Background on Thigh Lifts
Time and gravity can cause the skin of the thighs to lose tone causing tit to sag and lose smoothness. Furthermore, this condition can be exaggerated by massive or abrupt weight loss, and by previous liposuction for cellulite. The thigh lift is a cosmetic procedure usually involving both liposuction and the removal of excessive skin (and at times involves Buttocks Lift) to tighten the skin of the thighs and reduce sagging in the inner or outer thigh or both.

Thigh Lift Consultation
During the initial evaluation, a thorough medical history (medical conditions are addressed preoperatively to ensure the safety of the patient) and a focused physical examination will be performed taking into consideration skin tone, excess fat, and other factors contributing to thigh contour. The techniques of liposuction and thigh lifting will be described in detail. Informational materials will be provided.

Patients who benefit from lower body lift surgery have:

• Loose skin in their buttocks and back of their thighs
• Loose skin in their hips and side of their thighs
• Loose skin in the front of their thighs
• Loose abdominal skin or in their inner thighs
• Relatively thin layers of fat below the skin of these areas
• Acceptance of the thin scars around the waist
• Patients who have had massive weight loss

Thigh Lift Surgery
Thigh lift surgery is commonly performed under general anesthesia. Immediately before surgery markings shall be on the thighs while standing up. The skin is pinched and elevated towards the groin. Thigh lift basically involves the removal of redundant skin using a low transverse incision that hides within the underwear or within the groin crease (depending on the area of the thigh being addressed). The thighs (and buttocks) tissues are lifted and supported in this procedure to help reduce scarring. Layered suture techniques are used to carefully close the area of incision in order to maintain the lift, tightening and smoothing the remaining skin. The procedure can be combined with liposuction in select patients. Following surgery, the patient is advised to rest as much as possible avoiding too much leg motion.

Risks Associated with Thigh Lift Surgery
As with any surgery, there are complications that can occur.  And both surgeon and patient should be aware of the potential hazards of surgery and specific risks associated with thigh lift surgery.

• Seromas (collections of fluid below the skin) may require the use of drains
• Infection, delayed healing from small separations in the incision closure in areas of high tension and stretch
• Numbness and decreased sensation in areas adjacent to the incision
• Slight asymmetries, rippling or dimpling of the skin  may occur in spite of efforts to balance skin and fat removal
• Bleeding may lead to bruising, but it is very rare to require transfusions
• Blood clots to the lung (pulmonary emboli) are rare.  Sequential compression devices (SCD’s) on the calves during surgery has significantly lessened the incidence in body contouring procedures
• Rare occurrences of damage to regional organs
• Poor scarring, and distortion of the vulvar tissues

Smokers are advised to discontinue smoking four weeks prior to and after surgery, as smoking increases the risks of complications and delays wound healing by altering blood circulation in the skin. Risks of complications can more or less be avoided by closely following instructions before and after the surgery.

Thigh Lift Recovery Process
Although the recovery period varies with each patient and the type of procedure performed, majority of patients are able to resume most normal activities within one to two weeks after surgery. Compression garments may be placed on the patient to control swelling, to support the suspended tissues, and to smooth and flatten the skin. Activity is determined by the progress of the healing of the incision. After surgery, pain is relieved with medication. Thigh lift scars will undergo a period of maturation that typically lasts a year or more.