Is There Such a Thing As Thigh Lift?
For all of the joy that comes with intentional weight loss, there is one rather sizable drawback. Loose skin.
Much of the focus on TV and in publications has been on abdominoplasty (a.k.a. “tummy tuck”) to rid the abdominal area of loose skin. But what if you experience a lot of your weight loss in your thighs and are left with loose skin there?
Fortunately, there IS such a thing as thigh lift.
So How Does a Thigh Lift Work?
There are basically two kinds of thigh lifts (known medically as thighplasty).
If vertical laxity is the primary issue, the thigh lift is performed through an incision in the groin area. The scar from the incision is usually hidden in the crease. This is referred to as a transverse minimal or short scar thigh lift.
In other cases where there is circumferential laxity, the thigh lift is performed using an incision that begins at the groin, but then extends down toward the knee. This procedure is known as full scar, or “hockey stick”, and allows for tightening of the thigh circumference.
Both procedures are medial thigh lifts and serve to lift the skin while fat and excess skin are removed.
The Addition of Other Procedures
While thighplasty can be performed on anyone feeling discouraged by extra skin around the thighs, there are occasions where the surgeon may recommend additional procedures to ensure complete integrity of the thigh lift.
In many cases, liposuction is used in conjunction with thighplasty to contour the the knee area, internal thigh area, and saddle bags.
Also, patients with heavier legs achieve the best results when debulking liposuction is performed six months before the thigh lift. This is because performing liposuction of the medial thigh while simultaneously excising skin from that same area will almost always result in problems with wound healing and deliver less aesthetic results.
With patients who have experienced massive weight loss, many surgeons prefer to establish mid-body surgeries such as lower body lift, abdominoplasty, and mastopexy first. They will then proceed at a later date with an extremity skin lift surgery such as thighplasty.
After Surgery
Recovery time will, of course, depend on all of the above factors.
Pain from the thighplasty procedure though is usually minimal and easily managed with medication. Patients do need to rest and avoid excessive leg movement as much as possible in the first week after the procedure.
Most patients can return to work after a week, with bruising and swelling generally gone within the month. Within a few months, they can return to their regular activities.
Celebrate a Leaner and Healthier You
You don’t have to accept the extra skin on your thighs from weight loss as merely a troubling side effect.
Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss which sort of thigh lift is right for you. And make your transformation complete.