Thigh Lift | West Plastic Surgery

Thigh Lift Procedure

PROCEDURE OVERVIEW

*Content provided by the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS)

What is a Thigh Lift?

If fitness and weight loss efforts have not helped you achieve your goals for a body that is firmer, more youthful-looking and more proportionate to your overall body image, a surgical thigh lift may be right for you.

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.

In general, candidates for a 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 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

What It 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:

The Procedure:

Step 1 – Anesthesia
Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. The options include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best option for you.

Step 2 – 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. The underlying tissue matrix will be reshaped and tightened, and skin will be reduced and re-draped resulting in more proportionate and smoother body contours. You may qualify for a minimal incision medial thigh lift that involves an incision only in the groin area. Your surgeon will determine what’s appropriate.

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.

Step 3 – Closing the Incisions
Deep support sutures within underlying tissues help to form the newly shaped contours. Sutures close the skin incisions.

Step 4 – See Results

The smoother, tighter contouring that results from a thigh lift is apparent almost immediately, although initially obscured by 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. Following a thigh lift, skin quality is dramatically improved both in appearance and feel.