If you have lost a large amount of weight, you may find that you now have excess saggy skin. One of the common areas for excess skin is the thighs. Fortunately, you can remove excess skin from this area with a thigh lift.
A thigh lift involves surgeons making incisions down the side of the thighs. The excess skin is then excised from the thighs.
Once you have decided you want a thigh lift and are an eligible candidate, the next thing you need to decide is what method of surgery you are going to undertake. The methods you have to choose from include horizontal and vertical thigh lifts.
Horizontal thigh lift
People are often put off by a thigh lift because of the idea of a long scar running down their thighs. This is often why a horizontal thigh lift becomes an attractive option. A horizontal thigh lift avoids a long scar. Instead, the incision is made horizontally in the groin area, allowing for it to be hidden beneath the bikini line.
A horizontal thigh lift is a better procedure for those who have excess skin toward the upper area of the thighs. As the incision is not running down the length of the leg, surgeons will be unable to remove the same amount of excess skin. Your eligibility for this procedure will depend on how much excess skin you have and the location of the skin. If the excess skin is located further down the thigh and away from the groin, you may wish to undergo a vertical thigh lift instead.
Vertical thigh lift
This is considered to be the traditional method for a thigh lift. A vertical thigh lift involves an incision which runs down the length of the inner thigh. The excess skin is removed, and if necessary, any liposuction is undertaken. The remaining skin is then pulled tight across the incision and is stitched shut.
People are often concerned about this option because of the long scar which will run down the side of the thigh. However, many patients consider the scar to be more aesthetically pleasing than the excess saggy skin.
You may also wish to combine this procedure with other surgeries such as liposuction or a buttock lift.
Both horizontal and vertical thigh lifts will be performed under a general anaesthetic known as TIVA. This means you will be asleep throughout the procedure.
What will the recovery period be like?
Following the thigh lift, you can expect to experience some bruising and swelling, particularly around the incision site. You will be given a compression garment to wear, which will help to reduce any swelling. You will have post-operative bandages over the incision, which will be removed after two to three days.
You will be able to return home the same day as the procedure, once the effects of the anaesthetic have worn off. However, you may require time off work to fully recover from your procedure. The amount of time will vary from person to person, and will depend on which type of incision you had, how much excess skin you had removed and what type of employment you currently undertake. If your job is very physically demanding, you may need to take a longer period of time off work.
You will be encouraged to walk around as soon as possible. This will help to avoid the risk of blood clots occurring. You will be able to start light exercises after two weeks and will be able to return to your usual exercise regime after six weeks.
You will have noticeable scars as a result of a thigh lift. These will be more prominent after surgery, however, with time the scar will fade in size and colour and will become less noticeable.
Are you interested in having a thigh lift? This is a procedure Centre for Surgery currently offers. Contact us today to find out more about thigh lifts, or book a consultation to see whether you need a vertical or horizontal thigh lift.
