A thighplasty, also known as a thigh lift, is a cosmetic surgical procedure that’s done to tighten and improve the appearance of the thighs. Aging, pregnancy, or significant weight loss can cause the thighs to have excess, sagging skin, or look dimpled. The goal of a thigh lift is to lift and contour the thighs so that they look slim and in proportion with the rest of the body. A combination of thighplasty andliposuctiontechniques may be performed to give the thighs a smoother, more toned appearance.
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Types of Thigh Lifts
There are three types of thighplasty
Inner and medial thighplasty procedures are usually performed on an outpatient basis. A bilateral thigh lift may require an overnight stay in the hospital.
How to Tighten Loose Skin After Weight Loss
The Procedure
Thighplasty is usually performed as an outpatient procedure withgeneral anesthesiaor epidural anesthesia.
Depending on the type of thigh lift and the area being treated, the incision pattern will vary. The most common thigh lift technique begins with an incision in the groin area.
During the procedure:
Surgery typically takes 2 to 3 hours.
Recovery
Pain medication and anti-inflammatory medications are typically prescribed during the post-operative period. Post-operatively, you may have bruising, swelling, and soreness in the area. You will need to wear compression garments to minimize the swelling and promote healing.
You may have drains in place to collect excess fluid and reduce the risk of infection. You will need to record the amount of fluid collected in a logbook. When the level of fluid removed meets your surgeon’s expectations, the drains will be removed.
How to Care for a Drain After Surgery
You will not be able to use a bathtub, swim, or use a hot tub until you receive clearance from your surgeon. You may shower 48 hours after the procedure. The surgical sutures will be removed within two weeks.
You will most likely be able to return to work within 7 to 10 days and resume physical activity after 4 to 6 weeks. While there are scars, they are mostly hidden in your body’s natural creases, and they will fade over time.
Risks
Aside from the risks that go with surgery andanesthesia, the risks of having a thighplasty include:
You may need to undergo revision surgery to correct these types of problems.
Results
The results of your thigh lift will be seen immediately, but full results are generally only seen after a few months when the swelling goes down.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Society of Plastic Surgeons.What is thigh lift surgery?Cedars-Sinai.Thighplasty.Sisti A, Cuomo R, Zerini I, et al.Complications associated with medial thigh lift: a comprehensive literature review.J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2015;8(4):191-197. doi:10.4103/0974-2077.172189American Society of Plastic Surgeons.What are the risks of thigh lift surgery?
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Society of Plastic Surgeons.What is thigh lift surgery?Cedars-Sinai.Thighplasty.Sisti A, Cuomo R, Zerini I, et al.Complications associated with medial thigh lift: a comprehensive literature review.J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2015;8(4):191-197. doi:10.4103/0974-2077.172189American Society of Plastic Surgeons.What are the risks of thigh lift surgery?
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons.What is thigh lift surgery?Cedars-Sinai.Thighplasty.Sisti A, Cuomo R, Zerini I, et al.Complications associated with medial thigh lift: a comprehensive literature review.J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2015;8(4):191-197. doi:10.4103/0974-2077.172189American Society of Plastic Surgeons.What are the risks of thigh lift surgery?
American Society of Plastic Surgeons.What is thigh lift surgery?
Cedars-Sinai.Thighplasty.
Sisti A, Cuomo R, Zerini I, et al.Complications associated with medial thigh lift: a comprehensive literature review.J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2015;8(4):191-197. doi:10.4103/0974-2077.172189
American Society of Plastic Surgeons.What are the risks of thigh lift surgery?
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