Thigh Lift

A thigh lift, also known as thighplasty, is a surgical procedure that lifts and tightens the thighs by removing fat and/or excess skin. This treatment reshapes and improves the look and tone of the legs after weight loss or natural loosening with age. If you’ve tried to reduce excess skin and fat in your thighs with diet and exercise but haven’t quite gotten the results you want, this procedure may be able to help. It’s also a good option for people who have trouble finding clothes that fit due to larger thighs.

Dr. Wendie Grunberg and the medical providers at Alluring Aesthetics in San Antonio, TX specialize in cosmetic body contouring and aesthetics. If you are interested in thigh lift surgery, consider contacting us directly by calling (210) 714-5390 or schedule a consultation by filling out this form. 

Thigh Lift Specifics

Thigh lift surgery can be performed on the inner or outer thighs, though it is most commonly done medially to the inner portion of the upper leg. It can be combined with liposuction if necessary. The inner thighs are a sensitive and delicate area of the body, and it is important to ensure the preservation of shape while performing this procedure.

Medial (Inner) Thigh Lift

In order to both contour and lift the thigh, a medial thigh lift procedure removes excess skin from the inside of the upper legs while often utilizing liposuction to remove fat. The surgeon marks the patient’s inner thighs after measuring the amount of excess that is able to be extracted. This procedure sometimes requires both vertical and horizontal crescent-shaped incisions.

Liposuction-Assisted Medial Thigh Lift (LAMeT)

With this thigh lift procedure, the surgeon first breaks up and removes fat with a cannula (a long, hollow tube), liposuctioning through very small openings in the skin. This allows for more space to open up and results in a more contoured outline of the thigh. The incisions are then made and the skin is removed in the same fashion.

LAMeT procedures preserve blood and lymphatic vessels, and they are popular for that reason. The liposuction removes fat without damaging the integral structure of the inner thigh, leading to faster healing times and fewer complications. ⁽¹⁾

Vertical Thigh Lift

A vertical thigh lift procedure follows the same process as medial thighplasty, but with this procedure, the patient is left with a longer scar that often runs from high up the inner thigh to the upper border of the knee. If there is a significant amount of excess skin after weight loss, this incision type is usually preferable to a smaller, horizontal incision. It is also used if the patient seeks a comprehensive lift on all sides of the leg. The surgeon places their incision right in the middle of the thigh, running down where your thighs naturally touch. This allows for it to be easily concealable and less noticeable. ⁽²⁾

Mini Thigh Lift

If you have minor inner thigh sagging and excess fat, a mini thigh lift could be a great option for you to lift and sculpt the area. It is less invasive than a traditional medial thigh lift, requiring a shorter incision in the groin. During your consultation, Dr. Grunberg will assess if you are a good candidate for this technique in order to get the results you are looking for.

Benefits of a Thigh Lift

Keep in mind that a thigh lift is not a method of weight loss, and is also only recommended for people who are in good health and don’t smoke. That being said, if you want your thighs to look great after weight loss or as you age, a thigh lift could be a great option for you.

Some benefits of receiving a thigh lift include:

After Massive Weight Loss

After significant weight loss, it can be hard to find clothes that fit your new body. This is especially true if you have loose skin or leftover fat on the legs, making it difficult to find pants that fit you well, or keeping you from showing off your legs at all. A thigh lift can give patients back the legs they can’t wait to show off!

Ideal Candidates

A good candidate for a thigh lift may have to following attributes:

Sagging skin around the bottom or knees can also be addressed during a thigh lift depending on the extent of extra tissue.

Personal Consultation

Dr. Grunberg will take the time to really get to know you and your cosmetic desires during your private consultation. She will ask you about your medical history, past procedures, and inquire about any medications you are taking. She will examine your thighs for skin elasticity and to better understand their current condition.

This appointment is a crucial part of the process as it informs both you and Dr. Grunberg on the best way to proceed with your treatment. It is important that you take the time to be diligent and clear about your expectations so Dr. Grunberg can create the most suitable treatment plan for your needs..

Preparation

To prepare for your surgery, Dr. Grunberg performs a medical evaluation to make sure you are ready. You may have to adjust your current medications or be given new ones to take before the procedure date. Refrain from taking any NSAIDs or blood-thinning medications to ensure your bleeding can be controlled during and after your thigh lift. You must also quit smoking tobacco and using nicotine products as they hinder the healing process. Thigh lifts are commonly an outpatient procedure, so it is recommended that you find an adult you trust to take you to the surgery and back home afterwards. They will also need to stay with you for 24 hours after your surgery.

Thigh Lift Procedure

Dr. Grunberg will mark the thighs preoperatively, and once we have administered anesthesia, she will begin the procedure. She will make her incisions sparingly at first, judiciously assessing how much tissue can be comfortably removed while preserving the contour of the thigh. After the extraction, she sutures the underlying tissue of the thigh to ensure support. Dr. Grunberg will then make layers of stitches up until the final suture line through the skin. This reduces tension and pressure on the superficial sutures, leading to smooth scarring.

If using liposuction, Dr. Grunberg will insert a cannula through small openings in the skin, navigating it through the areas of excess fat. When finished with liposuction, Dr. Grunberg then starts extracting the excess skin and fat and finishes the surgery. Thighplasty typically takes 2 to 4 hours to complete. ⁽¹⁾

Recovery and Results

The recovery process for thigh lift surgery varies from patient to patient. If you receive liposuction, your recovery might take a little longer. Most methods for this procedure require the use of drains, which are inserted during the surgery and removed by Dr. Grunberg about a week later.

Although you will experience some swelling and bruising, you will notice your results right away after receiving a thigh lift. This procedure usually requires two weeks of downtime before you go back to work, longer if your job requires any heavy lifting. Expect to wait six weeks before you are cleared for anything strenuous like exercise or other rigorous activities.

Corresponding & Complementary Procedures

Thigh lifts can be, and often are, easily combined with other lift procedures. After patients undergo a significant weight loss, the skin can stretch in many areas of the body.

Tummy Tuck Procedure

Also referred to as abdominoplasty, a tummy tuck is a procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen. They are commonly performed on patients after weight loss or pregnancy. Dr. Grunberg makes an incision that extends across your lower abdomen from hip to hip. Liposuction is often used to remove extra fat and ensure the abdomen is smooth afterward, and the extra skin is measured and removed. Tightening the abdomen effectively helps the thigh lift because the upward tension from the abdomen lift supports the entire lower body. ⁽³⁾

Arm Lift Surgery

Arm lift, or brachioplasty, procedures remove excess skin and fat from the upper arms. During an arm lift surgery, Dr. Grunberg makes an incision along the back of the arm or the armpit to successfully tighten the skin and contour the arm below the shoulder. For patients that have lost a significant amount of weight, this procedure can help create a more aesthetic contour in combination with a thigh lift procedure or abdominoplasty.

If you are interested in learning more about other cosmetic treatments that we offer, please check out our blog!

How Much Does a Thigh Lift Cost in San Antonio?

Your consultation with Dr. Grunberg will be an opportunity to get a complete cost overview of your treatment. To schedule your appointment, fill out this form or call our San Antonio office directly at (210) 714-5390. 

References

1. Di Pietro V, Colicchia GM, Cervelli V. Medial Thigh Contouring After Massive Weight Loss: The Liposuction-Assisted Medial Thigh Lift (LAMeT). Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery. 2020;13(4):305-313. doi:https://doi.org/10.4103/JCAS.JCAS_130_18
2. 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
3. Shermak MA. Abdominoplasty with Combined Surgery. Clinics in Plastic Surgery. 2020;47(3):365-377. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cps.2020.02.001