Thigh Lift in Savannah, GA

What Is a Thigh Lift?

The thigh lift is a body-contouring surgery that sculpt the upper thighs. This procedure removes excess skin and fat from the upper thigh area, contouring this area and enhancing the appearance of the thighs.

In this procedure, excess skin is removed, and underlying structural tissue is tightened. In some cases, excess fat may also be removed. This streamlines the contours of the thighs to make them look slimmer and more toned.

Why Have a Thigh Lift?

The upper thighs are a part of the body many people are dissatisfied with. It’s an area where fat tends to accumulate, and, for women in particular, the appearance of cellulite can also be frustrating.

• Weight changes. Gaining a large amount of weight can stretch the skin. After weight loss, the excess skin may become loose and sagging.
• Aging. For some people, sagging skin is simply the result of aging, as time and gravity exert their effects.
• Cellulite. Some people may have a genetic tendency to accumulate fat in the thighs or to develop cellulite.

For some people, these body changes may be distressing and have a negative impact on self-esteem and confidence. In some cases, excess fat or loose skin may reduce your mobility or range of motion, or they could cause skin problems like chafing or rashes.

If excess skin, fat, or cellulite on your upper thighs is causing these kinds of issues for you, a thigh lift may be a potential solution. For many people, it can mean not just an enhanced appearance but a greater freedom of movement and increased confidence.

Can I Have Other Procedures Along with a Thigh Lift?

If you have loose or sagging skin in other parts of your body as well as the upper thighs, you may wish to have lifting surgery in two or more locations. Depending on the treatment areas, your cosmetic surgeon might be able to do these procedures at the same time. This can be an advantage, as combining surgeries may be more cost-effective, and it reduces your total recovery time.

Some procedures you may be able to combine with a thigh lift include a breast or arm lift, tummy tuck, or liposuction.

Not everyone can have all the procedures they want to at the same time. There are limits to how much surgery you can have safely in the same session. These limits are different for everyone and depend on your age, general health, and medical status. At a consultation, your plastic surgeon can help you understand what would be best for you.

Are There Any Non-Surgical Alternatives to Thigh Lift Surgery?

For some people, there are non-surgical treatment options that may work to tighten the skin as an alternative to surgery. These options are most suitable for people with only a small amount of skin sagging and may include:

1. Targeted Exercise

If you have only a very small amount of loose skin, muscle-toning exercises may help to improve the appearance of your thighs. This option doesn’t work for everyone, and it does mean following what may be a rigorous exercise routine in order to maintain the results.

2. Targeted Fat Removal

CoolSculpting® is a fat-removal treatment that applies targeted cold energy to fat cells to permanently destroy them. It may be helpful for people with excess upper thigh fat, but it doesn’t have any effect on loose or excess skin. This means CoolSculpting® won’t provide a complete solution if you’re looking to get rid of your sagging skin.

Who Is a Good Candidate for a Thigh Lift?

The thigh lift procedure could be right for you if you have excess skin in your inner or outer thigh region. This may be the result of losing a large amount of weight or body changes associated with pregnancy or aging.

For a thigh lift, it’s also important to be a good overall surgical candidate, meaning you’re in good health, with no underlying medical conditions that may affect the outcome of surgery. If you’re a smoker, you’ll need to stop smoking prior to surgery and during your recovery.

Because changes in weight may affect your long-term results, it’s also best if you’re at a stable weight that’s healthy for you.

What Happens at a Thigh Lift Consultation?

Before having a thigh lift at Savannah Plastic Surgery, you’ll first have a complimentary consultation with one of our cosmetic surgeons. This is an essential part of the process, so you can find out more about the procedure and your surgeon can perform a physical examination.

Talking about your body goals. Your body goals are an important consideration. What do you hope to achieve with a thigh lift, and what results can you expect? Discussing these questions will help you decide if this surgery is the best option for you.

Discussing your medical history. Your plastic surgeon needs to know your medical history, as it may affect your surgery or recovery. This includes any medical conditions you have and any medications you take.

Physical exam. The physical exam is necessary so your surgeon can assess your surgical needs. It also helps them determine the best size and placement of surgical incisions, as well as determine what results your surgery may achieve.

Asking questions and voicing concerns. If you have any questions about the surgery or recovery, this is the best time to ask them. