Thigh Liposuction
Conveniently located to serve Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Los Angeles, NYC, and Miami.
Thigh liposuction provides permanent fat reduction to slim and sculpt your legs. At the medical practice of Dr. Jason Emer in Beverly Hills, thigh liposuction is performed using advanced fat removal techniques to minimize recovery time and deliver amazing results.
Featured on:
What Is THIGH Liposuction?
Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure that employs suction to remove excess body fat. Thigh liposuction specifically eliminates fat in the upper legs. This procedure can get rid of stubborn fat pockets in the outer thighs, inner thighs, and directly above the knees.
Thigh liposuction is different from thigh lift surgery, or thighplasty. While thigh lipo targets fat deposits, a thigh lift focuses on removing extra skin. These procedures are often paired for transformative leg contouring results.
There are several liposuction techniques that can be used to remove thigh fat. Our doctors consider many factors, including the amount of fat to be extracted and whether thigh liposuction is to be combined with a fat transfer procedure, when determining the optimal fat reduction approach for a patient.
Thigh liposuction should only be performed by a qualified, experienced provider. At our practice, this procedure is offered by Dr. Emer, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist, and Dr. Yoel Rojas, a double board-certified plastic surgeon. Both Dr. Emer and Dr. Rojas are highly regarded among their peers as exceptional providers of fat removal for body contouring.
Right for you?
Am I a Candidate for Thigh Lipo?
To be considered a candidate for this procedure, you must meet applicable health requirements. Cosmetic surgery is not suitable for patients who have a medical condition that interferes with the body’s ability to heal. Patients with high blood pressure, diabetes, and/or other underlying conditions may also need to pursue a less invasive thigh shaping procedure or attain medical clearance from their attending physician or specialist.
Candidates for thigh liposuction should have firm, elastic skin in the treatment area. The skin will not properly retract to fit your new thigh shape if there is a lack of adequate skin elasticity. Also, if there is pre-existing skin laxity, removing volume from the thighs with liposuction can cause wrinkling and will create more loose skin.
Patients with mild to moderate skin laxity in the thigh area may still be candidates if thigh liposuction is immediately followed with an internal heat-based skin tightening procedure like Renuvion or BodyTite. If there are excessive amounts of excess skin, such as after a patient has undergone massive weight loss, a thigh lift may be recommended instead of, or in combination with thigh liposuction.
Thigh lipo is not a substitute for weight loss but rather can complement the results of your efforts to lose weight by exercising and dieting. Patients who are overweight or obese will be advised to focus on achieving and maintaining a body weight that is at or near their ideal number before undergoing thigh lipo.
Dr. Emer can recommend personal trainers, weight-loss programs, and/or weight-loss treatments in these cases. Hormonal optimization and hormonal peptide therapy are offered at Dr. Emer’s medical practice and can assist in fat loss, muscle growth, and long-term weight management.
What Is the Best Type of Liposuction for the Thighs?
There is not a single, easy answer to this question since every patient is unique in regard to their anatomy and aesthetic goals. The best type of liposuction for removing fat from your thighs may not be the ideal approach for someone else.
Dr. Emer and Dr. Rojas design each thigh liposuction procedure they perform to meet the specific needs of the patient. Our doctors are skilled and experienced in several liposuction techniques, which allows them to provide highly customized thigh lipo treatments that produce unparalleled results.
Dr. Emer and Dr. Rojas prefer to use minimally invasive liposuction methods over traditional liposuction, which has a comparatively longer and more painful recovery period. Based on your needs, your thigh liposuction procedure may incorporate:
- VASER liposuction
- Body-Jet water-assisted liposuction (WAL)
- Power-assisted liposuction (PAL)
Dr. Emer and Dr. Rojas also offer a specialized liposuction approach called high-definition liposuction. This treatment is also referred to as HD liposculpting. HD thigh lipo is intended for patients with minimal fat removal needs who are seeking a lean, toned, and incredibly sculpted look.
What Happens During the Thigh Liposuction Procedure?
At Dr. Emer’s medical practice in Beverly Hills, thigh liposuction procedures are tailored to the individual’s unique anatomy and distinct thigh shaping goals, so the exact details differ from one patient to the next. The specifics of your procedure will be explained to you during your consultation after your treatment plan has been created.
