A thigh lift, or thighplasty, is a type of surgery that removes excess skin from the inner thigh. People who have recently lost weight often have loose, sagging skin on different places on their body, including their thighs. Thigh lift surgery can get rid of or tighten this loose skin, creating a firmer, more youthful thigh.
What is a thigh lift?
People who were once extremely overweight or obese and lost weight through exercise or liposuction usually have loose skin throughout the body, since their skin was stretched out to accommodate their previous size. Many people who have completed a weight loss program and achieved significant results opt for multiple surgeries to get rid of all their loose skin. A thigh lift is just one of the surgeries that may be involved in this post-weight-loss stage.
Not only does the procedure remove the excess skin on the inner thighs, it also results in firm, proportional legs, helping restore confidence to formerly obese people.
Risks of thigh lift surgery
Thigh lift surgery is not a high-risk procedure, but side effects may occur. All patients who undergo a thigh lift will have a visible scar on the inside of their thigh, and some may experience swelling of the legs. In addition, infection, while uncommon, is a possibility. Your surgeon will go over the risks with you before the procedure.
Before and after the procedure
Prior to the procedure, you will need to see a doctor to get an evaluation of your overall health. If you have any health problems that could result in complications, such as high blood pressure, irregular bleeding, or unusual scarring, your doctor may advise you against the surgery.
In addition, you’ll need to stop taking any anti-inflammatory or blood-thinning drugs, such as aspirin or warfarin, in the weeks leading up to the procedure. You will also need to quit smoking before the surgery, as the chemicals in tobacco can prolong the recovery process and increase your risk for complications.
After the procedure, your surgeon will wrap your thighs in a compressive material, to reduce pain and bleeding.
You will need to recover for a few days after the surgery. Afterwards, you’ll be able to resume normal activities. However, you won’t be able to do any intense exercise for a month or so after the procedure.
The bottom line
Thigh lift surgery is a surgery usually done by people who have lost a substantial amount of weight and want to restore the look and sensation of tightness to their thighs by removing excess skin. For a person who was formerly obese, a thigh lift is one of a series of surgeries needed to remove loose skin on the body. The procedure is relatively safe, but swelling and scarring is common.
Written by Natan Rosenfeld
