Thigh Lift

Similar to Arm Lift operation, the surgeon will first assess if the root cause is related to having excess skin, fat, or both. For individuals with excess fat, it is recommended to undergo liposuction. For individuals with excessive skin, the approach would be Thigh Lift.

Sagging thigh skin is commonly observed in individuals who have gone through a drastic weight-loss process, including exercise, strict diet, or surgery. This is because even though the fat is removed, the skin does not “shrink back”.

The Thigh Lift approach can be categorized as followed:

Removing excess skin from inner thigh: The cut will be performed from the groin to the knee, hidden behind the inner thigh.
Removing excess skin from outer thigh: The cut will be visible around the waist area.

Individuals with excess thigh fat may also consider undergoing liposuction at the same time, or can wait 6 months until the swelling stops to resume with liposuction.

Recommended for:

Individuals with sagging upper thigh skin (in some cases with excess fat).

Operation details:

After applying anesthesia, the surgeon will perform a cut and remove the excess skin in the inner thigh area or remove the excess skin around the waist and tummy, as deemed necessary for that particular individual. In some cases, liposuction may also be done. Liposuction may also be recommended for individuals with excess fat. Drain tube will be inserted and the cut stitched afterwards.

Post-operational treatments:

Clean the area daily, avoid contact with water.
Drain to be left in place for 1-2 days after the operation.
Continue wearing thigh band during the first 2 months.
Remove the suture on Day 14, after which the wound can come in contact with water.
The swelling will be less noticeable after 3-6 months.
The scar may be visible during the first 3 months, after which will become less noticeable within 1 year.

Possible side-effects:

Temporary numbness surrounding the surgery area, which will gradually improve during the first year.
Lymphatic accumulation under the surgical wound may appear after the operation for a few weeks. For minor cases, the surgeon will treat as deemed appropriate, but for excessive cases, the surgeon may consider draining out.
Surgery cuts become detached and infected, which can be observed in individuals with excessive weights. It is recommended to have a followup correction surgery.
Bulging scars, which can be treated with steroid injections to the scar area.

How long will the change last?

The change will typically last a lifetime. It is very rare that the skin will sag again or that the fat will re-accumulate.