Life is too short to be bothered by correctable physical problems like unsightly thigh contours. If you are experiencing feelings of self-consciousness or embarrassment due to your thighs, Dr. Wiser can help. Please contact our office to schedule a consultation. In the meantime, here is some information to help guide your decision.
The thigh lift procedure helps to reshape your thighs through the removal of excess fat and skin from your upper leg. This significantly improves your contours for a more shapely and smoother appearance. It also helps to improve muscle definition and makes your thighs appear more youthful. Thigh lifts can also help to reduce the unsightly appearance of cellulite and stretch marks. A thigh lift procedure can be used in conjunction with another procedure to improve outcomes.
The tummy tuck or butt lift procedures are often used in combination with a thigh lift to enhance outcomes. In some cases, patients have thigh lifts combined with other body contouring procedures like a breast lift, breast augmentation, or another procedure that involves the removal of excess skin.
As with most cosmetic procedures, your procedure is customized to your unique individual needs. Before your procedure, Dr. Wiser will mark the excess skin and the location of the scar. A thigh lift surgery is performed under general anesthesia. This procedure typically begins with a fat volume reduction via liposuction, followed by excess skin removal over the thighs. The thigh lift wound scar is either a linear or a J shape, depending on the excess skin orientation and location. The scar starts from the groin extending on the inner part of the thigh down towards the knee.
If you are unhappy with your thighs because of sagging skin or unsightly cellulite, you may be an appropriate thigh lift candidate. However, to qualify for this procedure, you must be in good overall health with a relatively stable weight. Individuals who have undergone extreme weight loss may also benefit from this surgery, particularly those who have recurring skin irritation in their inner thighs.
Thigh lift is not advised for anyone who currently has an unstable weight, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, active immunosuppression, and active smokers.
You will be given a full set of instructions before your surgery. However, some common recommendations include refraining from taking blood-thinning medications that could interfere with your procedure and recovery.
You should also refrain from smoking for a minimum of four weeks before your surgery, as this interferes with blood flow, as well as disrupting healthy wound healing, which causes up to 10 times higher rates of post-operative complications.
Dr. Wiser places a special vacuum dressing over the thigh incisions that optimizes wound healing and scar appearance (requires additional charge). After one week, this dressing is removed at the office.
Most patients recover by about five weeks after their thigh lift procedure. Patients can usually resume normal activities and non-physically demanding work after a week or two but should avoid any physical exercise. You may need to wear compression garments for a few weeks after your surgery. Avoid bathing with your incisions submerged while recovering, although you may begin taking showers a couple of days after your thigh lift.
Yes. Take antibiotics, or any other medications, as directed by Dr. Wiser.
Avoid prolonged sun exposure to scars for a month or two to avoid irritation and possible skin discoloration.
Once you can resume normal activities, you should do it gradually. Watch for signs of swelling around your incisions, which would indicate that you need to limit your activity level.