Weight loss often leaves patients with unwanted sagging skin. Women, in particular, are concerned about laxity and looseness in the thigh area. Fortunately, there are many body lift procedures used to remedy this dilemma, including thigh Lift Miami. A thigh lift, also known as thighplasty, is an outpatient procedure that helps remove the extra flaccid skin in the thighs. While thigh Lift Miami is not a weight loss solution, it helps eliminate some of the bothersome fat. When combined with liposuction, thigh Lift Miami can address excess fat and achieve an improved physique.
This article provides you with valuable information so you can avoid the common mistakes patients make along their surgical journey. After a thigh Lift Miami you will have renewed confidence in your appearance and face situations you had previously avoided.
What is Thighplasty or thigh lift surgery?
Thighplasty is the potentially ideal solution to achieve firmer and more attractive upper legs. This surgical lift targets excess skin on the thighs that sag as a result of pregnancy, aging, and substantial weight loss. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons defines it as follows:
“Thigh lift surgery reshapes the thighs by reducing excess skin and fat, resulting in smoother skin and better-proportioned contours of the thighs and lower body.”
Who is a good candidate for a thigh lift?
While most patients that wish to improve the appearance of their thighs may be good candidates for this procedure, the ideal candidates must meet specific requirements. These criteria will keep them safe during the thigh lift procedure and maximize their chances for reaching the new look:
Have undesirable skin and soft tissue along the thighs – The surgeon will eliminate thin layers of stubborn fat but the primary goal is not for thigh lift Miami to replace a good diet and exercise plan.
Keep a stable weight – Patients must first reach their weight loss goals since losing further weight may cause the tissue to droop again. Gaining weight can also affect the results. Your surgeon can recommend a target weight for this procedure. Patients should be committed to preserving the results through dieting and exercising.
Overall good health – Some conditions such as diabetes and other medical conditions may interfere with your ability to recover safely.
Refrain from smoking for a prescribed period prior to and following thigh reduction surgery since smoking can disrupt the healing process.
Avoid drinking – Alcohol can cause the risks or complications to increase.
Good mental health – Surgery can be physically and emotionally demanding; therefore, patients must be psychologically stable to appreciate the thigh lift surgery results fully.
THIGH REDUCTION SURGERY TECHNIQUES
Every patient has different needs; therefore, each thigh reduction surgery technique will target a specific area. Below the thigh lift options available.
INNER THIGH LIFT
This surgical option alters the inner thigh area. During the procedure, the surgeon makes an incision where the thigh meets the groin. The technique allows the easy removal of excess skin and helps enhance the appearance of the thighs.
MEDIAL THIGH LIFT
The medial thigh lift procedure corrects sagging in the inner and upper legs. Medial thigh lift is performed with a technique that involves an incision along the groin area to the crease of the buttocks. The incision may extend to the front and up to the hip area as needed.
MINI THIGH LIFT
This procedure is a variation of the traditional thigh lift to help reduce sagging in the upper third of the thigh. The incision is made along the groin region so the surgeon can remove excess skin as required and the primary structures in the thigh are easily removed.
OUTER THIGH LIFT
The outer technique, also known as bilateral thigh lift, addresses portions of the thigh in front and the outer area, around the hip and across the back. This procedure involves an incision at the top of the leg in the area where the lower portion of a bikini is found. When the incision is placed in this area, the outer and frontal areas of the thighs are treated more accurately.
Thighplasty Procedure
At Avana Plastic Surgery, our plastic surgeons help you create smoother and more appealing contours in line with your cosmetic goals.
YOUR INITIAL CONSULTATION AT AVANA PLASTIC SURGERY
If you are considering thigh lift Miami, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with one of our plastic surgeons specializing in this procedure. During your initial consultation, the surgeon will listen to what you want to accomplish after thigh reduction surgery, perform a thorough examination, and recommend a course of treatment.
Your questions about insurance and financing will be answered as well. You can take a look at before and after photos of procedures performed by the surgeon so you can decide whether the results are in line with your cosmetic goals. If you are satisfied with the surgeon’s experience and skill, and thighplasty is right for you, we will proceed with preoperative preparations as directed by your surgeon.
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PREPARING FOR THE THIGH LIFT SURGERY
Before thigh lift surgery, you may be asked to undergo a medical examination, take some medications and avoid others, quit smoking and drinking before surgery and several weeks after, avoid taking blood thinners and herbal supplements.
