If weight loss and exercise haven’t help you to get a better proportioned and youthful body, a thigh lift may be the solution you are looking for. This kind of surgery reshapes the thighs by removing excess skin and fat; these changes may improve your body image and will give you more self-confidence.

What is the thigh lift?

The thigh lift is a surgical procedure meant to improve the contour of the thighs. Usually this surgery modifies the inner thighs, the outer thighs or both by repositioning the supportive structures and excising the skin excess. The result is a more youthful, smoother skin.

Among the possible causes contributing to thigh contour irregularities and localized skin excess we include:

- weight fluctuations caused by pregnancy;
- weight loss following bariatric surgery;
- genetic factors influencing skin elasticity including dimpled, irregular skin, commonly known as cellulite;
- aging;
- sun damage and other environmental factors that induce skin aging;
- childhood and adolescence obesity that cause a premature skin tone loss.

The thigh lift may be appropriate to those with a constant weight, suited to their height.

This procedure can be performed on adults of any age that have realistic purposes related to their body image.

The best candidates are healthy, non-smokers individuals who have a soft tissue excess at their inner thighs, outer thighs or both.

Where do I begin?

A consultation with your plastic surgeon is the first step to discover how a thigh lift may improve your body image. You will be fully informed about the surgical options, possible risks, complications and results; according to your wishes, your doctor will recommend you the most appropriate treatment.

Evaluation

Your overall health and general aspect may greatly influence the outcome of your surgery. For best results it is necessary to sincerely share your expectations, fully disclose your medical history, any previous treatments, the use of alcohol, recreational drugs or tobacco; it is important to follow exactly your doctors’ advices.

Make sure your surgeon is a board-certified member of the Romanian Association of Plastic Surgeons.

My thigh lift

The surgical procedure will be individualized to your condition. Your surgeon will treat the following aspects:

- areas of skin laxity;
- localized fat deposits;
- contour irregularities, dimpled skin (cellulite).

The lift may address the inner, outer thigh or both.

A thigh lift is the only body contouring method that may restore shape and skin tone. The length and incision pattern depend on the amount and location of skin excess to be removed but also on surgeon’s personal preferences and judgement. To treat the inner thighs the incisions are made in the inguinal region and extended downward on the inside of the thigh to the knee. To treat the outer thigh it is necessary to extend the incision from the groin (inguinal) area towards the hip and buttock in a bikini pattern.

Using these incisions your plastic surgeon will reshape your thighs. Excess fat can be excised or liposuctioned. The underlying support structures will be tightened, the excess skin will be removed or redraped for a better contour.

The thigh lift may be associated with other procedures performed simultaneously or separately like liposuction, buttock lift, abdominoplasty, breast lift, reduction mammoplasty. Not every patient is a good candidate for a combined procedure.

The results of your thigh lift are visible immediately, although initially are obscured by bruises and edema. It will be necessary that you wear a compression garment for a few weeks after surgery to minimize swelling and support the tissues as they heal.

Preparing for surgery

The plastic surgeon will inform you about every aspect of the operation. You will be instructed about any necessary lab tests, any recommended medicines and the chosen type of anaesthesia.

You will be asked to sign an informed consent in order to assure your surgeon that you fully understand the procedure with all the possible risks and complications. Among the possible risks are bleeding, developing an infection, alterations in local skin sensibility. Any surgical procedure comes along with anaesthetic risks.

What to expect?

The thigh lifting procedures require hospitalization for 2 or 3 days. Usually is performed under general anaesthesia, but it can be done also using local anaesthesia and sedation.

After surgery

After completing the surgery, the incisions are covered with dressings. An elastic garment will help minimize the edema and will support the new shape as you heal. Sometimes drains are inserted to evacuate any fluid or blood collections underneath the skin.
At discharge, you will be instructed about any local wound care, necessary medication to help the healing process or to reduce the risk of infection and also about follow-up visits.

The healing process

In the first days following surgery you will feel some swelling and discomfort at the incisions. These can be controlled with medication. You will be advised to return to walking as soon as possible to minimise the risk of developing blood clots or other complications.

You have to avoid physical effort; otherwise, you will strain the internal sutures. It is also recommended for you to sleep with your knees elevated on pillows. You should be able to return to light activity in 2 or 3 weeks after surgery.

The incisions heal in 14 days; sutures will be removed, if necessary. Numbness in certain thigh areas will get better in time. It is necessary to avoid sun exposure or to use sun screen for 6 months following surgery, otherwise you may develop hyperpigmented scars. It may take up to one year until your scars refine.

Results

The result of your thigh lift is immediately visible but it may take up to one year to reach the final aspect. The scars, although permanent, can be hidden by a swimsuit. If you’ll maintain your weight and general fitness, your body image improvement will be long-lasting.

Your surgeon, your choice

The decision to have cosmetic or reconstructive surgery is important, as well as choosing the right surgeon. Not all the doctors performing these procedures are plastic surgeons. Make sure your doctor is a board- certified plastic surgeon, member of the Romanian Plastic Surgeons Association.