Thigh Lift

Loose skin and residual fatty tissue in the upper and inner thigh region is common after weight loss. We offer several procedures to deal with this problem. In some cases, if you still have extra fatty tissue present, we may recommend doing liposuction first to de-bulk the area. This can then be followed by a thigh lift several months later if needed. Sometimes the liposuction is combined at the same time as the thigh lift. At your consultation, we will examine the thighs carefully and determine what procedure is right for you.

There are several types of thigh lifts. A medial or inner thigh lift is commonly used to tighten the skin and remove excess fat from the inner thigh region. In some cases the medial thigh lift is combined with a butt lift. This combination procedure is called a spiral lift. The spiral lift is best suited for patients with a sagging buttock, poorly defined buttocks fold and loose skin and fat in the inner thigh region.

The Procedure

This procedure is performed under general anesthesia in the hospital. Patients are typically admitted overnight for observation and pain control and then discharged the following day.

The incisions are placed in your normal skin creases where possible. The incision is made in the inner crease of the leg. On excessively large legs, this incision may extend down the inner aspect of the leg to the knee. After the excess skin and fat is removed, the incisions are closed with dissolvable sutures and drains are usually placed to remove excess fluid that accumulates in the first week after surgery. The incisions are covered with cloth and foam tape and a compression garment placed to minimize swelling and maximize improvement in contour.

Recovery

The drains and tape are usually removed one week after surgery. Sometimes the drains may need to stay in longer if your body is producing excess fluid from inflammation after surgery. The compression garment may need to be worn for up to four weeks.

Pain is typically well controlled on oral pain medications. Expected recovery is between one to two weeks. It is important to begin walking the day after surgery to prevent blood clots from forming in the deep veins of the leg. You can resume light exercise after two weeks and more vigorous exercise after six weeks.

Some bruising is normal after surgery. This usually goes away in the first few weeks. Your incisions will be noticeable immediately following surgery but they will gradually fade and flatten for up to a year after surgery. You will also have some puckering around the incision after surgery. This will smooth out over a month or two. If your skin has a lot of stretch marks or is extremely thin, this is a sign of poor skin elasticity. Patients with poor skin elasticity may be more prone to widening of the scar after surgery. A small percentage of patients will require a scar revision to improve the appearance of the scars. Your skin will also be firm and numb at the outset. It will soften and normal sensation will return gradually over the following weeks to months.

Possible Complications

There are potential complications associated with having any surgery including bleeding, prolonged bruising and swelling, infection, temporary or permanent numbness, weakness and unfavorable scarring as previously mentioned. Infection or collections of blood or fluid in the wound may delay recovery and could result in skin loss, fat wasting or pronounced scarring. This could result in the need for additional corrective surgery. The thigh and buttocks skin is stretched during surgery and post-operatively during function. The blood supply to the skin may be compromised or damaged as a result which could lead to wound breakdown or skin loss. If this happens and the wound does not heal favorably on its own, a scar revision or skin graft may be needed.

Although these complications are relatively rare, wound problems are much more likely with patients who smoke. Therefore, we require patients who use tobacco products to completely quit for a minimum of four-to-six weeks before and after thigh lift surgery.

Overall, the procedure provides very gratifying results with immediate reduction of the excess skin and fat and improved contour. The type and amount of lift recommended will be identified at your consult.