Restore shapely thighs by addressing sagging skin

Restore a shapely thigh contour

Still hiding your thighs, despite reaching a healthy weight? Weight loss or aging may leave you with excess skin in the thighs, creating uncomfortable chafing and concealing your true shape. A thigh lift removes excess skin and refashions the thighs for a leaner, proportional look.

What is a thigh lift?

A thigh lift improves the appearance of one's legs by removing excess fat, tissue, and skin from the inner or outer thighs. Also referred to as thighplasty, this procedure is often performed following extreme weight loss and is one of many post-bariatric cosmetic surgery procedures available at Rich & Humenansky Plastic Surgery of the Face and Body.

Types of thigh lifts

During your initial consultation, we will examine you and determine which thigh lift technique will be appropriate to address your needs. The most common incision placements are inner or outer thigh, but some patients may get excellent results with a small groin incision:

• Inner thigh lift (medial thigh lift): Incisions are placed vertically along the inner thigh to tighten this area

• Outer thigh lift (lateral thigh lift): Incisions are placed horizontally along the buttocks to tighten both the buttocks and the outer thighs

• Mini thigh lift: Incisions are hidden within the groin in order to tighten the skin in the upper insides of the thighs
  
  

Your thigh lift procedure

This two to the four-hour procedure can be performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation.

During the procedure, your surgeon removes excess skin and tissue to help reshape your thighs. In some cases, liposuction may be used within the procedure to remove fat.

Thigh lifts are sometimes combined with lower body lifts (circumferential body lifts), which address sagging skin from the waist down to the thighs.

What to expect during thigh lift recovery

Thigh lift recovery requires dedication, as your incisions will need to be carefully protected while you heal. Be sure a friend or family member is available to stay with you the first few days after surgery and help you around the house. While it is job-dependent, most patients take about two weeks before returning to work. You may be able to resume errands after about a week.

You will need to sleep with your legs bent, which is important for protecting your incisions. Bruising and swelling can persist for several weeks. To reduce swelling, you will wear a compression garment while you are healing. Your surgeon will advise you when to resume strenuous exercise or exertion. After several months, swelling and bruising will subside, and you can enjoy your final results. A permanent scar will remain where your incisions were placed; however, scars tend to fade with time.

Call us today at (803) 799-3223 or contact us online to schedule your consultation and learn whether you may be a good candidate for a thigh lift.