Thigh Lift Surgery

Medial and Lateral Thigh Lifts

A thigh lift 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.

Thigh lifts address irregularities of the medial thigh or the lateral thigh and frequently both. If skin excess in these areas is not a concern, then simply using liposuction can be beneficial in itself. However, in most patients there is some degree if skin excess, usually from weight loss, and this needs to be addressed with skin excision.

Is it right for me?

Candidates for thigh lift are:

• People whose weight is relatively stable
• Individuals with excess soft tissue along the inner or medial thigh region and/or the outer thigh
• Healthy individuals who do not have medical conditions that can impair healing or increase risk of surgery
• Non-smokers
• Individuals with a positive outlook and realistic goals for what thigh lift surgery can accomplish
• Individuals committed to leading a healthy lifestyle including proper nutrition and fitness

Anesthesia

Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedures. These procedures are usually done under general anesthesia.

Medial Thigh lift

A medial thigh lift places incisions in the groin, extending downward wrapping around the back of the thigh. The underlying tissue matrix will be reshaped and tightened, and skin will be reduced and redraped resulting in more proportionate and smoother body contours. Liposuction is performed at the same time to reduce the girth of the thigh.

You may qualify for a minimal incision medial thigh lift which involves an incision only in the groin area. Your surgeon will determine what’s appropriate.

Lateral Thigh Lift

A lateral thigh lift tightens excess skin and removes excess fat from the lateral thigh. It is done using an incision along the natural waist and hip contour. This incision frequently matches the incision used in tummy tuck procedure so it can be used simultaneously or as part of a staged procedure. Liposuction is also frequently added to this procedure to reduce the girth of the thighs.

Recovery

Recovery following this procedure is usually 4-6 weeks. For this period, one must limit any excess physical activity. There is a gradual return to normal activities, starting with sedentary ones, and progressing gradually to full excercise.

The Results

The smoother tighter contouring that result from a thigh lift are apparent almost immediately, although initially obscured by some swelling and bruising.

You may be required to wear a compression garment for several weeks following your procedure to minimize swelling and support the tissues as they heal.

Some visible scars will remain, but the overall results are long lasting, provided that you maintain a stable weight and general fitness.

Related Posts