For more than a year social media has been abuzz about the phenomenon called thigh gap – the negative space between one’s legs. Truly, this is a trendy new name for the age-old pursuit of attractive thighs that do not rub together.

Sometimes healthy diet and targeted exercise can sculpt a thigh gap. However, genetics, specifically your hip width and pelvic shape, will stay the same no matter how much weight you lose.

If you are a normal weight with good skin tone, plastic surgical procedures to create a thigh gap can be effective regardless of body type. Liposuction to the inner thigh can enhance your silhouette and decrease rubbing and chafing. Thigh lift surgery removes excess skin and fat from your thighs, minimizing dimples produced by cellulite.

A consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon will help determine how much of a thigh gap can be achieved, and the best procedure for your body type. It’s important to remember your shape is unique, and while improvement can be achieved by all, the level of improvement varies based on individual body make up.

Vanessa Voge, MD, is a board-certified plastic surgeon and medical director of Plastic Surgical Specialists, a subdivision of Wichita Surgical Specialists, P.A. Dr. Voge provides personalized cosmetic plastic surgery on the body, breast, face and skin.