What is a thigh lift?
Thigh lift surgery reshapes the thighs by reducing excess skin, and in some cases fat, resulting in smoother skin and better-proportioned contours of the thighs and lower body.
If fitness and weight loss efforts have not achieved your goals for a body that is firmer, more youthful-looking and more proportionate to your overall body image, a surgical lift may be right for you.
What a thigh lift won’t do
Thigh lifts are not intended strictly for the removal of excess fat. Liposuction alone can remove excess fat deposits where skin has good elasticity and is able to naturally conform to new body contours.
In cases where skin elasticity is poor, a combination of liposuction and thigh lift techniques may be recommended.
Thigh lift procedural steps
A thigh lift procedure includes the following steps:
- Anesthesia – Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedures. The options include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best option for you.
- The Incision – Incision patterns vary based on the area or areas to be treated, degree of correction and patient and surgeon preference. One common technique used for a thigh lift places incisions in the groin, extending downward and wrapping around the back of the thigh.
Medial thigh lift incision
Improving the contours of the outer thigh may require an incision extending from the groin around the hip.
Advanced techniques usually allow incisions to be placed in strategic locations where they can be hidden by most types of clothing and swimsuits. However, incisions may be extensive.
Outer thigh lift incision
- Closing the Incisions – Deep support sutures within underlying tissues help to form the newly shaped contours. Sutures close the skin incisions.
- See the Results – The smoother tighter contouring that result from a thigh lift are apparent almost immediately, although initially obscured by swelling and bruising.
Preparing for thigh lift surgery
In preparing for thigh lift surgery, you may be asked to:
- Get lab testing or a medical evaluation
- Take certain medications or adjust your current medications
- Stop smoking
- Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding
Thigh lift surgery will be performed in an accredited hospital.
If your thigh lift is performed on an outpatient basis, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery and to stay with you for at least the first night following surgery.
