Incision Placement

The severity of skin and fat excess of the upper leg will determine the placement and extent of incisions.  Patients who do not require any skin excision can be treated with liposuction alone, with small, inconspicuous incisions in the upper leg.  Patients who have mild to moderate skin excess will have incisions that are well hidden in the groin crease.  Patients with severe skin excess, most commonly “massive weight loss” patients, may require incisions from their groin, down the inner part of their thigh, to their knee.  The larger the thigh lift needed, the longer the incision necessary to improve the upper leg appearance.

Liposuction-only Thigh Lift

Patients that have developed excess fat in their upper legs, but have maintained excellent skin quality and elasticity, are candidates for a liposuction-only thigh lift.  These patients will not require any skin removal, and will avoid any incisions larger than those created during liposuction.

Skin Resection Thigh Lift

Most patients seeking a thigh lift will require some degree of skin resection to reach their desired aesthetic goals.  These patients are treated initially with liposuction to remove excess fat from their inner thigh, before reducing the circumference of the upper leg with removal of any skin excess.  Incisions may be limited to the patient’s groin, but larger thigh lifts may require incisions down to the level of the knee.

Liposuction-only Thigh Lift

Liposuction requires creating small (0.5-1.0 cm) incisions in the skin, camouflaged in body creases or inconspicuous areas of the upper leg.  Fluid containing medications aimed to provide pain-relief and limit blood loss is then infused into the arm, before special instruments are used to suction out excess fat.  Careful attention to detail during the suction phase of the procedure ensures enough fat is removed to narrow the upper leg, while leaving enough fat behind to create a pleasing contour.  Once liposuction is complete, surgical tape and gauze are placed over the incisions, and a compression garment applied to help with skin retraction, and help reduce leg swelling.

Skin Resection THIGH Lift

These cases start by duplicating the liposuction-only thigh lift.  After liposuction removes the excess fat from the inner thigh, the amount of skin needing to be excised is patterned on whether the skin excess is running down, or around, the leg.  Incisions are then created, and the excess skin and fat elevated from the underlying muscles.  The excess skin is removed, and the remaining skin redraped over a drain, and sutured closed in multiple layers.  Sterile gauze and a compressive garment are then applied to help with skin retraction and help reduce leg swelling.

When performed alone, a thigh lift is an outpatient procedure. We encourage walking every day, including the day of surgery, as a precautionary maneuver to improve circulation and avoid the development of blood clots.

Any drains placed during surgery will require a logbook to record how much fluid comes out of the drains in a 24-hour period.  These measurements are important, as they will determine when the drains can be removed.

The compression garments are maintained for several weeks after surgery, during which time strenuous activities and workouts are limited.  Most patients can return to their exercise regimen 6 weeks after surgery.

Full recovery will take weeks to months, depending on the type of thigh lift performed.  A return to work is dictated by how well patients feel, and the typical duties required of their job.

We believe in being preemptive to avoid any risks associated with surgery, but occasionally the following may occur:

Bleeding/Hematoma – A small amount of bleeding is common after surgery, but if severe enough, another operation may be required to stop it.  Bleeding can also form a collection, termed a hematoma, which presents as a swollen, painful, bruised, and tense thigh.  These require drainage to prevent secondary problems.

Seroma – A fluid collection may form under the skin after a thigh lift and may require drainage. This can typically be performed in the office.

Infection – A thigh lift carries a risk of infection, but if one occurs, it may require oral, or intravenous, antibiotics.

Poor Cosmesis: This may include poor wound healing with a widened scar, irregularity of the scar contour, or partial wound separation.  These may all lead to suboptimal results, and the possibility of additional surgery to correct. There are risks factors that may increase your risks of these complications that can be optimized before surgery.

Blood Clots:  A thigh lift can result in the development of blood clots in the legs.  These clots can travel to the lungs where they can be fatal.  Precautions before, and after, surgery are taken to avoid blood clots from forming.

Skin Laxity: As much skin is removed during surgery as safely possible. Once the swelling from surgery has resolved, there may be some skin laxity present.

Sensory Changes: Patients may have altered sensation to their thigh and lower leg after surgery.  Typically the result of nerve swelling and irritation, it can cause numbness, tingling, or a burning feeling.  In most cases this is temporary, with spontaneous improvement over several days to weeks.  In rare cases, a more permanent numbness can occur.

Will a thigh lift make my outer hip look better?

A thigh lift improves the upper leg by narrowing its size, removing excess skin and fat, and lifting sagging skin of the inner thigh.  Though liposuction can be done at the same time as a thigh lift to help improve the contour of the outer hip, surgeries such as a lower body lift better address this area.

Can a thigh lift be combined with other procedures?

Yes, a medial thigh lift can be safely performed with other cosmetic procedures. Liposuction is the most commonly added, but tummy tucks, arm lifts, and breast enhancement surgery are particularly common in patients who have undergone massive weight loss and have multiple areas that need to be addressed.