How Can a Thigh Lift Help?
Thigh lift surgery shapes and tightens the contours of the thighs by removing excess skin and reducing fat. This surgical process results in smoother skin and firmer thighs. Dr. O’Toole tailors each procedure to meet the individual needs of his patients and achieve optimal results.
Schedule a ConsultationThigh Lift Candidates
Candidates for thigh lift surgery are healthy adults who:
- Have excess soft tissue along their inner or outer thigh region
- Have developed skin laxity due to the aging process
- Have lost a significant amount of weight
- Have realistic expectations
- Do not smoke
- Have nothing in their medical history that could prevent them from having a successful or safe procedure
The Procedure
The technique used during your thigh lift will depend on the severity of your tissue laxity. Both thigh lift techniques are performed under general anesthesia to ensure safety and comfort.
Transverse Skin Excision
Ideal for mild to moderate laxity, incisions are made in the upper thigh region to allow for the resulting scar to be hidden in the groin crease.
Vertical Skin Excision
Ideal for severe thigh laxity, vertical incisions run from your inner thigh to your knee.
Additional Liposuction
While thigh lift surgery tightens excess skin and soft tissues, it cannot treat excess pockets of fat. POWER-ASSISTED LIPOSUCTION is performed in combination with thigh lift surgery to remove these pockets.
- Small incisions are made in the thigh region
- Saline is injected to break up the fat cells
- Localized pockets of fat are suctioned out through a vacuum device and a cannula
- Ideal for patients with excess fat as well as excess skin
What are your Concerns?
Recovery
While thigh lift surgery is an outpatient procedure, you will need someone to drive you home and stay with you. Patients can expect bruising and swelling that may last for several weeks. Compression garments are worn throughout your recovery period to help reduce swelling and promote blood circulation. It is suggested that patients take light walks as soon as possible to encourage blood flow and reduce the risk of blood clots. Most patients return to work and their day-to-day activities after two weeks. All strenuous exercise should be limited for six weeks.
Cost
The total cost of your thigh lift surgery includes anesthesia, operating room facilities, combined procedures, medications, post-surgical garments, and surgical fees. Surgical fees reflect your surgeon’s knowledge, training, and experience, as well as the techniques used during the procedure. Dr. O’Toole will provide you with a cost estimate during the consultation.
Pain
A thigh lift is performed under general anesthesia to ensure that there is no discomfort during or immediately following the surgery. Once the anesthesia wears off, patients can expect to experience moderate discomfort that may last for several days. Dr. O’Toole will prescribe an oral pain medication to remedy any of this discomfort, but some patients can rely on over-the-counter pain medication like TYLENOL®. Bruising and swelling will start to subside after one or two weeks.
Scarring
The extent of your thigh lift scars will depend on the technique used during your procedure. The transverse skin excision technique results in minimal scarring around the groin area that is easy to cover with clothing. Vertical skin excision scars are much longer, as the incision runs from the medial thigh to the knee; however, these scars will fade with time. To reduce the severity of scars, keep the healing incisions out of the sun, apply silicone strips once the incisions have closed, and minimize stress on the thighs as they heal.
Results
Results from your thigh lift start to show almost immediately following the procedure; however, the final results may take a few months to become fully visible. Following your thigh lift, you will notice the improvement in both skin appearance and feel.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Why do I need to stop smoking before my procedure?
Smoking prohibits blood flow, which puts you at a higher risk during the surgery and slows the healing process afterward. This increases your chance of infection and often results in more significant post-operative scarring.
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What are the potential risks and complications associated with thigh lift surgery?
Thigh lift surgery has been safely performed for many years. While risks are rare, they can include:
- Adverse reactions to anesthesia
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Seroma
- Poor wound healing
- Asymmetry
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Persistent pain
- Changes in skin sensation
You can reduce your risk for these side effects by following all of Dr. O’Toole’s pre- and post-operative instructions.
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Can I get the same thigh lift results with liposuction alone?
Liposuction can be performed on the thighs as a standalone procedure if the patient’s skin can naturally conform to the slimmer contours. Liposuction removes excess pockets of fat, but it does not address loose or lax skin. If there is any excess skin present on the thighs, a thigh lift may be necessary for the best results.
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Will my results be permanent?
Results with thigh lift surgery are long lasting when a stable weight and a healthy lifestyle is maintained. The body will naturally lose firmness with age; however, the majority of the improvement will remain.