Thigh Lift
Thigh lift involves either the inner thigh or the outer thigh or both. The biggest trade off with these procedures is that a large scar is needed to lift the thigh.
In cases of skin laxity Thermage may be a good non-operative option to tighten the skin. This will not remove fat or lift significant excess skin however. You may wish to visit the Thermage section of our website for additional information…
In cases of fat excess with good skin tone, liposuction alone may be all that is needed. This would eliminate the scarring provided the skin tone is good and that the skin recoils and tightens after liposuction. Dr. Topol will discuss this with you if this is a viable option.
Most cases involve both skin and fat excess especially after weight loss. In these cases both the excess skin and fat must be removed. Depending on where the excess skin and fat is, different scar patterns of excision are needed. Scarring in this part of the body is not good in that the scars tend to widen. For the inner thigh the scar is placed high in the inner groin area to lift and tighten the inner thigh. If there is a large skin excess, a vertical scar from the inner pubic area toward the knee may also be needed. For the outer thigh the scar is usually placed high above the outer hip bone. This incision is often placed in conjunction with either an Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) or circumferential lower body lift where the abdomen is tightened and the lateral thigh and buttocks are lifted.
These excisions are not small procedures. They are cosmetic in nature. The major risks would be bleeding or infection. Surgery is done in the operating room under anesthesia usually as an outpatient but sometimes it is safer to stay in hospital overnight. Surgery takes a few hours. After surgery, a compression garment is worn for 2 to 3 weeks and drains may be needed for a few days post-operatively.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Topol, give our office a call or send us an e-mail.