What is a Thigh Lift?
A thigh lift reshapes the thighs by reducing excess skin, and in some cases fat, resulting in smoother skin and better-proportioned contours of the thighs and lower body. Thigh lifts are not intended strictly for the removal of excess fat. Liposuction alone can remove excess fat deposits where skin has good elasticity and is able to naturally conform to new body contours. In cases where skin elasticity is poor, a combination of liposuction and thigh lift techniques may be recommended.
Types of Thigh Lifts:
Thigh lifts can be divided into medial (inner thigh) , lateral (outer thigh), and posterior (Buttock) lifts. The essence of these lifts is to remove excesses stretched skin, excess fat, and elevate and recontour the remaining skin.
- A medial thigh lift is considered for those with excess fat and loose skin on the inside of the thighs. One form of this lift involves excising a crescent shaped wedge of skin high in the inner thigh crease and advances the remaining skin upwards. If there is a substantial amount of excess skin such as after massive weight loss, a longitudinal incision down the inside of the thigh may be required for optimal tightening.
- The lateral thigh lift is performed in order to tighten the skin over the ‘saddle bag’ area of the outer thigh. This type of thigh lift is rarely performed by itself and is usually an extension from the abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) scar around from the front of the torso, or as part of the posterior thigh lift from the back.
- The posterior thigh lift can be performed by excising excess skin and fat at the bottom of the buttock, placing the scar as the lower buttocks crease. This procedure can be performed through an incision at the top of the buttock following the natural curvature and thus lifting the buttock cheeks and the back of the thigh (to a lesser degree). If the procedure is combined with an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) it is most commonly known as a ‘body lift’ or ‘belt lipectomy’ as the incision encircles the mid body.