While the lipo technique(s) used and target areas can vary, every thigh lipo procedure includes the following:
Anesthesia
General anesthesia or local anesthesia with IV sedation will be administered, as arranged between you and our doctor prior to your procedure.
Incisions
Small incisions must be made in the treatment area to allow our doctor to access the unwanted fat. The location of your incisions will be selected based on whether inner thigh liposuction, outer thigh liposuction, or both are needed to accomplish your aesthetic goals. Dr. Emer and Dr. Rojas take extreme care to make the incisions as discreet as possible to minimize visible post-procedure marks.
Preparing fat for extraction
In order to prevent unnecessary trauma to the surrounding tissues when suctioning fat from the body, our doctor first dislodges and breaks up clusters of fat cells. Dr. Emer and Dr. Rojas frequently use water-assisted liposuction with Body-Jet, ultrasound-assisted VASER liposuction, and/or power-assisted liposuction for this step of the fat removal process.
Fat removal
A surgical vacuum is used to draw the loosened fat out of the body through a thin tube called a cannula, which is inserted via your incisions. If you’ve elected to pair thigh lipo with a fat grafting treatment, the extracted fat will then be purified and processed, so it can be injected to augment and contour other areas of the body.
What to Expect as You Recover from Lipo for the Thighs
The total recovery time after thigh lipo is different for each patient. The extent of your fat removal treatment, your natural rate of healing, and whether you combine thigh liposuction with other cosmetic surgeries will impact the length of your recovery period. You can expect your thigh liposuction recovery to involve:
Downtime
A week or two of downtime is necessary after your procedure, and it is important that you devote this time to rest. In addition to taking time off work in advance, you will want to pre-arrange for someone to help you around the house for a few days after your thigh lipo procedure. These steps will help you avoid overexerting yourself and putting yourself at risk for injury or complications.
Post-op discomfort, soreness, bruising, and swelling will peak during these initial days of your recovery. You can take over-the-counter and/or prescription pain medication to stay comfortable, as directed by Dr. Emer or Dr. Rojas.
Aftercare instructions
Our doctors provide detailed aftercare instructions for their thigh lipo patients. Be sure to closely follow all post-op directions, which will include how to:
- Care for your incision sites
- Prevent infection
- Wear your compression garments
- Take any prescribed medications
- Accelerate your recovery with a personalized regimen of gentle, restorative therapies
Activity restrictions
You will be advised of appropriate physical activities for each stage of the recovery process during your follow-up appointments. By monitoring how the healing process is progressing, our doctor can provide accurate recommendations for safely returning to your normal routine and activities.
It is crucial that you keep your movements to a minimum for the first few days of your recovery. You will be able to perform light activities, such as sedentary work duties, after one or two weeks of downtime.
Within two to four weeks, you will be encouraged to incorporate low-to-moderate intensity exercise. Once it is safe to do so, taking walks and engaging in other approved exercises will support healthy circulation for optimal healing and aesthetic results. In the weeks to come, increasingly more strenuous activities will be gradually reintroduced until you are back to your normal routine.
Aftercare Tips to Support an Optimal Thigh Liposuction Outcome
Dr. Emer develops patient-tailored aftercare protocols for thigh lipo patients to ease post-op discomfort, promote an expedient recovery, and enhance their results. In his vast experience as an acclaimed body sculptor, he has found that liposuction outcomes can be significantly improved when the patient completes an aftercare protocol that includes:
- IV therapy
- Lymphatic massage
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
- External radiofrequency treatments
- Vibration/shockwave treatments
What to Know About Thigh Liposuction Results
You will notice that your thighs are thinner right away. However, it can take several months for swelling to completely subside. Most patients enjoy the full effect of thigh liposuction three to six months after the procedure.
If you maintain your weight, long-lasting results are possible with this thigh reduction technique. Liposuction permanently reduces the number of fat cells in the treated area, but it cannot stop the remaining fat cells from growing larger and undoing your results if you gain weight.
Since weight management tends to become more challenging as we age, Dr. Emer and Dr. Rojas often advise patients to explore their treatment options with hormonal optimization and/or peptide therapy. These treatments can help counteract age-related declines in hormone production and other biological processes, so your body works with you in your efforts to maintain an ideal weight—rather than working against you.
Thigh Lipo FAQs
Does Thigh Lipo Reduce the Appearance of Cellulite?
