Excess skin and stubborn fat on the thighs can cause discomfort and severe chafing and make fitting into clothing difficult. Sometimes diet and exercise are not enough to remove stubborn fat in this region, and poor skin elasticity due to dramatic weight loss prevent excess skin from taking an ideal shape.
A thigh lift improves the shape and contour of the thighs by removing excess skin and fat deposits. This results in smoother, tighter skin and an improved contour. Clothes will fit better and physical activities will be less limited.
The two most common methods are a medial and lateral thigh lift. A medial lift involves an incision in the groin area and recontouring from the groin to the knee. A lateral lift is more extensive and often includes recontouring of the gluteal region. Your surgeon will provide you with the best thigh lift options during your consult.
The effects of a thigh lift are long lasting, as long as weight and a healthy lifestyle are maintained. Scarring varies depending on incision placement, extent of the procedure and method being used. Although recovery time varies among individuals, patients can expect to resume normal activities within 2-3 weeks after surgery.
When to consider a thigh lift:
• Dramatic weight loss has left excess skin on the thigh region
• Fitting into clothes is difficult due to heavy thighs
• More proportional shape, improved contour desired
Other cosmetic procedures that may be performed with a thigh lift include:
• Liposuction
• Gluteal lift
• Brachioplasty (arm lift)
