Thigh Lift Surgery

What to Expect

Thigh lifts are not intended strictly for the removal of excess fat. Liposuction alone can remove excess fat deposits where skin has good elasticity and is able to naturally conform to new body contours.

In cases where skin elasticity is poor, a thigh lift along with liposuction may be recommended.

In general, candidates for a thigh lift are:

• People whose weight is relatively stable
• Individuals with excess soft tissue along the inner (medial) thigh region and/or the outer (lateral) thigh
• Healthy individuals who do not have medical conditions that impair healing or increase risk of surgery
• Nonsmokers
• Individuals with a positive outlook and realistic goals for what thigh lift surgery can accomplish
• Individuals committed to leading a healthy lifestyle, including proper nutrition and fitness

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.

Although good results are expected from your procedure, there is no guarantee.

In some situations, it may not be possible to achieve optimal results with a single surgical procedure and another surgery may be necessary.

Anaesthetic options include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia.

Incision patterns vary based on the area or areas to be treated, degree of correction and patient and surgeon preference.

One technique used for a thigh lift places incisions in the groin, extending downward and wrapping around the back of the thigh. Another technique removes excess skin from the groin down to the knee using an incision along the inseam.

You may also qualify for a minimal incision inner thigh lift that involves an incision only in the groin area.

Improving the contours of the outer thigh may require an incision extending from the groin around the hip and across the back.

Deep sutures within underlying tissues help to form and support the newly shaped contours.

Sutures, skin adhesive tapes or clips may be used to close the skin incisions.

The smoother tighter contouring that results from a thigh lift is apparent almost immediately, although initially obscured by swelling and bruising.

Possible thigh lift surgery risks include:

• Anesthesia risks
• Poor wound healing
• Bleeding
• Infection
• Fluid accumulation (seroma)
• Major wound separation
• Asymmetry
• Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
• Fatty tissue under the skin might die (fat necrosis)
• Persistent pain
• Skin discoloration and/or swelling
• Skin loss
• Sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin, become visible or produce irritation that require removal
• Unfavorable scarring
• Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
• Recurrent looseness of skin
• Possibility of revisionary surgery

Harley Street Surgery of London has been on the forefront of medical and surgical innovation. We continuously offer patients the most cutting edge techniques in medical treatment. If you would like to learn more about how you could benefit from this treatment, please contact our office for a private consultation appointment.