LEG/THIGH LIFT PLASTIC SURGERY

A leg lift is a plastic surgery meant to improve saggy skin in the lower body area. It corrects body contours by tightening the skin on the legs and eliminating the effects of gravity.

Gravity pull and aging have a cumulative effect on the legs and leave them looking unattractive. 

Loose skin on the thighs can appear after excessive weight loss for example and create the look of so-called “saddlebags” on the outer thighs.

The negative effect of excessively saggy skin on the legs and thighs can also include difficulty in walking or doing other activities.

Thighplasty is an effective solution for enhancing the appearance of the thighs and legs in general. Once the excess skin is removed, the thighs look better-contoured and more proportionate with the rest of the body. The remaining skin is then pulled, tightened and secured. The final results include firmer, smoother and more graceful-looking legs.

Procedure info at a glance

Will I be awake or asleep during the surgery? Local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia can be used
Do I stay in hospital after surgery? Might be needed to stay for 1 night
What is the recovery time? When can I return to work/exercise? Back to work after 7-10 days
How long will the surgery last? Around 2 hours
How long until the final results of surgery are visible? 6 months after the surgery

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF LEG LIFT SURGERY?

This aesthetic surgery has several advantages. 

It returns the patient’s confidence to wear more fitting clothes and improves his/her self-image. 

Body sculpting for slimming the lower half of the body can improve the patient’s mobility because age and gravity can take a toll on a patient’s legs. Excess skin on the inner and outer thighs can limit the patient’s movement and cause skin infections and uncomfortable friction.

These concerns can be easily solved with leg lift – once the excess saggy skin is eliminated and the remaining skin lifted, the patient can enjoy his/her attractive legs that fit with the rest of the body shape. 

This aesthetic surgery can also reveal muscles that lie underneath the saggy skin. Once loose muscles can be tightened to improve the overall contours of the legs.

Along with tightening the skin, leg lift surgery can be combined with liposuction for excess fatty tissue removal. This way the results include smoother contours which is the main goal of leg lift surgery.

Another benefit of this cosmetic surgery is that it can reduce the appearance of stretch marks and cellulite. Since the surgery involves eliminating excess skin and underlying tissue, the problem of cellulite appearance can be greatly reduced. The skin on the legs becomes tight and smooth.

A lot of women can benefit from this plastic surgery if they are left with excess saggy skin on their thighs after pregnancy or major weight loss. They can achieve their aesthetic goals of having nicely-shaped, smooth and attractive legs with a leg lift procedure.

FREQUENT QUESTIONS

  • WHO IS A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR A LEG LIFT?

    Good candidates for this aesthetic surgery should be close to their ideal weight. Their goals from the surgery should be naturally contouring their legs. Candidates for this procedure are usually people who have lost a lot of weight and are left with excess saggy skin on their legs. This surgery can be beneficial for people who are prone to developing sores or irritation in their leg skin because of friction. Another benefit of this surgery is that people can minimize the appearance of stretch marks.

    The ideal candidates should be generally healthy and fit.

  • WHAT DOES THE LEG LIFT SURGERY INCLUDE?

    The first step includes having a consultation with Lucia’s plastic surgeon. The surgeon explains to the patient the whole procedure and examines the patient’s skin on the legs and his/her body contours. The patient also talks about his/her previous medical history and his/her concerns about excess saggy skin on the thighs. The surgeon can show the position and length of the incision on the patient’s thigh by drawing it with a marker - this way the patient can know what to expect. The surgeon also informs the patient about the risks and complications of the leg lift procedure.

    If the patient has high blood pressure, blood disorders or a history of adverse scaring, he/she might not be the best candidate for this procedure.

    The surgeon also takes the patient’s goals and expectations into consideration and creates a customized treatment plan that addresses the patient’s specific aesthetic concerns. A personalized procedure plan and plastic surgeon expertise guarantee the best possible outcomes and patient satisfaction.

  • HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE LEG LIFT SURGERY?

