Thigh Lift Cosmetic Surgery

Inner Thigh Lift: Medial thighplasty

When you've done leg lifts every day for the last several weeks and can't lose weight or tighten the skin, consider Thigh Lift surgery. Most people forget that a Thigh Lift helps tighten loose skin, which even thin people can have.

Patients who would like tighter, more youthful looking thighs may benefit from a surgical procedure such known as a Thigh Lift. In many cases, patients have experienced a large weight loss, resulting in a "saggy" appearance to the skin-a Thigh Lift can help patients achieve the look they had in mind when they decided to lose weight. A surgical Thigh Lift removes skin that has lost its elasticity, improving the overall appearance of the thigh area, although often focusing specifically on the inner thigh.

Thigh Lift can greatly enhance and improve the shape of the thigh and buttocks area. A Thigh Lift is a cosmetic surgical procedure that provides a safe and effective means to achieve a patient’s aesthetic goals. Often after significant weight loss or as a result of the natural aging process, a person may develop baggy or loose skin and/or excess fat in the thigh area. A patient may also be concerned about wrinkles, folds, excess fat, and cellulite in the upper thigh area. A Thigh Lift can address these issues in order to provide a firmer and more youthful appearance and contour of the thigh and buttocks region.

The procedure

Excess fat and hanging skin is removed from the upper, inner thigh through an incision placed at the junction of the thigh with the groin beneath the bikini line. However, for individuals with more severe thigh contour problems, an incision may also be necessary which extends from the groin area along the inside of the thigh down to the knee. Excess fat is removed through liposuction. A crescent of skin is removed from the groin, then the tissues below the incision are loosened and the "Thigh Lift" takes place as the skin is pulled up and the incision sutured shut. Deep stitches are used in the Thigh Lift to secure the skin to ligament and bone, preventing sagging as the incisions heals. Drainage tubes may be inserted to prevent excess fluids after the Thigh Lift surgery, which will require personal home care for up to two weeks and are usually removed within a few days. A compression garment may be required for several weeks after surgery.

Thigh Lifts require general anesthesia, and can be combined with other related procedures, such as tummy tucks and liposuction. A Thigh Lift surgery alone usually takes around two hours to complete. Following a surgical Thigh Lift, most patients experience minimal pain that is easily controlled with medication. Any swelling is usually gone within two or three weeks and there is rarely bruising associated with Thigh Lift surgery. Patients should expect to be off from work for around a week, although most individuals are able to get up and move around within a few days of the Thigh Lift. The sutures will come out within a week to ten days, and the results of the Thigh Lift are almost immediately available.

A good candidate for a Thigh Lift procedure is a patient who is in good physical and emotional health. For many patients, dieting and exercise efforts have either caused, or failed to remedy, their aesthetic concerns in the thigh area. When a patient has succeeded in losing a significant amount of weight, they may be faced with saggy of excess skin in certain areas of the body. A Thigh Lift can be complimentary to weight loss, allowing a patient to achieve the look they desire. It is important for a Thigh Lift patient to have a realistic idea of what this body contouring procedure can- and cannot- do for them.

This procedure may be done alone or in conjunction with an abdominoplasty or liposuction to achieve a patient’s desired look. The Thigh Lift procedure itself typically takes about two hours. A patient typically benefits from an overnight stay in the hospital after a Thigh Lift, though in some cases the patient can return home a few hours after the procedure.

When a Thigh Lift targets the inner thigh, an inconspicuous incision is made in the bikini area to access the extra skin and fat of the area. When the tight lift targets the outer thigh and buttocks region, the incision may extend up the groin to the back and will later be hidden by a bikini. A crescent of skin will be excised from the area and the skin will be made tight and sewn to prevent later sagging. If fat removal is necessary, Thigh Lift surgery may also include liposuction.

After the surgery

After a Thigh Lift, it is common for a patient to experience some degree of swelling, bruising, and discomfort. These symptoms are temporary and can often be mitigated with pain medications and proper rest. A Thigh Lift patient’s activities will also be restricted for a short period after surgery. A patient will usually be able to return to work after two weeks and may resume exercise after four. After a Thigh Lift, it is crucial for a patient to comply with all after-surgery care instructions provided by their experienced plastic surgeon.

If you're severely overweight, you're probably not a good candidate for outer and inner Thigh Lift surgery either because the fat tends to be congealed. Liposuction, gastric bypass surgery or a severe diet and exercise program are your first alternatives. If the fat just hangs around the thighs and exercise won't make your legs lean and sexy, you may choose liposuction rather than Thigh Lift surgery. Also, if you have varicose veins or diabetes, diet and exercise may be a better alternative.