat all over and isn’t a replacement for weight loss. If your goal is for your thighs to “be smaller,” weight loss may give results that you’ll be happier with.
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2. Staying lightly active (walking) is vital for proper recovery
Liposuction recovery typically includes a two-week period before patients can return to high-impact exercise. While it is true that you shouldn’t engage in high-impact exercise (running, jumping) while recovering from thigh lipo, you do need to stay active during recovery. In fact, patients should try to begin walking immediately after the procedure.
With thigh liposuction, blood flow is especially important. Walking improves circulation (blood flow), which speeds up the healing process and helps prevent blood clots. If you have a sedentary lifestyle or work a desk job, its important to consider this as you’ll need to find ways to work in short walks during recovery. If there is any pain or discomfort, pain medication is available, and each patient is given an optional prescription for pain medication after the procedure.
3. Thigh liposuction is not designed to reduce cellulite (or stretch marks)
The exact reasons some women (as well as some men) develop cellulite have not been studied thoroughly, though we know genetic factors and hormones play a role. Cellulite itself is an issue that involves a combination of muscle, fat cells, and fibrous connective tissue in the skin. Because of this, simply removing fat cells in the area through liposuction won’t improve the dimpling or cottage cheese effect, and in some cases it can actually make it more apparent.
However, laser treatments to improve the collagen formation in the skin can be combined with liposuction. These treatments help improve skin tightness, though they may take up to six months to see full results. These treatments can improve the appearance of cellulite and may be recommended by your surgeon.
Stretch marks are scar tissue – removing fat from underneath the skin won’t improve their appearance, and in most cases will make them more noticeable. This is true with fat loss from liposuction or through diet and exercise. The best way to deal with stretch marks is to prevent them in the first place.
Real Houston Lipo Center patient. See more.
4. Trends change – do it for yourself, not for other people
Liposuction should always be something you do for yourself to achieve the body shape that you want. Thigh gaps may be considered desirable now (and no one likes chafing!), but what body shapes are considered desirable changes with the times.
The great thing about lipo is that it allows you to keep the curves you want while getting rid of fat in areas you don’t want it. Liposuction is permanent, so make sure you’re motivated by your own desires and aren’t looking to liposuction to try to gain social acceptance or achieve a look that’s hot right now.
5. Non-Surgical Thigh Fat Removal Methods Are Not As Effective
Liposuction can remove 70-80% of fat in the treated area. For most thigh cases, that’s exactly what’s needed. While there are some non-surgical fat removal methods for the thighs available that can reduce slightly they are not nearly as effective as lipo. These non-surgical treatments can be very expensive and may not provide you the results you are looking for.
Ready to take the next step? Visit our thighs page for more on recovery, pricing and financing, or request a free consultation.
