Thigh Lift Surgery
Thighplasty Surgical Procedure
Even after losing weight through diet and exercise, many people find that they remain dissatisfied with their appearance of their legs due to excess volume and/or skin laxity. This is often due to the inability to selectively target areas for weight loss, as well as the excess skin left behind after dramatic weight loss which can only be removed surgically. Additionally, as we age, skin tends to lose elasticity, which can result in a sagging appearance and worsening the appearance of cellulite.
Thigh lift surgery is performed to reduce the volume and excess loose skin of the inner thighs, resulting in a firmer and more contoured upper leg area. Many patients find that this procedure greatly heightens their confidence, makes them feel and appear more youthful, and allows them to enjoy a much greater range of fashion.
Thigh lift surgery typically involves an incision running along the inner thigh, extending from the groin down to the knee, or shorter in more limited or focal cases of skin excess. Excess skin will be removed. The incision will then be sutured and dressed, and a compression garment will be applied.
In patients with a high degree of volume, in addition to skin laxity, the procedure may require 2 stages, or 2 separate procedures, for optimal results.
General.
Please Note: These are general estimates that may or may not apply to you individually.
We accept all major credit cards, debit cards, cash, and cashier checks. We also work with two third-party financing companies, Care Credit and Alphaeon Credit. You can find more information and apply for credit online using the links below.
During your consultation, Dr. Anita will take time to learn more about your motivations and goals, understand your concerns, and discuss the treatment in detail. She will go through your medical history and perform a physical exam in order to determine the best plan to reach your goals, and make sure you are a good candidate for surgery.
The day of surgery, Dr. Anita will meet with you in the pre-operative area, review the planned procedure, and mark the surgical site. This is also a time you can go over any additional questions you may have prior to surgery.The surgery typically involves removal of excess skin, with or without liposuction. If done in two steps, often the first step involves liposuction while the second step tailors the excess skin.
Post-operative garments are placed immediately after surgery, and help provide gentle compression and limit the extent of swelling. Walking is encouraged the same day of surgery. After surgery, you will be provided with post-operative care instructions, and instructions for follow-up. Dr. Patel will see you for the first postoperative visit 1-2 days after surgery, with an additional visit the week after for drain removal if appropriate. Additional postoperative visits are typically spaced at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery.
Sagging skin on the legs is a result of many factors. Genetics play a role in the elasticity of the skin, and so does weight gain and loss. The stretching out of the skin with weight gain, followed by limited contraction of the skin with weight loss, is the main reason for seeking thighplasty procedures.
It is possible to tighten the inner thighs by surgically excising the excess loose skin.
Your genetics determine your “problem areas”, or the the areas where you gain fat more readily than others. The inner thighs are a common location for fat gain, and since the skin of the inner thighs is thinner, this area tends to be more readily stretched out.
Tightening the thighs after weight loss is best done with a combination of exercise to tone the muscles, and surgical excision of loose skin to tighten the skin itself, +/- liposuction if there is excess focal fat as well. It is important to note that once the skin has a permanent loss of elasticity, even a tightened effect can loosen over time.
Thigh lifts may help cellulite, but there is no guarantee that the cellulite will improve with skin tightening, especially if there are post-surgical weight changes or prolonged swelling, or in cases where the cellulite is extensive.
If liposuction is to be performed, it is done first, followed by excision of the excess skin using an incision that runs along the inner thigh in a location similar to a pant seam.
Thigh lift surgery works well in the right candidates, with proper postoperative care, and realistic expectations. Weight fluctuations, poor elasticity or tone in the skin, or prolonged swelling after surgery can limit the results.
The cost of thighplasty, or thigh lift, can depend on many factors. To provide you with accurate pricing information, we invite you to book a complimentary Pre-Consult Phone Call with our Patient Care Coordinator by calling 310-205-0212. During that phone call, important information will be discussed and ballpark pricing will be provided.
