Enhance Your Physique and Your Confidence with a Thigh Lift
Even if you adhere to a vigorous workout routine, it may still be extremely difficult to eliminate stubborn fat and loose skin in the upper legs and thighs. Additionally, even if you are able to successfully lose weight, your thighs may still lack the tight and toned look that you desire. Expert cosmetic surgeon Stephen T. Greenberg provides a variety of world-class cosmetic procedures, including the thigh lift, at our Long Island, NY, practice. Slimmer, tightened thighs can boost your confidence and help you feel proud to show off your legs again.
Candidacy
Good candidates for a thigh lift procedure typically:
- Are committed to maintaining a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise
- Have achieved a stable weight
- Are non-smokers
- Do not have any medical condition that might increase the risk of surgery
- Have excess, unwanted tissue along the thighs
Surgical Techniques
During your consultation, Dr. Greenberg can explain various thigh lift techniques with you in further detail and determine which option would best achieve your goals.
Bilateral Thigh Lift
During this procedure, an incision is made along the upper portion of the leg, concealed just below the bikini line. In some cases, the incision may extend around the hip toward the buttock. Excess skin is removed before tissue is tightened, smoothed, and reattached. The procedure is typically performed on patients with excess skin on the upper or outer portions of their thighs.
Video: Dr. Greenberg Explains Thigh Lift Surgery
Inner Thigh Lift
When treating excess skin on the inner thighs, Dr. Greenberg can make an incision along the upper leg where the thigh and pelvic bone meet. Skin and fat will be removed, and skin will be tightened to create improved contours and a smoother, more toned look. Typically, this procedure is a good option for patients with reduced skin elasticity resulting from aging or significant weight loss.
Medial Thigh Lift
Following extreme weight loss, patients are often dissatisfied with excess skin on the upper portions of the inner thigh. Similar to the inner thigh lift, this procedure requires an incision near the groin that extends around to the crease of the buttocks. Excess skin and fat is removed and then tightened to deliver a smoother, improved shape.
What to Expect After Surgery
Recovery following your thigh lift is a gradual process, and the timeline will vary. Patients can typically expect to return to work after two or three weeks. During this time, patients must be careful when sitting on their thighs and should also wear a compression garment at all times. Most patients can expect to achieve full recovery within six to 12 months after surgery. Follow-up appointments are advised during this period. By carefully following the post-operative directions provided by Dr. Greenberg, you can expect a timely recovery and beautiful results.
Even if you adhere to a vigorous workout routine, it may still be extremely difficult to eliminate stubborn fat and loose skin in the upper legs and thighs.
A typical thigh lift recovery timeline includes:
- First 24-48 Hours: Immediately following surgery, you will need to have someone available to drive you home and assist you due to the heavy sedation. It is not uncommon to experience soreness, swelling, and bruising during this time, but taking your medications as prescribed, keeping your legs elevated, and wearing your compression garment can help minimize discomfort. The day after surgery, it is recommended to attempt intervals of light walking to prevent blood clots.
- Weeks 1-2: When moving your legs, walking, and sitting, you should be mindful not to disrupt the incisions. Approximately 10 days after surgery, Dr. Greenberg can remove your sutures and examine you for any signs of infection. He will also instruct you how to shower and clean your incisions to minimize scarring.
- Weeks 3-4: Each patient responds differently to surgery, but most patients can expect to return to work two to three weeks after surgery. However, if you have a desk job that requires a lot of sitting, you should be sure to take walking breaks throughout the day to prevent complications.
- Weeks 5-6: Most patients can resume daily routines and light physical activity during this time. However, it is not uncommon to experience low energy levels until about week six. As you return to normal activity and soreness subsides, you should notice an improvement in the way you feel. The key to achieving a smooth recovery is maintaining a healthy balance between resting and light activity without overdoing it.
- Weeks 7-8: During this time, soreness and swelling should be minimal and you can enjoy full physical activity and your newly reshaped thighs. Following your postsurgical instructions on incision care and sun exposure can help minimize scarring and ensure you achieve optimal results.
Benefits of a Thigh Lift
Because of the variety of surgical techniques, Dr. Greenberg can personalize a thigh lift to meet patients’ unique needs, making it a popular procedure among our patients. Choosing to enhance your figure with a thigh lift provides many benefits including:
- Long-lasting results: If you maintain a healthy, stable weight and follow your postsurgical instructions carefully, you can enjoy results for many years.
- Wider variety of clothing options: Slimmer thighs help clothes fit better and opens the door to new styles you may not otherwise wear.
- Thigh gap: By reducing the amount of excess skin and fat around your thighs, you can increase your thigh gap to minimize chafing thighs and the risk of skin infections.
- Weight loss: Removing heavy excess skin around your thighs not only reveals a more toned physique and shapelier legs, but can even produce a small amount of weight loss.
- Increased physical activity: Exercising and daily activities will become easier once excess skin is removed, helping you to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
- Better quality of life: Slimmer thighs can enhance your overall appearance and give you the ability to enjoy life freely and confidently. Increased confidence can improve your mental well-being, personal relationships, and professional success.
To produce even more dramatic results, Dr. Greenberg can combine a thigh lift with other body contouring procedures, such as liposuction or a butt lift.
