A medial thigh lift tightens the skin of the inner thighs. It can be accompanied by liposuction to debulk the thighs further.
This procedure is performed to improve contour and remove excess skin from either the inner or outer thighs after weight loss. More commonly addressed are the inner thighs. A lateral thigh lift is performed to lift skin and improve the contour of the outer thighs. This lift is performed through an incision that is made high up on the thigh, near the outer waist and can be concealed in the underwear. It can also be performed as part of a lower body lift without any additional incisions.
You can return to work after 2 to 4 weeks and should avoid vigorous activities for at least 4 to 6 weeks. Visible bruising should clear up within 2 weeks, and swelling begins to resolve within 6 weeks. However, swelling can last to some extent, for several months. To avoid leg swelling, we typically recommend that you wear compressive wraps on your legs for several weeks after surgery. Drain tubes lasting as long as 4 weeks may be required.
Thigh lift surgery 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. When performing the lift, a surgeon may remove either medial (inner) thigh skin or outer (lateral) thigh skin. These procedures are known as medial thigh lifts and lateral thigh lifts.
If fitness and weight loss efforts have not helped achieved your goals, a surgical thigh lift may be right for you.
Good candidates for thigh lift surgery include:
The best way to determine if you are a candidate for thigh lift surgery is through a consultation with a plastic surgeon at Cleveland Clinic Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Center.
The results of thigh lift surgery are visible almost immediately, but it may take several weeks for your final results to fully develop. Over time, some visible scars will remain, but your results are long lasting, provided that you maintain a stable weight and general fitness. Scars also improve with time with maximum improvement requiring one year. As your body ages, it is natural to lose some firmness. However, most of your results should be relatively permanent.