Thighplasty, or thigh lift, is a surgical procedure aimed at lifting and reshaping sagging skin in the thigh area. Additionally, the procedure can smooth out skin irregularities. During the procedure, excess fat tissue and skin are removed from the outer and inner thigh regions to give them a more toned appearance, elasticity, and restore firmness.
Before undergoing thighplasty, the patient’s weight should more or less correspond their ideal weight. If there are excessive fat deposits beneath the skin and it has lost elasticity, the plastic surgeon may recommend a combination of liposuction and thigh lift.
Thighplasty takes place under general anesthesia. Typically, the surgery lasts two to three hours, sometimes longer depending on the scale of the intervention. Thighplasty can be performed using two methods, which are often combined, based on individual features and desires of the patient.
1. Inner Thigh Lift. During this procedure, an incision is made along the groin crease, excess skin and fat are removed, and sutures are placed.
2. Outer Thigh Lift. The incision is placed along upper buttock border and wraps around the upper hip region. Excess skin and fat are removed, and sutures are strategically placed to minimize patient’s discomfort and grant easy access for wound dressing during recovery.
After the procedure, the patient should wear supportive clothing (elastic bandage or corset), which helps reduce swelling and promotes natural skin tightening and lifting. The patient typically stays in the hospital for 1-3 days. This allows for the administration of pain-relieving injections, proper wound care. Additionally, this time is used to teach the patient appropriate physical rehabilitation techniques.
