Thigh lift
Women dread dimpled thighs. It’s really as simple as that. Speaking from a physical appearance perspective, it can’t get much worse than that. Unfortunately, some people are just destined to have them, and exercise and diet improvements can only do so much. There is a point when another step might be necessary. This is where a thigh lift comes in handy. A thigh lift can reduce excess skin and fat in the thigh and knee area, redefining the look of your whole bottom half! Learn about the best candidates, the different types of thigh lifts, the procedure, side effects, and costs of a thigh lift in this article.
The Best Candidate
Men and women can have this procedure done. Those who have loose, saggy, and dimpled skin on the derriere or thighs will benefit from a thigh lift. People who have lost a significant amount of weight, either from gastric bypass surgery or just diet and exercise, may also benefit if they have loose skin in the thigh region.
Types of Thigh Lift Procedures
Everyone has different specific needs, but ultimately, the goal is to get rid of those dimples and create a newly proportioned hour-glass shape! For this, there are different types of thigh lift procedures.
Inner thigh lift
This is the most popular type of thigh lift, involving incisions in the groin fold. It is best for those who have only a moderate—not excess—amount of skin and fat in the inner thigh area. The surgeon will lift up the skin in the area and basically tighten it.
Vertical thigh lift
This type is a little more invasive. An incision is made at the crease of the groin, extending to the inner knee. A wedge of skin from the inner thigh is removed and the skin is tightened; it is best for those who have more fat to lose. Typically a scar is slightly visible on the inside of the thigh due to the longer incision.
Outer thigh lift
This type of thigh lift involves an incision extending from the groin to around the hip. It typically targets the front, back, inner, and outer thigh, and is ideal for those who have lost a significant amount of weight and need to get rid of excess fat and skin. The incision is below the fold of the buttocks and goes to where the groin and pubic area meet.
Which one?
Many times, two of these types can be performed on one person. Ultimately, it depends on your preferences, needs, and the doctor’s expertise.
The Procedure
Before the procedure – Choosing a qualified surgeon that you trust is a very important thing to do. Once you have had a consultation, which usually entails the physician getting a complete medical history from you and advising you on a few limitations before and after surgery, you will be underway to setting up a procedure date.
During the procedure – You can either have general or local anesthesia for a thigh lift. The incision will be made, and the skin will either be tightened, or removed and then tightened. There will be deep support stitches to close up the incisions.
After the procedure – There will be bruising, swelling, and soreness for a number of weeks—probably 3 to 5—following the thigh lift procedure. Most of the results will be visible immediately. Discomfort and tightness will be experienced for about 3 days; prescription pain killers can help relieve the pain. You will be wearing a tight fitted compression garment to protect the incisions and promote shrinking and tightening of the skin. A drainage tube may be inserted to get rid of excess fluid. Three days after the procedure you can shower. Try to start walking as soon as possible, no matter how uncomfortable; just don’t overdo it. Returning to physical activity should be discussed with the doctor.
Risks
Having a thigh lift comes with the following risks: scarring, bleeding, infection, poor wound healing, fluid accumulation, blood clots, skin loss, anesthesia risks, numbness in skin, skin discoloration, swelling, fat necrosis (dying of fatty tissue), major wound separation, asymmetry, persistent pain, unsatisfactory results, deep vein thrombosis, heart complications, recurrent skin looseness, possibility of a second surgery, and irritation from the sutures.
Costs
The cost of the thigh lift depends on the facility and the surgeon, but you can expect to pay about $4,500-$5,000. This includes the surgeon’s fee, facility fee, and anesthesia fee. Most often, if they are deemed cosmetic procedures, thigh lifts are not covered by insurance.
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