Excess skin is an important factor in a successful liposuction or body contouring procedure, as is the contraction of the skin after the fat is removed. A good rule of thumb is that thicker skin contracts better than thin skin. Areas of the body with thicker skin include the back, outer thighs, and belly. Inner thighs and knees are areas with thinner skin. In addition, the presence of stretch marks and excess or hanging skin suggest that body contouring should include a removal of the extra skin.