It doesn’t matter what size or shape you are, the arrival of milder weather may also mean a return of the dreaded ‘chub rub’ or thigh chafing, to give it it’s correct (and slightly nicer) name.

Chub rub is caused by the friction of your inner thighs rubbing together, and tends to gets worse during the summer months as sweat makes the skin stick.

In this delicate area, stinging, redness, rashes and inflamed skin can be very real, leaving some unable to walk for days – and it’s not always due to carrying too much fat, it's often just the way you are built.

Fortunately, over the last few years a variety of products have become available to help you manage it, from bands you wear around the top of your thighs, specially designed chub rub shorts, anti-chafe lotions and even antiperspirants that can be sprayed on the top of your thighs.

But what can you do if you don’t want the fiddle of daily management? Perhaps you would prefer to zap the problem at source and slim and tone the inner thigh area on a more permanent basis?

Body sculpting aesthetic treatments can destroy fat cells without surgery and/or tighten the skin. Some treatments work by freezing these cells, while others use heat from radio frequency or ultrasound and work on the deeper layers of the skin and fat.

When looking to treat this area, it’s important to speak to a body contouring expert as not all procedures are made equal, and not all are right for every issue.

We tend to lump cellulite treatments, skin tightening, fat reduction and muscle tightening all into body contouring – you may think cellulite is your problem, but it may in fact be skin tightening that you need.

Each of the following treatments (with the exception of BodyTite), will require up to six sessions, are minimally uncomfortable with no downtime and can be squeezed into a lunch hour.

It’s worth remembering that you'll need to maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine to maintain results. There will still be some fat cells in the areas treated, even with the treatments that destroy the fat cells, which will expand if you gain weight and the chub rub will return.

NuEra Tight

Radio frequency technology is used to destroy fat cells while tightening the skin. “The beauty of this treatment is that it is a skin tightening and fat reduction treatment in one, so ideal for the inner thighs where it’s common for the skin to become loose,” says EV Editorial Panel member Dr Jonquille Chantrey, “it’s also FDA approved for those specific indications.”

VibroSculpt by Endospheres

This is a Compressive Microvibration system which basically means that a roller device with 55 small, silicon spheres is massaged firmly over the skin. Low frequency vibrations improve cellulite and tone loose skin and underlying muscles while reducing fluid retention. Treatments are a little uncomfortable, especially on the inner thighs as this is a sensitive area, and you’re likely to feel a bit tender for a few days after.  

Aqualyx fat dissolving injections

As the pockets of fat that cause chub rub are a relatively small area, Aqualyx injections are a good option. A substance called deoxycholic acid is injected into the area, which dissolves the fat cells that are then flushed out naturally – and permanently – by the body’s lymphatic system.

Expect some swelling post treatment, although the procedure itself is not too painful. “We use a specialised elastic needle, which makes the procedure more comfortable,” says EV Expert Dr Ioannis Liakas of Vie Aesthetics.

Exilis Elite

If you’re somebody who suffers from cellulite, by tackling this you will also theoretically reduce the circumference of your thighs, therefore lessening chub rub. Exilis Elite combines both ultrasound and radio frequency to tackle both cellulite and fat by using heat to destroy fat cells, which are then broken down and disposed of naturally by the body. In addition, the heat helps stimulate collagen and tighten the skin.

BodyTite

Despite all the leaps in technology, fat reduction procedures are not a magic bullet and it’s hard for you or the practitioner to know how much fat you will lose with each treatment. However, this treatment is an up-to-date and gentler form of liposuction so the doctor can see exactly how much fat is being removed. A tiny tube is inserted underneath the skin which delivers radio frequency to melt the fat cells before they are sucked out.

“BodyTite is one of my favourite treatments for targeting the thigh area,” says Dr Liakas. “The liposuction melts the fat away and contours the skin, while the radio frequency firms and tightens the skin, treating the fat and the skin simultaneously. It is also an excellent option for those who may be anxious or nervous about having surgical liposuction."

The treatment has the added benefit of heating the soft tissue and stimulating the production of collagen fibres. Over time, the added collagen helps the skin to tighten. You’ll need to be sedated and are likely to be sore and bruised for a few days afterwards.