It is a common misconception that eliminating fat from the thighs will resolve the dimples and dents known as cellulite. In fact, cellulite is a complicated condition that involves not only fat, but also skin and connective tissue.
Reducing cellulite on the thighs typically demands a combination of treatments. Though thigh lipo cannot correct indentations associated with cellulite to achieve a smooth skin surface, this procedure is often necessary in order for minimally invasive cellulite treatments to produce maximum improvements.
Dr. Emer’s approach to cellulite reduction often incorporates subcision, which he can perform manually or with the Cellfina device. Subcision releases the bands of connective tissue that pull skin inward causing divots and other irregularities across the surface of the skin.
Subcision can provide improvements in the appearance of cellulite, but more dramatic effects can be achieved when remaining indentations are filled using injectable dermal fillers and/or fat grafting. RF therapy can further enhance improvements.
In many cases, cellulite reduction treatments are ineffective unless excess fat and skin in the thigh area is eliminated first. A spiral thigh lift is often an ideal solution, as this procedure can include liposuction of the thighs in addition to surgical skin excision and tissue repositioning.
HD Liposculpture for the Thighs Vs. Thigh Liposuction
Traditional thigh liposuction is intended for bulk fat removal. It can be a good option for patients who desire smaller thighs but have a significant accumulation of unwanted fat in the upper legs.
HD lipo for the thighs is often a preferable approach for patients who are already physically fit but who have not been able to achieve a sculpted, defined look in the thighs that aligns with their athletic physique. In many cases, hormones, aging, or genetics are to blame when fat pockets in the upper legs do not disappear despite the patient’s best efforts to eat an appropriate diet and exercise regularly.
The amount of excess fat that HD thigh lipo patients have tends to be small, but it is enough to keep the thighs looking thick and bulky rather than defined and lean. HD liposculpture is our doctors’ preferred approach for slimming the thighs in these cases.
With HD thigh lipo, multiple lipo methods are frequently used in order to accomplish precision sculpting and dramatic improvements in muscle definition. Fat removal is immediately followed by energy-based treatments that “shrink wrap” the skin to your enhanced contours.
Are There Non-Surgical Options for Reducing Fat in the Thighs?
Non-invasive fat reduction procedures cannot remove the same amount of fat in one treatment as liposuction can. However, Dr. Emer can recommend a personalized protocol involving a series of energy-based treatments and other minimally invasive procedures to yield significant fat reduction and noticeably more sculpted thighs.
Non-surgical fat reduction may be a good option for those who cannot undergo cosmetic surgery due to health issues or an inability to accommodate a week or so of downtime for thigh lipo recovery.
Additionally, patients with small amounts of excess fat in the thighs can often achieve the trimmer, more defined lower body look they desire with a customized combination treatment plan that may include:
- BTL Exilis Ultra – This body shaping device can be used to get rid of fat cells and tighten skin. The BTL Exilis Ultra device employs radiofrequency (RF) energy to destroy fat cells and capitalizes on the collagen-boosting benefits of ultrasound energy to slow and prevent skin laxity.
- BTL Vanquish ME – This no-downtime treatment can permanently eliminate fat from the thighs using externally delivered RF energy.
- BodyTone – While BodyTone does not target fat, it can assist you in reshaping your thighs. This muscle building treatment involves the use of bio-electric stimulation to accelerate muscle growth. Strong, well-developed muscles are essential for firming and defining the thighs to complement the effects of reducing fat in the area.
How We Provide the Best Thigh Liposuction in Beverly Hills
An outstanding body contouring treatment outcome is only possible when the procedure is performed by a knowledgeable and highly trained provider like Dr. Emer or Dr. Rojas. Though liposuction has been around for many years and is a popular cosmetic procedure, do not make the mistake of assuming that any provider you choose has the necessary experience and talent to safely and successfully execute surgical thigh fat removal.
How Much Does Thigh Lipo Cost?
The price of liposuction for the thighs varies in relation to the extent of the procedure, the complexity of the required techniques, and the total length of the surgery. Facility and anesthesia fees apply as well. Detailed information regarding the cost of your procedure will be provided to you after our doctor has developed your treatment plan.
Find Out More About Thigh Liposuction in Beverly Hills
If you are ready to explore your options for getting rid of persistent fat in the thigh area, reach out to our office today to schedule a consultation. We look forward to delivering the incredible results you deserve and incomparable care at every step of the treatment process.