Thigh Lift

Thigh lift surgery, or thighplasty, is a cosmetic procedure that removes and repositions skin and tissue on the thighs to improve their contour. After significant weight loss or physical changes from pregnancy, patients can be left with large amounts of excess skin in the upper thigh area. This procedure safely and effectively removes extra tissue to restore a smooth and improved shape along the upper legs. Patients can greatly improve their leg contour and their self-confidence with a thigh lift.

Plastic Surgery Specialists’ team of experienced and knowledgeable staff members take pride in offering comprehensive cosmetic procedures and treatments to patients in Marin County and beyond. Our board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Hvistendahl frequently performs all types of body contouring and cosmetic surgery including facelifts, tummy tucks, and liposuction.

To schedule a thigh lift consultation, contact our patient coordinators by calling our office at (415) 925-2880 or filling out this online form. We look forward to hearing from you!

Before and After Photos

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What is a Thigh Lift?

Significant weight loss is an incredible feat for patients to achieve, typically improving their overall health and self-confidence. Though our largest organ, the skin, can safely expand to accommodate weight fluctuation, it often cannot shrink back to its original contour after severe stretching. The skin and soft tissues all around the body do not retract completely after rapid weight loss, causing redundancies in the thighs, arms, abdomen, and other areas. ⁽¹⁾ many cosmetic procedures contour and smooth these areas, one being the thigh lift.

Sometimes called a thigh reduction, thigh lifts use an incision along the inside or outside of the upper leg to remove loose, sagging skin and extra fatty tissue. The medial thigh lift technique is most common as it utilizes incisions near the groin and along the inside of the leg. They require either a horizontal or vertical scar pattern. For certain patients, both of these incision patterns can be combined to address and shape the entire area. ⁽²⁾

Horizontal Scar Thigh Lift

During a horizontal thigh lift, the surgeon places an incision along the inner thigh near where the leg meets the groin area. They can then carefully remove the excess tissue and skin. They suture this incision in layers starting within the deep fascia of the leg to reinforce the new shape. The resulting horizontal scar follows the natural crease of the leg and is easily concealed by the leg’s curves.

Vertical Scar Thigh Lift

For patients with more severe amounts of excess tissue, our surgeons may use a vertical incision pattern to better address the areas further down the thigh. They make their incision along the inner thigh starting near the groin and down toward the top of the knee. They can then remove long ellipses of tissue before closing the incision with sutures. This technique avoids the need for a horizontal incision and tightens the lower thigh area.

Combination Vertical & Horizontal Thigh Lift

Sometimes our patients require contouring and toning along both the upper and lower thigh areas. To remedy this, we use both vertical and horizontal incisions to create a triangle-shaped section of tissue to remove. By placing incisions below the groin and down the leg, the surgeon can extract more tissue to achieve a smoother result.

Benefits of Thigh Lift Surgery

A thigh lift procedure can:

Am I A Good Candidate?

The ideal candidate for thighplasty is a patient in good overall health with no underlying medical conditions. They have pockets of loose skin and malpositioned soft tissue along the inner thighs that they wish to remove. To qualify, they should achieve a stable and healthy weight before surgery to ensure long-lasting results. Those who smoke tobacco and nicotine should be willing to quit for 6 weeks before and after their thigh lift to avoid complications. Candidates should also have reasonable expectations and an optimistic outlook.

Personal Consultation at PSS

For your initial appointment, Dr. Hvistendahl will meet with you to discuss the procedure and your cosmetic goals. Your surgeon will perform a physical examination of the treatment area and inquire about your medical and surgical history. He will then create a personalized procedure plan and explain the entire process from start to finish. After this meeting, our patient coordinator will help you schedule your surgery.

Preparation

Before your thigh lift, you should discontinue the use of:

We recommend that you prepare your home and schedule time off of work before your surgery. You may create a comfortable space filled with your favorite entertainment and prepare easy-to-make meals to reduce stress during your recovery. We also require that you ask a friend or family member to drive you to our facilities and back home on the day of your procedure. Lastly, you should fill all new prescriptions from your surgeon beforehand to ensure your downtime is stress-free.

Thigh Lift Procedure

Once the appropriate anesthesia has been administered, Dr. Hvistendahl will make an incision along the inside of the thigh. Depending on your circumstances, this could be vertical, horizontal, or a combination of the two. Next, he removes the necessary amount of soft tissue and loose skin before placing internal sutures along the thigh. This ensures the new thigh contour is structurally sound. If used, they then place drains to remove excess fluid throughout recovery. Finally, your surgeon closes the incision(s) with thin sutures and places compression bandages to curb swelling. A thigh lift procedure typically takes 2 to 3 hours to complete.

Recovery

For the first two weeks of recovery, you should rest as much as possible. You will experience some soreness, swelling, and bruising that dissipates as you heal. Your surgeon removes the drains after 3 to 5 days or when they are no longer useful. Start taking short and gentle walks right away to improve blood circulation. You should ask someone to stay with you overnight for a few days to provide help during initial recovery. Please avoid strenuous activities for 4 to 6 weeks or until your surgeon clears you. You should schedule 10 to 14 days off of work and monitor your health closely.

Results

After a thigh lift, the skin and tissue around your upper and mid-thighs will be smoother, tighter, and contoured. It typically takes 4 to 6 months to see your final results. Though your final thigh shape is incredibly long-lasting, you can preserve it by maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine.

Plastic Surgery Specialists offers a surgical extras suite to provide helpful pre-and-postoperative appointments and treatments. This includes complimentary:

Our goal is to provide comprehensive and complete surgical care for every patient. Our services greatly decrease your recovery time and lead to optimal results. Ask your surgeon about these benefits during your consultation.

Corresponding & Complementary Procedures

Thigh Liposuction

Typically combined with thighplasty, liposuction of this area removes excess fatty tissue to improve the final contour. During this cosmetic procedure, the surgeon infiltrates the treatment area with tumescent fluid (saline, epinephrine, and lidocaine) to break up the fat and numb the area. They then insert a long, hollow tube called a cannula through very small incisions around the thigh. This instrument uses medical-grade suction to safely dislodge and remove excess fat permanently. Liposuction is an extremely helpful and effective surgery to sculpt the thigh area on its own or before the surgeon performs a thigh lift.

Full Lower Body Lift

Large weight fluctuations rarely result in only one area of the body collecting redundant skin. A full body lift is a cosmetic procedure that combines multiple surgeries into one to restore a large area of the body. A full lower body lift commonly includes a thigh lift, tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), and a butt lift. During a tummy tuck, the surgeon removes skin and tissue from the abdomen to shape and recontour the midsection. This surgery can also repair the abdominal muscles to improve a patient’s core strength.

A butt lift provides a massive weight loss patient with a more youthful-looking buttock by removing skin from the hip and lower back area. Many thigh lift candidates fit the requirements of these surgeries, giving them the chance to enhance the entire lower half of their torso and upper thighs in one streamlined procedure.

Cost of a Thigh Lift in Marin County

Our skilled plastic surgeons and their medical staff prepare customized procedures for each patient. These include personalized quotes and total costs that reflect your specific treatment plan.

To schedule a thigh lift consultation with Dr. Hvistendahl today, you can call our office directly at (415) 925-2880 or fill out this convenient form.

FAQ

References

1. Gentile P, Gigliotti S, Colicchia G, et al. Medial thighplasty: Horizontal and vertical procedures after massive weight loss. Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery. 2012;5(1):20. doi:https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-2077.94330
2. Bell D, Winters R. Thighplasty. PubMed. Published 2023. Accessed November 17, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK594236/