Thigh Lift

The upper thigh accumulates fat that is difficult to shift with exercise or diet, and the skin over it loses elasticity with age, hormonal change and significant weight loss. The second problem is the one that matters surgically: loose thigh skin does not respond to training, however disciplined.

What thigh lift surgery does

Thigh lift tightens loose skin, reshapes lax tissue and removes excess fat from around the thigh. It is the treatment for skin laxity after significant weight loss, though someone of entirely average body weight can present with the same problem.

Where there is stubborn fat in the upper thigh as well as loose skin, thigh lift is combined with liposuction in a single operation. Liposuction removes the diet-resistant fat pockets and slims the contour; the thigh lift then addresses the skin.

Thighplasty removes lax skin from the upper thigh by trimming excess tissue on the inner thigh. The scars heal well and are not easily visible when sitting or standing.

What the surgery involves

Anaesthesia General anaesthesia, administered by a certified anaesthesiologist.

Incisions The length and pattern vary with the area treated and the degree of correction required. Incisions are hidden inside the gluteal fold and in most cases extend toward the inguinal area. Where sagging is severe, an extended incision runs vertically down the inner thigh. The underlying tissue is reshaped and tightened. Where there are additional fat pockets in the upper inner thigh, liposuction is performed at the same sitting.

Closure The skin is drawn back over the underlying tissue and the wound closed with absorbable sutures, with the skin draped over the new contour.

Recovery

Recovery depends on how extensive the procedure was. In general, movement is restricted for two to three weeks. Spreading the legs and excessive flexion are avoided.

Light activity can begin from the first day. Routine activity may take up to three weeks to resume.

A compression garment is usually worn to reduce fluid retention.

Swelling is a normal consequence of thigh lift and can persist for some months after the operation. Scars fade over time.

Detailed post-operative instructions cover medication, wound care, what to avoid, and the schedule of follow-up visits.

Results are long-lasting. Skin loses some firmness with age, and changes in body weight or a pregnancy will alter the upper thigh again; a stable weight is what preserves the result.

Who it suits

Consultation establishes whether thigh lift alone, or thigh lift combined with liposuction, is the right approach. In general the operation suits:

• People in good health who exercise regularly but cannot achieve the upper thigh result they are after
• People who have lost significant weight and held it off for at least six months, but still have excess fat and loose skin in the thighs that looks disproportionate to the rest of the body
• People with isolated loose skin on the inner thigh
• People who are in good shape but whose upper thigh skin has lost elasticity with age