Thigh Lift
Conveniently located to serve the areas of New York, NY
Sagging and excess skin in the inner and outer thighs can cause both aesthetic and physical concerns. Some people may avoid wearing bathing suits or shorts because they are self-conscious about their legs. Other people may suffer from skin rashes and infections caused by the chronic chafing of excess skin in the inner thigh area. Whether skin becomes lax as the result of aging or significant weight fluctuations, exercise alone may not be enough to firm and tighten the thighs. Thigh lift surgery can help to improve the appearance of the legs by removing excess skin and fat, while lifting and reshaping the thighs. In some cases, thigh lift surgery can be combined with targeted liposuction or a buttock lift to improve overall body contours. Dr. Levine offers a full range of advanced thigh lift procedures that can be customized to your specific needs.
Contents
Before and After Photos
Procedure
- Remove excess fat and skin in the inner or outer thighs
- Tighten sagging skin and improve overall thigh contours
- Improve contours in inner thighs
- Firm and shape outer thighs
- Reduce drooping and sagging thighs after significant weight loss
- Decrease chafing and rashes caused by excess skin
Ideal Candidate
People with excess skin and fat in the thighs either caused by aging, genetics, or significant weight loss may be good candidates for thigh lift surgery. Thigh lift surgery can also benefit people who have physical problems from chafing and skin rashes that develop as a result of excess thigh skin. Thigh lift surgery is ideally performed after you have achieved your weight loss goals and reached a plateau. If you are continuing to lose weight, you should wait before having thigh lift surgery. Dr. Levine will gladly meet with you to discuss whether you are a good candidate for thigh lift surgery.
There are several thigh lift procedures that may be used, depending on the amount of correction needed in specific areas of the thighs. Dr. Levine has extensive experience and expertise in the full range of thigh lift surgery options. He will assess your condition and recommend the procedure that would best suit your specific needs. The most common thigh lift procedures are:
- Medial thigh lift can address moderate excess skin in the upper inner thighs.
- Extended medial thigh lift can address more severe excess skin extending from the upper inner thighs to the knees.
Circumferential thigh lift can address moderate to severe excess skin in inner, front, and outer thighs, as well as the back of the thighs and sometimes the buttocks.
| MEDIAL THIGH LIFT SURGERY AT A GLANCE | ||
| Procedure* | Recovery* | Post-Op Care* |
| Performed in our in-office surgical facility or the hospital | Go home same day | Compression garments recommended for 4-6 weeks |
| Surgery time approximately 2-4 hours | Back to work in 1-2 weeks | Sutures will dissolve on their own |
| General anesthesia | Light exercise in 2 weeks | |
| Liposuction combined with surgical excision of small crescent of skin | Moderate exercise in 4 weeks | |
| Incision in groin crease, hidden in bathing suit line | More strenuous exercise in 6 weeks | |
| EXTENDED MEDIAL AND CIRCUMFERENTIAL THIGH LIFT SURGERIES AT A GLANCE | ||
| Procedure* | Recovery* | Post-Op Care* |
| Performed in our in-office surgical facility or the hospital | Go home same day or stay overnight in hospital | Compression garments recommended for 4-6 weeks |
| Surgery time approximately 4-7 hours | Back to work in 2-3 weeks | Sutures will dissolve on their own |
| General anesthesia | Light exercise in 3 weeks | |
| Incision in groin crease, extending around bathing suit line and hidden in gluteal crease. In certain cases, incision may also extend vertically to the knee. | More strenuous exercise in 6 weeks | |
| EXTENDED MEDIAL AND CIRCUMFERENTIAL THIGH LIFT SURGERIES AT A GLANCE | ||
| Procedure* | Recovery* | Post-Op Care* |
| Performed in our in-office surgical facility or the hospital | Go home same day or stay overnight in hospital | Compression garments recommended for 4-6 weeks |
| Surgery time approximately 4-7 hours | Back to work in 2-3 weeks | Sutures will dissolve on their own |
| General anesthesia | Light exercise in 3 weeks | |
| Incision in groin crease, extending around bathing suit line and hidden in gluteal crease. In certain cases, incision may also extend vertically to the knee. | More strenuous exercise in 6 weeks | |
Treatment
Thigh lift surgery addresses excess skin and fat in the inner and outer thighs. A buttock lift may also be achieved as part of a thigh lift procedure. During the thigh lift surgery, localized fat may be removed through a combination of surgical excision and liposuction. Excess skin will be trimmed and re-draped to improve leg contours.
Other Procedures
Thigh lift surgery is usually performed as an isolated procedure, although the thigh lift procedure is sometimes combined with a tummy tuck and buttock lift as part of lower body lift surgery. In some cases, thigh lift surgery may also be combined with other procedures, such as arm lift and liposuction. Dr. Levine will discuss with you which procedure or combination of procedures may best suit your specific needs.
Surgery Preparation
During your initial consultation, Dr. Levine will examine your thighs to determine the amount of excess skin and muscle laxity present. He will also address your medical history and discuss other factors that may affect thigh lift surgery, such as previous surgeries and history of weight fluctuations. He will thoroughly discuss your goals and expectations, including possible risks and the best way to prepare for your surgery. He will let you know what to expect before, during, and after your procedure, and he will answer any questions that you may have.
Anesthesia Types
We recommend general anesthesia for thigh lift surgery. You will discuss your procedure thoroughly with both Dr. Levine and our board-certified anesthesiologist to determine the best type of anesthesia for your needs.
Expectations
Thigh lift surgery can be performed in the hospital, or on an outpatient basis in our state-of-the-art, in-office operating suite, which is accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF). The length of your procedure will depend on many factors. For a medial thigh lift, the procedure usually takes 2-4 hours. For an extended medial or circumferential thigh lift, the procedure time is usually 4-7 hours.* Most patients return home the same day after thigh lift surgery, although some patients may elect to stay overnight in the hospital after circumferential or extended medial thigh lift surgery.
Post Procedure
Every surgery is different, and you will receive detailed post-operative instructions for your specific needs. In general, you can expect to have swelling in the legs for several weeks after surgery. Most patients report moderate pain after the surgery, which is usually well-tolerated with medications.* At Plastic Surgery & Dermatology of NYC, our concern for you doesn’t end when you go home. We’re dedicated to providing ongoing care to ensure a fast, safe, and smooth recovery. Dr. Levine will see you for post-operative visits, and he and our staff stand ready to answer any questions you may have about your recovery, as well as your overall health and well-being.
Minimally Invasive Approach
Yes. BodyTite™ is an innovative radio frequency skin tightening treatment that can firm the inner thighs and reduce the appearance of excess fat in one procedure. BodyTite™ is an especially effective treatment for the inner thighs due to the ability to carefully and selectively tighten lax skin with precision, as the thighs are among the more difficult areas of the body to firm. Dr. Levine can determine if BodyTite™ is right for you during your thigh lift consultation.
Contact
Dr. Elie Levine will be happy to meet with you to discuss post-bariatric weight loss procedures. Please call our office at (212) 988-1800, or make an appointment online for a personal consultation in our New York City offices.