Fed up with my thighs...surgery?

[Mumofthreecheekyboys]

AMBU to consider surgery?!

I'm fed up with my chunky thighs! They don't match the rest of my body which is petite/slim/toned.

I dared to order some pants online (bi-stretch skinny by Gap, as advertised on Mums Swear By), went for a size 10. They are tight around my thighs but way to big around my waist. It always goes like this...I'm fed up with it!

I'm about 5ft 3, weigh 8st, 2lb. I'm at my ideal weight (3rd baby is 3 months old, lost the baby weight gain quite easily), I exercise regularly, eat reasonably healthily, drink moderately (does half a bottle of red most nights count as moderately? another topic maybe...)...and FED UP WITH MY THIGHS!

As a Mum of three, (6,4 & 3 months) I haven't got much time to go shopping, I want to be able to fit in regular clothes without having to get them amended by a seamstress!

I am happy with the rest of my body (don't think I can loose a lot more weight?!). AIBU to consider plastic surgery?
Has anyone had surgery to get a slimmer thighs/a thigh-gap?
Has it worked out? How much would it cost?
Any alternative options? (I exercise already; have done for many years. Cardio/weights/flexibility. If anything, exercise has made my legs stronger, not slimmer)
Help!!x

Your thighs can't be that big if you only weigh 8 stone 2. I expect your bmi is low.

It's all relative isn't it but unless you have a very unusual shape I think you would be mad to consider surgery. And you manage to excercise with three small children - that's amazing. I'm sure your body shape will change in time anyway. At least let your body adjust for a couple of years after giving birth.

I am not young (40), and not impressionable (don't read beauty mags, don't care about fashion). I am not particularly vain I don't think. I have battled with my body shape since I am a teenager. It is hard trying clothes on (on the rare occasion I can go shopping nowadays), and NEVER being able to fit into trousers/jeans.
What's so wrong with considering doing something about it?
And yes, I do have other things to worry about with a three month old baby..maybe I should just get back to reading baby related items instead of wasting any thoughts on myself.

Mumofthreecheekyboys I'd ignore those banging on about just loving your body. If something is upsetting you there's nothing wrong with "fixing it".

Hi Strong, no it was in Windsor. My friend had her stomach frozen at the same time but that also made no noticeable difference.

Thanks Pufflemum, I'll forget that idea then!!! Thank you

Thigh gaps are overrated. I have one and have been busting my ass squatting with weights to try to get rid of it for about a month now. I hate it. I put my phone on my lap whilst sitting down and it slips straight through. all my jeans just hang off my thighs and knees and it looks so unattractive. I can't get the size down either because then they wouldn't fit my waist.

Have you been doing thigh specific exercises? General all over exercise will do little to help with specific problem areas. I would look into getting a personal trainer or even just get a targeted routine going (there's lots online you can try) for a few months before I would even consider surgery, personally.

I had surgery because I have always hated my thighs. I couldn't have lipo as I didn't have any fat there, it was just excess skin. Exercise would never have helped, I could have done a million squats but it wouldn't have made a difference.

All I will say is research it properly. I didn't really do enough to be honest and although I am happy enough with the results, I still hate my legs as I think my expectations were too great . I was expecting to end up with legs like a supermodels but of course they aren't lol. Recovery was a lot longer than I was initially told and I had a few complications (that area is one of the worse to recover from as it's in such a delicate area) and although if I had my time again I would probably still have it done.....I would have just been better informed. It's not cheap either, my thigh lift cost 4 k. Also, you will have scars.......so yeah think very carefully and do your homework before you make any decisions.

No.
Most people find it hard to find trousers that fit. you just have to try lots on.

Thanks everyone (well, to almost everyone) who has responded so far. I will catch up with the thread tonight (my usual bedtime reading before falling asleep, exhausted!). I've got to get back to baby-life now.

OP - I sympathise as I also hate my thighs (in my case it's arms too - I just have chunky limbs!) Even when I have been so skinny that my ribs have been showing and I looked ill, my thighs were still large.

You have every right to want to feel good about yourself. Liposuction comes with risks and doesn't always work - if your body stores fat on your legs, it will continue to do so post Lipo but the shape may be odder and Moreno unnatural. I agree with PP who suggested laser lipo as a first port of call.

I am sure you are objectively gorgeous but it's about self image and if you're not happy YANBU to consider doing something about it. You're an adult and can consider the risks and benefits yourself so good luck to you whatever you decide.

