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What is a Thigh Lift?
A thigh lift is a procedure done to remove excess skin and fat from the inner and/or outer thighs. Liposuction may also be used to help re-contour the thighs and surrounding tissues for a slimmer, more youthful thigh contour.
Who is a Candidate?
Individuals who have excess tissue on the upper thighs due to substantial weight loss or whom diet and exercise was not successful can often benefit from a thigh lift. A thigh lift can create a more proportionate body contour, make fitting into clothing easier, and bring about a boost in confidence. Ideal candidates will be healthy and near their ideal weight to be considered for this procedure.
The Procedure
The thigh lift procedure can address the inner or outer thighs. The surgical technique used will depend on the area of the thigh being treated.
Crescent Inner Thigh Lift: During a limited inner thigh lift, an incision is made in the groin area. Excess fat and skin are excised along the inner thigh, and liposuction may also be used to remove excess fatty tissue. The area from the groin down to the knee is recontoured for a slimmer inner thigh appearance.
Medial thigh lift: Involves an incision that begins at the groin crease and extends to the inner knee. `
Results and Recovery
Following a thigh lift, bruising, swelling, and soreness is to be expected. Compression garments will need to be worn, and drains may be placed to collect excess fluid during recovery. Pain medication can be taken to lessen and discomfort. After surgery, you should allow for at least a week of rest and recuperating, in order to allow for proper healing. During this time, you will be advised to wear your compression garment in order to protect your surgical incisions, and to promote firming and tightening of the skin. Although post-surgical walking is recommended to prevent blood clots from forming, you should avoid climbing stairs and will need to keep your legs slightly bent at the hips during the first week, in order to minimize tension around your incision line, which will result in a thinner, less-visible scar.
Most patients return to work 1-3 weeks following surgery, although it is important to remember that healing is a gradual process, and you should avoid any strenuous physical activity that could stress the incision sites for several weeks. Most of the swelling and discoloration will dissipate in 1-2 months, and during your follow-up visits, Dr. Fichadia will monitor your progress and ensure your body is healing properly.
Patients in the Portland area who wish to eliminate excess tissue on the thighs can contact our office today to learn more about thigh lift.
Dr. Fichadia is a double board-certified, comprehensively trained plastic and reconstructive surgeon. She completed general surgical training at St Elizabeth’s Medical Center, an affiliate of Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, MA, and subsequently completed a highly competitive plastic surgery program at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, OR. She has presented research from her time in Boston and Portland at national and international surgical meetings such as Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons and annual meeting of American Society of Plastic Surgery.
