TIGHTEN AND LIFT YOUR UPPER THIGH WITH
A THIGHPLASTY IN LONDON

Thighplasty or thigh lift surgery can effectively improve the appearance of your inner and outer thighs. During the surgery, often done in conjunction with thigh liposuction, excess skin and fat are removed from the thighs. After removing the fat using a liposuction procedure, the remaining skin is placed on the newly created contours to create a toned and firm look.

When the skin on the thighs loosens and sags because of old age or significant weight loss, it causes the thighs to have a flabby and dimpled appearance. Thighplasty can correct this condition. Although exercise is essential to strengthen and improve the muscle tone of the thighs, excess skin due to significant loss of weight or lost elasticity cannot be brought back to its original form.

Undergoing a Thighplasty surgery can restore tighter contours to your thighs. This will boost your confidence as your body image is improved.

Thighplasty is done either under IV sedation or general anesthesia. During the thigh lift surgery, your doctor will mark your thighs and make incisions on the loose skin on the sides of your thigh. The length and pattern of the incision normally depend on the amount of skin and fat that needs to be removed.

After making the incisions, your plastic surgeon will move on to tightening the underlying tissues. Sometimes, Thighplasty is combined by liposuction to remove more fat from the thigh area (thigh liposuction) before stitching the underlying tissues together. After removing the excess skin, the remaining skin is draped over the new contours and stitched together to close the incisions.

There are various ways to do a thigh lift surgery, which depend on the amount of sagging skin and excess fat, as also where the excess skin and fat are to be removed from – i.e. the inner/ outer thigh, upper/ full thigh.

Mini Thigh Lift – If you have sagging thighs due to moderate weight loss, which is restricted to the upper-inner part of your thighs, a mini thigh lift may be adequate for you. This is a limited-incision procedure involving minimal elimination of subcutaneous fat and loose skin. An incision is done only in the groin area to remove excess fat and the sagging skin is tightened.

Inner or Medial Thigh Lift – This is the most common type of thigh lift or thighplasty that is performed. If you have moderate amount of sagging skin in your inner or upper-inner thighs, a medial thigh lift might be appropriate. In this process, the incision will be from the groin to the buttock crease. Compared to a mini thigh lift, the medial thigh lift involves longer incisions that let the plastic surgeon tighten and smooth out more skin.

Outer or Bilateral Thigh Lift – This involves removal and tightening of skin on the front and outer thigh. The incision for this type of thigh lift surgery is like a V-shape around your groin crease, and could extend to the back of your buttocks or hips. This procedure helps to tighten skin on both the left and right sides of the leg and is beneficial for those with significant excess skin, as it allows for removal of larger volume of tissue. You can also combine this with a Buttock Lift for more dramatic results. This makes it similar to a Lower Body Lift.

Vertical Thigh Lift – Lastly, people who have had a massive weight loss and have excess skin extending all across the thigh might need to undergo the most extensive procedure, called the Vertical Thigh Lift or Vertical Thighplasty. In this, the incisions are done along the groin crease and all the way up to the back of the knees. Because of this more extensive, crescent-shape incision, this surgery is also called a crescent lift.

The ideal candidate should be a healthy person who has achieved a healthy weight. He or she should not have fluctuating weight or any medical condition that could interfere with the healing of the wound.

He/she has excess, flabby, or dimpled skin in the thigh area and desires tighter thigh contours.

Prior to ensuring your candidature for the Thighplasty, your plastic surgeon will review your medical history and past and present health condition. You will have to discuss the medication you are on, including any herbal supplements.

As a possible Thighplasty candidate, you must have realistic expectations about the resultant appearance of your thigh after the procedure. You must stop smoking prior to the surgery and after the surgery, as tobacco can slow down the blood flow to the skin and thereby slow down the healing process.

Your plastic surgeon will check your previous medical history prior to recommending the procedure. The surgery will show desirable results only on people who are generally healthy and do not have any previous history of having cardiac issues, pulmonary emboli, excessive bleeding, seizures, immunodeficiency disorders, or deep vein thrombosis. People with such conditions are discouraged from undergoing this procedure due to a higher risk of surgical complications.

People who are on certain anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant drugs are also discouraged from undergoing a thigh lift surgery.

The cost of Thighplasty in London depends on the following factors:

• Skill and experience of the plastic surgeon
• Standard of the clinic/ hospital where the surgery will be performed
• Amount of skin and fat to be removed
• Extent of body contouring involved
• Whether the procedure involves thigh liposuction or other allied procedures

It is advised to get an initial consultation from a specialist plastic surgeon to know the cost applicable to your case and your eligibility for the procedure.

We perform Thighplasty under IV sedation at our accredited clinic in London. If our plastic surgeon recommends your procedure should be done under General Anesthesia, this would be performed at an accredited hospital in London.

We recommend you schedule 2 weeks off from work after your thigh lift surgery. The complete healing and recovery after the surgery will need more time.

Most people are able to resume normal activities after 2-3 weeks. Take note that even after this period, you might be required to avoid specific activities until you are fully recovered. For people whose work involves strenuous physical activities, you’ll need an extended time of another 3-5 weeks before resuming your normal activities.

Thighplasty is a safe procedure with a skilled plastic surgeon, but following complications may be seen:

• Asymmetry of thighs
• Swelling
• Prominent scarring
• Excessive bleeding
• Temporary numbness
• Temporary or permanent loss of sensation in the area of surgery
• Contour irregularities

Most patients experience pain and discomfort after the surgery when anesthesia effects diminish. You will start to feel comfortable after a couple of days.

Immediately after the Thighplasty surgery, the incisions will be covered in bandages. These loosely wrapped bandages will help minimize the swelling. Sometimes, a small tube will be placed in your thigh to drain away from the excess blood and lymph fluid. After removing the bandages and the tube, your plastic surgeon will recommend you wear a compression garment for a few weeks to aid the healing process and keep the swelling down. It is normal to feel some loss of sensation in your thighs after your thigh lift surgery. This temporary numbness will go away once your thigh is completely healed.

During your first week of recovery, you can expect issues with pain and bruising. The pain is managed with prescribed medications and the bruising through cold compresses or Arnica gel. You should get plenty of rest during this time, though you should walk lightly in order to promote circulation and avoid blood clots. You should sleep in a position such that you do not stretch the thigh area. Pillows placed under your thighs can help with this.

After the first week of recovery, it is necessary to do a follow-up visit with your plastic surgeon to monitor your progress— to check the incision sites. Attend all your follow-up visits to help with the full recovery process.

For the first 6 to 8 weeks, avoid lifting any weights.

After the first month, you will have recovered enough to return to your normal routine. Pain is no longer a major issue and major bruising will have faded. You can stop wearing your compression garment too at this stage.

It is advised to stay away from all physical and athletic activities which require stretching your thigh for up to 8 weeks after the surgery. Take your oral antibiotics to prevent any sort of infections.

Sun exposure should be avoided for up to 12 weeks after the surgery.

It is still best to do follow-up visits with your plastic surgeon for continuing post-surgical care.

Post-surgery, there will be an immediate visible improvement in the shape and appearance of your upper thigh. Most of the loose and sagging skin would have gone. After a month, most of the bruising and swelling will subside. The redness of the scars will diminish within 3 months. Within 6-12 months, you will see a noticeable improvement in the overall appearance of the thighs and the scar appearance as well. The scars will continue to fade for some more time .

For best results, strictly follow the care instructions of your plastic surgeon, prior to, and in the aftermath of the surgery. For lasting results, maintain a stable and healthy weight.