PS I'm not being glib as I know it's not the point but I've had no kids and would kill to be 8st2lb!

Spinning!!! I have exactly the same shape that you describe and have over the years tried everything to try to slim down my "athletic" thighs! Dieting leaves me with a skeletal top half before I see any change at all below (not pretty; my DH can't bear it). Since taking up spinning - I try to do at least 3 sessions a week and have done, relatively consistently for the last 3 months - I LOVE my thighs and I've never felt fitter (am 42), more toned or better proportioned (and have done a fair amount of team sport and personal training in my time..).

These are not the Bambi legs I always thought I wanted but so much better and definitely more sustainable. I now look with pity at twigletty 'hungry' legs! Apologies for the evangelical spiel - clearly still on an endorphin high from my last class but really worth a try if you can before considering surgery...

Ah - just saw you have a 3 month old baby! Give yourself a break, look after yourself, enjoy your little one....and in 3 months' time, join a gym with a creche and spin classes!

Don't spend the money on surgery, find a good alterations place for your clothes.

I have the same type of body, smaller than average waist but weight on my thighs. I buy trousers to fit my legs then alter the waist band, a good waist to hip ratio is very attractive in MHO.

I had a friend who had laser lipolysis (I think, I'll check) she was petite and slim and felt her thighs were out of proportion.

They look great now ( disclaimer, only seen them in jeans) slim but not weirdly so. No thigh gap, but she seems happy. She is a sensible, non obsessive woman, so didn't go into it lightly. I'm chunky of leg myself, but find cutting carbs helps with me. They're still sturdy but not as bad.

Are thigh gaps something to do with childhood rickets or did I dream that?

This thread makes me think of this ad. Note the body on the right was the desirable one in the 1950s (not that long ago). Not the one with the thigh gap on the left.

Don't judge your legs by Gap! I can't even get my calf muscles into their trousers.

You can't spot reduce. You need to drop bodyfat all over if you want your thighs to balance. For me, I lose it on the arms (good), face (bad), collarbone (ick) and then lose on the abdomen, arse and thighs. They go last. It's just the way of it.

To be honest if you're drinking half a bottle of wine a night you're not exactly in the healthy eating camp and I think you'd be surprised at how many calories you take in each day - give it a go for a few days, track your intake. I found I was eating too much cereal, for example, and my little snacks were adding up to hundreds of cals. Once I dropped to a sensible 1500 a day (balanced carbs/protein/fat, lots of exercise as I weightlift), I got the body I wanted.

Exercise will strengthen you and give the muscles a great shape but without dropping the fat layer, you can't see it. I'd suggest losing a little weight (just cutting out the drinking should help) but honestly, you'll probably lose it off your thighs last.

Thank you so much, all, for your comments - the judgemental ones and the constructive ones alike. All of it was excellent reading, and, more than I expected in response to me first thread ever! :)
Maybe I'll respond more from now on, rather than just quietly reading, moments before falling asleep. It's good fun - if not a bit time consuming (hence I'm up later than usual even...not got stuff done today!).

In summary of the topic: I will most likely just send the blooming Gap pants back and be done with it. My trusted old gym pants that I've had for over 10 years fit me perfectly and they still are in (surprisingly) good shape. I'm sure they'll struggle through maybe 3 more years until my youngest gets his 15 hours of free childcare and I may hit the shops with steely determination to try as many pants on as it takes to find some that somewhat fit.
Laser lipo? I hadn't heard of that before. I will research a bit.
The alterations/seamstress suggestion is a good point. I've done it before, it does work quite well.
Exercise. Niskayuna, you are quite right. Spot-reducing does not work. I do know what I'm talking about regarding exercise. There is no exercise regime that will change bulky/strong thighs into slim/lean ones. Not pilates either. I haven't tried spinning, it's not really my thing. But it's great if it has worked for you, myusernameisbob!
Drinking. I don't think, drinking a large glass and half of red wine, with dinner and a bit after, is that bad. And I'm not bothered about the calories, Niskayuna. I'd rather have a glass of wine than a big pudding or packet of crips after dinner, any day. But everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

And finally, a little tip for my fellow chunky-thigh-sufferers:
Do your thighs sweatily rub together when you're on holiday in a hot country? It's awful, isn't it. I wear men's boxer shorts under skirts/dresses, the ones with a bit longer leg. They hide quite well and your thighs stay blissfully apart! ;)

Farewell, lovely Mums-netters!xxx