Slim, firm, and tighten your thighs
Define and tighten sagging, flabby thighs with thigh lift surgery. Loose skin and excess fat in the thighs can impact clothing choices and everyday activities. Whether weight loss, pregnancy, aging, or genetics have negatively affected the contour of your thighs, you can slim and redefine their appearance with thigh lift surgery.
Any healthy adult with excess skin and/or fat in the thighs may be a candidate for thigh lift surgery. Candidates should have a stable body weight and not be actively trying to lose weight. You may be a candidate for thigh lift surgery if you hope to contour and tone your inner and/or outer thighs.
Thigh lift surgery is performed by surgically removing excess skin and fat from the thighs. The techniques used will depend on the degree of correction needed and range from liposuction alone to the removal of both loose skin and persistent fat. Where skin is removed, the remaining skin is pulled tight to tone and shape the thighs.
You should be in good health and at a stable body weight prior to undergoing this surgery. If you are receiving treatment for any chronic health conditions, you will need to request clearance from your primary care physician. You may also need to get an EKG and basic blood work to evaluate your health in anticipation of a successful procedure and healthy recovery. You will also need to plan for adequate time off work and arrange for assistance during your recovery, especially for activities such as driving, household responsibilities, and childcare.
Most patients can expect to take 1 week off work after thigh lift surgery, possibly more if your job is more physically demanding. It typically takes around 2 to 3 weeks to return to normal daily activities. You will need to limit your time spent sitting for 2 to 4 weeks, and you will need help driving for a few weeks. You may need to seek assistance for basic household responsibilities and childcare, and you will also need to avoid strenuous exertion and exercise for approximately 6 weeks.
Thigh lift scars may run horizontally from the groin around the back of the leg or vertically along the inside of the thigh from the groin to the knee. Due to the location of the incisions, scarring is usually not noticeable in most clothing. Most thigh lift scars fade significantly over time. To ensure that your scars do not darken permanently, minimize sun exposure while your scars are healing.
For patients who do not have prominent loose skin, liposuction alone can be performed to slim the thighs and improve their contour. For patients who have minimal loose skin or fat that is isolated to the upper part of the thigh, the surgical incision may run from the groin around the back of the leg. Both these options have less scarring than a full thigh lift.
For patients who do not have much loose skin, liposuction alone may suffice. For patients with fat and loose skin only in the upper thigh, a surgical incision will be placed in or near the groin and extend around to the back of the leg. For patients with loose skin along the full length of the thighs, the incision will be placed on the inside of the leg from the groin to the knee. For both these techniques, loose skin and persistent fat is removed, and the remaining skin is pulled tight to tone and shape the thighs.
Thigh lift surgery can significantly tighten, tone, and enhance the contour of your thighs. Thighs that “jiggle” and sag will be made smaller, less heavy, and more defined and shapely. This procedure can greatly improve thigh contour and give you a more youthful and slim overall appearance.
If you maintain a healthy lifestyle and stable body weight, your thigh lift results could last for many years, even decades. Future aging may cause some sagginess to return, depending on how you age.
Stephenie Poris, MD sees patients at both the Orlando and Winter Park offices.
