What Is a Thigh Lift?
A thigh lift is an aesthetic surgical operation that targets excess skin and fat tissue on the inner side of the leg. It corrects sagging caused by major weight loss, aging, or genetic factors.
In which cases is it preferred?
- A smoother, firmer leg contour
- Reduced chafing caused by friction between the legs
- Being able to wear tight/fitted clothing comfortably
- Improving body image and self-confidence
The surgical process
- Consultation: the state of the legs and the expectations are assessed.
- Surgery: under general anaesthesia, excess tissue is removed through an incision running from the groin to the inner thigh; liposuction is added if required.
- Recovery: support is provided with a compression garment/compression stockings; activity is resumed gradually.
Who is it suitable for?
A thigh lift removes the excess skin that has formed on the inner thigh through gravity and weight loss. If excess fat is the main problem, liposuction may be enough; if the real problem is skin laxity, a lift is needed.
- People in whom sagging has developed on the inner thigh after marked weight loss
- People whose inner thighs rub when walking and who suffer irritation as a result
- People whose weight has settled and who do not smoke
If weight loss is still ongoing the operation is postponed; a lift performed before the final state of the sagging is visible may later prove insufficient.
Complication rates — plainly
In terms of healing, the thigh is one of the most demanding areas in body contouring. The region moves, stays moist and lies next to the groin; those three together make wound healing harder.
A comprehensive literature review published in the Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery in 2015 examined 447 patients from 16 studies between 1988 and 2015. A complication occurred in 191 of the 447 patients (42.7%). The commonest were wound dehiscence (18.3%) and seroma (8.05%). By contrast, no major complications such as thromboembolism or sepsis were reported.
The correct reading of that figure is this: the chance of running into a problem after a thigh lift is high, but almost all the problems seen are minor — the kind that can be managed with wound care and outpatient follow-up. Knowing this before the operation sets the right expectation for the healing period.
Scar and recovery
Depending on the technique chosen, the scar of a thigh lift runs horizontally along the groin crease or vertically down the inner thigh. The more sagging there is, the longer the scar; that is not a preference but a consequence of how much skin is removed.
In this area the scar can heal by widening. The reason is the region itself: the inner thigh moves constantly while walking and the skin is stretched, so the tension on the scar never lets up. The fact that wound dehiscence is the commonest complication in the review cited above (18.3%) is related to this — when a wound that has opened closes again, the scar is left wider. This cannot be prevented altogether; restricting movement early on, wearing the compression garment regularly and looking after the wound are all aimed at reducing the widening.
- Sitting and leg movements are restricted in the first weeks.
- A compression stocking or garment is worn for the period your doctor specifies.
- Wound care matters particularly in this operation; because of the proximity to the groin, hygiene and follow-up come to the fore.
- The scar takes a year to mature.
If the main problem is excess fat, liposuction may be enough; if the real problem is skin laxity, a lift is needed. Liposuction does not take up sagging skin — it can even make it more obvious.
In a literature review of 447 patients from 16 studies, a complication occurred in 191 of the 447 patients (42.7%). The commonest were wound dehiscence (18.3%) and seroma (8.05%). No major complications such as thromboembolism or sepsis were reported — that is, almost all the problems are of the kind that can be managed with wound care.
Depending on the technique chosen it runs horizontally along the groin crease or vertically down the inner thigh. The more sagging there is, the longer the scar; that is not a preference but a consequence of how much skin is removed. In this area the scar can also heal by widening: because the inner thigh moves constantly while walking, the tension on the scar never lets up. Restricting movement early on, the compression garment and wound care are aimed at reducing this widening.
The region moves, stays moist and lies next to the groin. These three together make wound healing harder; that is why wound care and follow-up come to the fore in this operation.
If weight loss is ongoing the operation is postponed. A lift performed before the final state of the sagging is visible may later prove insufficient.
Sitting and leg movements are restricted in the first weeks; a compression garment is worn for the period your doctor specifies. The scar takes a year to mature.
References
- Sisti A, Cuomo R, Zerini I, Tassinari J, Brandi C, Grimaldi L, D'Aniello C, Nisi G. Complications Associated With Medial Thigh Lift: A Comprehensive Literature Review. J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2015;8(4):191–197. PMID 26865783