Thigh Lift Surgery

Thigh Lift Surgery at Sullivan Surgery & Spa

We are considered to be one of the premier Annapolis, Maryland Cosmetic Surgery offices for thigh lift surgery and body contouring due to massive weight loss.

Many of our patients suffer because after weight loss and due to gravity over time, the skin of their inner thighs can become loose and hang. They are often frustrated with how they look in clothing and feel self-conscious wearing shorts, bathing suits, and tight pants.

Many even have symptoms like infections, rashes, and difficulty exercising. Thigh lifts with or without liposuction can help improve the shape of their thighs and how they feel about themselves. Our patient satisfaction with thigh lifts makes it a popular choice.

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Thigh Lift Procedure

Each thigh lift surgery is individualized depending on the amount of extra skin and fat and the amount of improvement desired from the thigh lift.

Incisions

If there is only a small amount of extra skin at the top of the thighs and no extra tissue closer to the knees, there will be an incision hidden near the groin crease from your thigh cosmetic surgery. If you have extra skin all around the thighs, then you will need to have an incision shaped like the letter L that goes from just above the knee to the groin and then along the groin crease from your thigh lift surgery.

If you want to address all the skin around the thighs, you may consider a circumferential thigh lift (incision goes all the way around the thigh) or a lower body lift, which also addresses the abdomen. This is the most dramatic type of thigh cosmetic surgery.

After the incision has been made, Dr. Sullivan will gently elevate the skin and fat off of the underlying thigh muscles. The extra skin and fat are removed, and the skin is re-draped over the underlying muscles. We don’t always use drains but one or more drains may be placed beneath the incision, depending on the extent of the lift. These slender tubes assist in draining fluid that accumulates beneath the incision and delays healing after this type of thigh cosmetic surgery.

The incisions are carefully closed with multiple layers of strong sutures to minimize your scar. All of the sutures are beneath the skin and are absorbed by your body so they will not have to be removed after the thigh lift surgery.

A sterile dressing is applied to the incisions, and a compression garment is placed over your thighs to support your legs during healing, decrease swelling, and minimize bruising after the thigh lift.

Liposuction

If you have extra skin but no extra fat, then a one-stage thigh cosmetic surgery to remove the skin will give you the results you want. If there are fat deposits as well as extra skin, then you may get better results from a two-stage thigh surgery approach with liposuction of the inner thighs first and skin surgery at a second stage to address skin that doesn’t shrink over time. Liposuction of the outer thighs can safely be done at the same time as an inner thigh lift.

Risk of Thigh Lift Surgery

Wound healing depends on a combination of surgical techniques and how your body naturally heals based on your genetics. That being said, the scars from thigh surgery can be more prominent than from other surgeries for a few reasons. Gravity puts a lot of tension on the suture line and you use your legs a lot , which can put further stress on scars. If there are small areas that don’t heal well, they can usually be improved with a small procedure under local anesthetic in the office.

What to Expect After Thigh Lift Surgery

Most thigh lift surgery can safely be done in an outpatient surgery center. You will need to be taken home by a friend or family member.

Antibiotics and pain medication will be prescribed and should be taken as directed.. These pain medications can cause constipation, so I recommend you use over-the-counter stool softeners to help prevent this.

The dressings will be taken off in the office a few days after a thigh lift, and the drainage tubes will be removed when the drainage is minimal. You should plan to take it easy following your thigh lift.

No strenuous activities, heavy lifting (over 10 pounds), aerobic exercises, swimming, contact sports, tennis, or golf should be planned for the first three weeks after a thigh lift. You should wear the compression garment for three weeks following thigh lift surgery. You will see some results instantly after your thigh lift, but it can take 6-12 months to see the final contour and scar.