Highlighting the thigh lift

OP. DR. YUNUS DOĞAN

All about the thigh lift

Congratulations on surviving winter and spring without sparking pants fire from the friction of your thighs rubbing together! Now the weather’s getting warmer and you might be thinking about the beach. Ready for a little fun in the sun? Flip-flops and bikinis are just collecting dust in your closet. If the beach is a stretch, maybe you’re just thinking about packing up your corduroy trousers and putting on some capris. But remember when you used to wear shorts?

If you’re dreading baring your thighs because color isn’t the only thing they have in common with cottage cheese, or the thought of the summer heat has you reaching for the baby powder already, consider a thigh lift. This type of plastic surgery can remove excess skin if you’ve recently lost weight and it can reduce cellulite and sag. Turn your thunder thighs into a real force of nature.

This article is the tenth in a series highlighting some of the most popular plastic surgery procedures. In the Highlighting series, we tell you ALL the alternative names of the surgery so you learn the medical terminology as well as develop a little street cred with slang terms. We share a little history of the procedure and describe the general process. We mention possible complications and give you an idea of the typical recovery time.

Also known as/similar or related names are: Bilateral (outer) thigh lift, thigh lift, thighplasty, medial (inner) thigh lift, mini thigh lift.

First recorded

Thigh lifts don’t have a long history compared to other plastic surgery procedures. They weren’t justified by the necessity of healing from war injuries. Ancient civilizations didn’t honor their dead with post-mortem thighplasty.

Instead, Dr. John Lewis out of Atlanta, Georgia USA published the first account of what is now known as the medial thigh lift in 1957. His pioneering technique was rudimentary at best, consisting of a vertical incision and no soft tissue adjustment. Sadly, the complications outweighed the benefits and his approach never gained popularity. Early thigh lift patients contended with wound migration and damage to their lymphatic system among other things.

However, over the course of the next decades more surgeons refined Dr. Lewis’ techniques, helping shape the procedure into what it is today: extremely beneficial to those who have lost a massive amount of weight but still a technically challenging procedure, especially if the patient’s thighs have inelastic skin. Think your skin’s elastic enough?

General process

Incision (and subsequent scarring) sites will differ based on the type of thigh lift you’re getting but the general process is the same. You will be asleep during this procedure, so you’ll receive IV sedation. If you’ve added liposuction to your surgery plan, you’ll have that first, then your surgeon will:

• Make small incisions in your groin for a mini thigh lift to correct saggy skin just on the upper part of the inside of your thighs.
• Make a longer incision that runs from your groin about a third of the way down your inner thigh for a medial thigh lift. If the scar goes down to your knee, it’s an extended medial thigh lift. The medial lift is the most commonly performed thighplasty. It will tighten a larger part of your inner thigh.
• Remove excess fat and skin from your waist and buttocks area in addition to tightening the front and outside of your thighs with a bilateral thigh lift. You will have an incision that starts in your upper groin, goes around your hips and extends across your back.

Your surgeon will leave drains in your legs to catch excess fluids and help you recover faster. You will most likely stay in the hospital overnight. Plan for someone to drive you home and possibly check in on you for the first day or two after that. If you have a caretaker, have him or her read this.

What could go wrong?

Complications that may occur include:

• Asymmetry - your thighs (or any other part of your body) aren’t 100% symmetrical to begin with, but a thigh lift may exacerbate small differences in appearance.
• Fluid accumulation (seroma) - if you don’t go for walks or receive massage, fluid may build up in your thighs. This can be drained by a medical professional.
• Skin sensitivity - you’ve had nerves severed. You may experience changes in sensation while your nerves reattach.

What could go right?

Keep your thighs on the prize and think about:

• Sliding into skinny jeans! Or regular-sized jeans. Whatever cut and style your goal is, your smaller thighs will glide right in.
• Showing off your smooth, shapely legs in shorts and skirts.
• Throwing out that chafing stick you carry around. Your new thigh gap means you’re fixin’ the friction!

Recovery time

Your surgeon can tell you specifically how long to rest from work and other daily activities, but patients typically take at least a week off of work. Of course, this amount of time depends on the nature of your job. As healthline.com suggests, you will probably refrain from strenuous activity and exercise for a minimum of six weeks.

Keep in mind that resting does not mean staying completely sedentary. Regular, daily walking improves circulation and decreases your risk of developing seromas. Read more about the best way to recover from plastic surgery in our blog.

Part of your recovery process could include lymphatic massage. Lymphatic massage promotes drainage of this excess fluid. Eventually you can perform your own massages but initially, you will want to seek out a trained professional.

The last stitch

A thigh lift is a worthwhile surgery to improve the visual appearance of your thighs, especially if you’ve recently lost a substantial amount of weight and your thigh skin is saggy and wrinkled. Regular exercise and a balanced way of eating are also crucial elements in your journey to the best you. Consider this plastic surgery if you’re ready to have legs for days. As you redefine yourself, you will redefine your life.