    The plastic surgeon will inform the patient on how to prepare for the procedure properly. It is vital that the patient follows the surgeon's instructions to get the best results and to recover fast after the surgery.

    Since a leg lift is performed under general anesthesia, it is vital that the patient arranges for someone to drive him/her home and stay with him/her for the first 24 hours.

    The patient should avoid taking blood-thinning medications like aspirin and ibuprofen for a few weeks before the surgery. These medications can cause excessive bleeding during and after the procedure, so it’s best to stop taking them.

    If the patient smokes, it’s best to stop it a couple of weeks before the operation, because smoking can slow down the recovery.

  • WHAT HAPPENS ON THE DAY OF THE SURGERY?

    When the patient comes to the surgical facility, he/she is prepped for the surgery. The patient then receives general anesthesia and the surgery can start.

    The surgeon makes a proper incision, according to the previously determined type of leg lift procedure.

    A medial thigh lift is otherwise known as a mini-thigh lift. The surgeon makes an incision at the patient’s inseam or along the inner thigh. The incision can go around the back of the patient’s thigh. This surgery removes saggy skin between the patient’s legs.

    A lateral thigh lift is a method where the surgeon makes the incision along the patient’s outer thighs to eliminate saddlebags. The saggy skin on the outer thighs can also hang from the patient’s hips.

    A spiral thigh lift is a method where the surgeon makes the incision under the patient’s buttocks at the gluteal fold. This type of lift targets loose skin at the back of the legs and buttocks.

    During the surgery, the surgeon lifts, removes and smooths out the skin on the patient’s legs. After the surgery, incisions will be closed with deep sutures by surgeon. This way the patient can safely heal. Then the surgeon puts bandages over the incisions to help with the swelling. He may also put a draining tube near the wound to drain excess fluids from the treated area.

    The whole surgery may last for 2 hours.

    Since a leg lift is an outpatient procedure, the patient can leave the surgical facility soon after the surgery unless advised otherwise.

  • WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF THE LEG LIFT SURGERY?

    Like any other aesthetic surgery, the leg lift procedure carries a certain risk of developing side effects.

    The usual side effects include bruising, pain and swelling for a couple of days after the surgery.

    Rare side effects include excessive bleeding and infection. In case of unusual side effects, the patient should inform the surgeon immediately.

  • WHAT DOES LEG LIFT SURGERY AFTERCARE INCLUDE?

    To recover safely, the patient needs to follow the surgeon’s aftercare instructions. This way the patient can expect to get the best final results.

    Since it is quite difficult to walk around just after the surgery, it’s good that the patient has someone to help him/her in the first couple of days.

    The patient will have bandages and a compression garment on the thighs. The compression garment holds the sutures firmly in place. Later, the garment helps the patient’s thighs adapt to their new contours. It should be worn at least for a month.

    The patient needs to take plenty of rest, but short walks are beneficial. They can trigger blood flow and speed up the healing. However, more strenuous activities, including squatting or climbing stairs should be avoided.

    Every patient is different and needs his/her own time to completely heal after the surgery.

    Usually, it takes 7 to 10 days to feel well enough to go back to work. During this time the patient should be in a reclining position and keep the legs elevated to heal properly. The patient should sleep on the back with slightly bent legs. he/she can put a pillow under the knees for more comfort. Stretching the legs should be avoided because it can put pressure on the thighs and sutures.

    The patient can shower after a couple of days but avoid hot baths. After 5 days, the patient can go out for a walk.

    The scars are usually T-shaped and placed along the top of the thigh and along the inner thigh up to the patient’s knee. At first, the scar is red and visible but it should get light and soft after a year or year and a half.

  • WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF THE LEG LIFT SURGERY?

    The patient should see the first results immediately - the thighs are better contoured. However, the best results are seen after 6 months post-procedure.

    The thighs look more attractive and youthful.

    The skin on the thighs is firmer but this surgery doesn’t tighten the saggy skin on the calves.