Thigh Lift

Background

Thigh lift Surgery reduces fat and removes excess skin from the thigh region. It is often performed on patients with massive weight loss.

The Procedure

Thigh lift is performed under general anesthetic and takes about 2 hours. Depending on the extent of the tissue excess, it can be performed though an incision in the groin only, or may require an incision along the inner thigh running down towards the knee. This vertical incision is required for more extensive tissue and skin excess. The extra fat and skin are removed and the skin is tightened. Stitches are used to secure the fiber layers under the skin to take tension off of the skin and prevent wide scars. The skin is then stitched closed. Sometimes a drainage tube may be left at the end of surgery. A compression garment is applied.

Recovery

You will be discharged home on the day of surgery, usually within 2 hours of the procedure. For 1 week you will need to rest and keep you legs elevated. During this time you should avoid walking as much as possible. You will need to wear the compression garment for 4 weeks after surgery.

Risks

There are general risks with Thigh lift such as bruising, bleeding, infection, and risks associated with general anesthetic. There are also some specific risks. There are some nerves in the thigh that supply sensation to the thigh which can be injured. This may result in numbness over these areas. Usually this is temporary, but may last up to 6 months, and very rarely is permanent. The scar usually heals well, but there is a chance of thickened or keloid scar formation, which would be more noticeable. It is important to discuss these and other risks with Dr. Goldberg before surgery.

Alternatives

Fat reduction can be obtained with diet and lifetstyle or with Liposuction. Thigh lift is the only choice if there is excess skin.

Benefits: The results of Thigh lift are immediate and long lasting. It gets rid of the excess skin that otherwise would persist forever, and reduces the size of thighs with excess fat. Although the scar on the inner part of the thigh is visible, it is usually not noticeable from the front while wearing shorts. It is only when the inner thigh is more closely examined that the scar can be seen