What is a Thigh Lift?
The thigh lift is a cosmetic surgery procedure designed to tighten the skin of the thigh and reduce sagging in the inner or outer thigh. A thigh lift, also known as thighplasty, is a surgical procedure that improves the contour of the thighs and buttocks using lifting and tightening loose skin in the area. The procedure may be recommended to patients who have excess and loose skin in the thighs due to a large amount of weight loss or previous liposuction procedures. A thigh lift is not a substitute for a healthy weight loss program that includes a nutritious, low-calorie diet and exercise. Rather, it is used after the weight loss is complete when resulting sags and dimples in the skin must be addressed.
There are a number of different procedures to meet the needs of specific areas of the thigh. All may be helpful to patients who want to improve the contour of the thigh and get rid of excess, sagging skin after losing a significant amount of weight. Which procedure should be used will often be decided by the cosmetic surgeon after a thorough examination of the area and a discussion with the patient about the expected outcome of the surgery. The 3 most common ones are:
- Inner Thigh Lift
An inner thigh lift targets the skin around the inner thigh, and is often the procedure of choice for patients who are dealing with sagging skin as the result of significant weight loss or due to the aging process. - Medial Thigh Lift
This procedure addresses the skin on the upper part of the inner thigh. In this procedure, the incision generally runs from the groin area around the inside of the leg to the crease of the buttock. This type of thigh lift is most often performed under a general anesthesia. - Bilateral Thigh Lift
The bilateral thigh lift targets the area from the outside of the thigh to the front of the thigh. The incision is usually made at the top of the leg and the surgeon aims to follow the line of a bathing suit or underwear so that the scar may be hidden from view.
