Thigh Lift

Many people dream of achieving a thigh gap; however, excess fat and loose skin around the thighs can prove very difficult to work off and causes discomfort for many patients. Manhattan plastic surgeon, Dr. Kenneth O. Rothaus, uses modern advanced surgical techniques to create a smoother and tighter skin appearance in the thighs.

What is Thigh Lift Surgery?

Thigh lift surgery, also known as thighplasty, helps patients get rid of excess skin on the upper legs caused by aging or extreme weight loss. In many cases, a thigh lift also includes the removal of excess fat through liposuction. Patients undergo thigh lift surgery in order to improve contour of the thighs and achieve more desirable proportions of the lower body. For many, this surgery is often a final step in their weight loss transformation.

Who is a Good Candidate for Thighplasty?

The best candidates for a thigh lift are those who are at or near their goal weight and whose weight loss is stable. Patients that have loose skin hanging from the inner and/or outer thigh would be candidates for this. Because thighplasty is a skin tightening surgery, patients who simply wish to remove fat, but otherwise have good skin laxity, will be better suited for a liposuction procedure. A combination of liposuction and skin tightening is usually incorporated in a thigh lift.

What is the Procedure for a Thigh Lift?

During a thigh lift surgery, the most common incision point places the incisions in the groin and in many cases, depending on the amount of skin to be removed, extends upward towards the abdomen or downward along the inner thigh. The hanging skin is trimmed away and removed and the underlying tissue is re-draped and tightened. Depending on the needs of the patient, our doctor will either perform a medial thigh lift targeting the inner thigh or a lateral thigh lift, which targets the outer thigh. Patients who are advised to have an outer thigh lift will generally need to have their butt lifted as well. This combination approach is sometimes incorporated into an overall lower body lift for severe skin sagging. Thigh lift surgery, if performed alone, takes about two to three hours to complete. It is considered an outpatient procedure.

How Long is Thigh Lift Recovery?

The recovery for a thigh lift is somewhat slow, but this is primarily due to the incisions. On average, patients can expect to return to light activities within two weeks, and a full recovery in about six to eight weeks. Depending on how much skin was removed, there may be scars that are evident outside of the groin area. Proper scar care is needed for the scars to heal safely. Because of newly enhanced thighs and a slimmer thigh appearance, patients find that their self-confidence improves greatly after this surgery.

Plan Your Procedure

Recovery Time: 2-3 weeks

Average Procedure Time: 3-4 hours

Procedure Recovery Location: Outpatient