It can be difficult to enjoy the warm weather if you’re constantly concerned about the appearance of your thighs. Sagging skin, irregular contour, and wrinkles on the thighs can make you self-conscious, hiding in pants and long dresses even on the warmest days. A thigh lift is a common surgical procedure that can help improve the appearance of the thighs. This area becomes increasingly resistant to diet and exercise techniques with age, leading to the appearance of fat deposits, cellulite, and excess skin. A thigh lift helps remove excess skin that can’t be addressed with exercise and tightens the skin for improved tone and contour.

A thigh lift is typically an outpatient procedure. The surgeon marks your thigh area to indicate the location of the incisions and injects a local anesthetic. Then an incision is made in the groin or buttocks area and any excess fat and skin are removed along the inner or outer thigh. The incision location will depend on the type of thigh lift you and your surgeon decide on.

Liposuction may not be needed to remove excess fat, depending on your individual requirements. Your surgeon recontours the thigh area and closes the incisions. Then it is repeated on the other thigh.

Medial Thigh Lift (Inner thigh lift) targets the inner thigh. During an inner thigh lift, an incision is made at the area where the thigh and pubic area meet. A wedge of skin and fat is then removed and the skin is closed, leading to skin tightening, an improved leg contour and enhanced skin elasticity.
Lateral Thigh Lift (Outer thigh lift) is designed to tighten skin on the front and outside of the leg. During a lateral thigh lift, an incision is made at the top of the leg where the lower edge of your underwear would be. A certain amount of skin is then removed before pulling the remaining skin up and attaching it to the same area. Through this technique, a lateral thigh lift serves to tighten skin along both the right and left side of the leg. This procedure is especially helpful to those who have excess skin after significant weight loss.

During your recovery from thigh lift surgery, dressings/bandages may be applied to your incisions following the procedure. Small, thin tubes may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain excess fluid or blood that may collect.

The results of a thigh lift are visible almost immediately. However, it may take several months for the final results to fully develop. Following a thigh lift, skin quality is improved both in appearance and feel. Some visible scars will remain, but the overall results are long lasting, provided that you maintain a stable weight and general fitness. As your body ages, it is natural to lose some firmness. However, most of your initial improvement should remain.