Thighplasty

Thigh lift surgery reshapes the thighs by reducing excess skin and fat, resulting in smoother skin and better-proportioned contours of the thighs and lower body.

If fitness and weight control 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 thigh lift surgery can'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 thigh lift along with liposuction may be recommended.

Who is a good candidate for thigh lift surgery?

In general, candidates for a thigh lift are:

People whose weight is relatively stable
Individuals with excess soft tissue along the inner (medial) thigh region and/or the outer (lateral) thigh
Healthy individuals who do not have medical conditions that impair healing or increase risk of surgery
Nonsmokers
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 are the risks of thigh lift surgery?

The decision to have plastic surgery is extremely personal, and you'll have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications of thigh lift surgery are acceptable.

Your plastic surgeon and/or staff will explain in detail the risks associated with surgery. You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure and any risks and potential complications.

Possible thigh lift surgery risks include:

Anesthesia risks
Poor wound healing
Bleeding
Infection
Fluid accumulation (seroma)
Major wound separation
Asymmetry
Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
Fatty tissue under the skin might die (fat necrosis)
Persistent pain
Skin discoloration and/or swelling
Skin loss
Sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin, become visible or produce irritation that require removal
Unfavorable scarring
Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
Recurrent looseness of skin
Possibility of revisionary surgery

These risks and others will be fully discussed prior to your consent. It's important that you address all your questions directly with your plastic surgeon.

What are the steps of a thigh lift procedure?

A thigh lift procedure includes the following steps:

Step 1 – 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.

Step 2 – The incision

Incision patterns vary based on the area or areas to be treated, degree of correction and patient and surgeon preference.

Inner thigh lift incision

One technique used for a thigh lift places incisions in the groin, extending downward and wrapping around the back of the thigh.

Another technique removes excess skin from the groin down to the knee using an incision along the inseam.

You may also qualify for a minimal incision inner thigh lift that involves an incision only in the groin area. Your plastic surgeon will determine what's appropriate.

Outer thigh lift incision

Improving the contours of the outer thigh may require an incision extending from the groin around the hip and across the back.

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 sutures within underlying tissues help to form and support the newly shaped contours. Sutures, skin adhesive tapes or clips may be used to close the skin incisions.

Step 4 – See the results

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