Thigh lift

WHO IS A GOOD CANDIDATE?

A thigh lift is good for addressing excess skin and fat around the inner thighs and for lifting sagging skin around the knees. If only a small amount of skin resection is required, the scar usually is well hidden in the groin area and is called a short scar thigh lift; however, it can extend down the inner thigh if more tissue resection is required. A thigh lift is often done after a large amount of weight loss as the thinner skin of the inner thigh is not very elastic. Weight loss can lead to "crepey" or wrinkling skin on the thighs that is not improved with exercise.

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THE PROCEDURE

A thigh lift is done under general anesthesia at an outpatient surgery center. The surgery takes about 2 hours, and the incision is either hidden in the groin alone if the excess skin is mild, and through a more extensive incision that travels the length of the medial thigh from groin to knee if there is more skin that needs to be removed both in a vertical and horizontal direction. Skin and fat are removed, and sometimes liposuction is done as well. There is usually 1 drain on each side that stays in for about 2-3 weeks with the longer incision thigh lift. Incisions are closed with dissolvable sutures and glue, and outer dressings consist of ACE wraps or compressive garments.

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RECOVERY

Since the legs are used on an everyday basis, recovery can be challenging the first couple of days and patients will often need assistance getting up and around the first 48-72 hours. Patients are advised not to stretch the incisions for at least 2 weeks, and to avoid lifting more than 5lbs for 4-6 weeks.