Medical evaluation – To confirm the patient is in good health, the surgeon may perform or order a preoperative physical.
Medicines before thigh lift surgery – Patients will be advised to stop taking over the counter medicines including drugs, herbs, blood thinners, and supplements as prescribed by the surgeon.
Stop smoking – Patients are encouraged to stop smoking prior to thigh reduction surgery as it can lead to skin problems, and slow down wound healing leaving the patient with the permanent thigh lift scars. Smoking also causes coughing, which can lead to bleeding.
Avoid alcoholic drinks before surgery and following the thigh lift procedure as directed by the surgeon since it may interfere with anesthetic medicines and result in excessive bleeding.
Patients are advised to stop eating and drinking anything, including coffee and tea at midnight the night before thigh lift surgery.
You must have someone accompanying you at least during the first day of your thigh lift recovery. Otherwise, our recovery house is available at an extra cost.
Relax the day before surgery. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and go about your daily responsibilities.
The night before your leg contouring surgery, remove all jewelry and body piercing, take a shower with soap, remove all makeup and don’t apply anything on the skin.
THIGH LIFT PROCEDURE STEPS
The steps of thigh lift surgery are as follows:
Anesthesia is administered to the patient for comfort during the entire procedure. The options available are general anesthesia and intravenous sedation as advised by your surgeon.
The incision is made according to the targeted area and technique that were chosen during the initial consultation. Advanced methods allow surgeons to place the incisions in strategic locations where they can be easily concealed with clothing and swimwear.
The incisions are closed with adhesive tapes, clips, and deep sutures within the underlying tissues to support the new silhouette.
The results are seen almost immediately, but they will progress as the patient recovers, and the swelling and bruising subside so that the newly shaped contours are fully defined.
THIGH LIFT RECOVERY
Thigh lift recovery can vary from patient to patient, but on average, patients return to work in about one week. Patients will need a compression garment to reduce swelling and provide support to the new contours for three to four weeks after thigh lift surgery. Dissolvable sutures will be used that way they don’t need to be removed. Drains are placed under the skin to eliminate excess blood and fluid that accumulates post-operatively, which should be removed depending on the amount of fluid collected on a daily basis.
Bruising and swelling should subside in three to six months. Patients are encouraged to take short walks to keep blood circulating. Nevertheless, patients should avoid any strenuous activities as directed by the physician. Most patients recover well and resume their normal activities four to six weeks after thigh lift surgery.
How much does a thigh lift Miami cost?
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average cost of thigh lift surgery is $4,863, but this cost doesn’t include operating room costs, anesthesia, and other similar expenses. The price can vary widely from patient to patient.
Cost Factors
Some factors to keep in mind when calculating the cost of thigh lift Miami include:
The amount of skin and fat the patient has, which will impact the technique used during surgery and ultimately affect the thigh lift cost. The shorter the incision and the less amount of tissue removed, the less costly it will be.
Diagnostic testing required. When the surgeon needs more information to determine candidacy, additional tests may be ordered adding extra costs.
The surgeon’s skill and experience – Surgeons that specialize in thigh lift may be pricier. Just remember, a qualified surgeon will help you save money along the way and deliver satisfying results so that patients don’t have to invest in additional procedures.
Medical concerns – Patients with medical concerns that make the use of anesthesia, recovery, and performing surgery more difficult, may also increase the cost of thigh lift.
Where the procedure is done - The thigh lift cost can vary per region. Surgeons who operate in clinics and medical centers tend to be more economical than those at hospitals. You will save a lot on surgical costs by working with a plastic surgeon from out of town. In that case, you must also consider travel expenses.
Postoperative medications and supplies required – Patients need to take painkillers, antibiotics, wear compression garments, and purchase other supplies postoperatively, which adds up to the total thighplasty cost. You can take advantage of a plastic surgery clinic that includes these items in the price of the procedure.
Anesthesia used – Some surgeons use general anesthesia while others prefer local sedation. The type of anesthesia used can affect the total thigh lift cost.
When thigh lift is combined with another procedure such as liposuction and tummy tuck, the price as well as time invested on the procedure will increase.
The insurance provider’s coverage – In most cases, this procedure is not covered by the insurance provider because this is an elective procedure unless you can demonstrate a medical need. In that case, the insurance may provide part of the expenses.
Whether post-operative care is included in the price – Some clinics include thigh lift recovery care in the total cost while others don’t. You may need to ask what’s covered and what’s not covered.
Schedule a free consultation today
If you feel loose skin in the thigh area is cramping, now is the time to correct this issue. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation with a surgeon from Avana Plastic Surgery. Whether you are looking to undergo thigh lift surgery or combine it with another procedure, we are here to educate you about all the options available and give you our recommendations based on your cosmetic goals.
Thigh Lift FAQs
Thigh lift offers several benefits for male and female patients undergoing this procedure. Patients can achieve a smoother and more youthful contour, tighter and firmer skin of the inner and outer thighs, substantial removal of cellulite, a balanced silhouette and toned look. Our surgeons have a customized approach to each thigh lift procedure so that the results are natural-looking.
Like any other plastic surgery, there are some risks associated with undergoing thigh lift surgery:
Scarring – It is natural for scaring to occur post-operatively as patients are healed from the thigh lift procedure. Scarring is hard to predict as every patient heals differently. Some patients may have darker and thicker scars while others may have lightly colored thigh lift scars. Also, some incisions such as the vertical incision may leave a long and visible scar.
Infection – This is a serious risk. Therefore, patients must keep their wounds clean particularly after going to the bathroom. Fortunately, if infections are dealt with ahead of time, they should be easy to handle. However, if untreated, they could lead to the death of tissue and other complications such as septicemia.
Bleeding – While the risk of bleeding is low as long as you are not taking blood thinners, it can happen and cause a hematoma.
Deep vein thrombosis – This is a risk linked to many surgical procedures. Patients can eliminate these risks with anti-thrombosis stockings and movement.
Skin discoloration – Due to a temporary reduction in blood supply during thigh lift, discoloration of the skin may occur, but in most cases, it goes back to normal.
Swelling – Swelling is very common after surgery, and it could take several months to subside in some patients. However, patients should see significant improvement after the first week of thigh lift recovery.
Numbness – The surgical site and surrounding areas may experience numbness.
Skin loss – Patients may experience some degree of skin loss, which will make the skin feel tight until several weeks after surgery when the skin naturally heals and is stretched out.
Unevenness – Some patients may notice a slight asymmetry, which requires a second thigh lift procedure if it is very noticeable or patients are bothered by it.
Wound separation – While surgeons make every effort to close the sutures properly, it is possible for the wounds to open. In that case, they need to be re-sutured.
It all depends on the severity of the problem. This procedure takes three to four hours to complete. If liposuction is combined with this procedure, it will take several hours longer.
Patients may experience mild to moderate discomfort after surgery, but pain medications will be prescribed to ease recovery.
Thigh lift helps remove excess skin and tightening the remaining; therefore, the appearance of the skin can improve significantly. Some patients may choose to combine it with liposuction to achieve a more proportionate body figure.
The results from this procedure can last up to 20 years in many patients, but unfortunately, the effects of aging, sun exposure, and gravity are inevitable.
It’s important to keep a healthy and active lifestyle after surgery. When patients gain or lose a significant amount of weight, they can alter the results. Smoking and prolonged sun exposure can damage the thighs and make them look aged and wrinkled.
It’s natural for the surgical site to be sensitive after thigh lift since the incisions are placed in a place where there is much friction. The incisions heal during the initial ten days of thigh lift recovery. Permanent stitches may be placed as well and removed in ten days following surgery during which time patients can go back to work. However, most sutures will dissolve with time.
The first step is to have a list of plastic surgeons in your area, ask recommendations from friends and family, and look at sites with reviews. Soliciting referrals from trusted medical practitioners may also be beneficial. Some questions to ask your prospective surgeon include:
It all depends on the kind of work you do. If there were no complications after surgery and you are sitting by your desk most of the time and your job doesn’t require heavy lifting, you may go back to work a week after surgery. However, if you undergo a major procedure, you may need two weeks to recover fully. That is a decision your doctor can help you with.
Are you certified?
How long have you been practicing?
Do you specialize in this particular procedure?
How often do you perform thigh lift surgery?
What are your preferred thigh lift incisions?
What is your success rate in performing this procedure?
What are the risks and complications?
Do you have before and after photos?
What are other alternatives to this surgery
What’s the total thighplasty cost and what’s included?
Body lift surgery is often combined with other body lifting procedures such as arm lift, breast lift, and butt lift. Also, patients who lost a lot of weight may have less skin elasticity in the face, which may require surgery of the face, neck, and brow.
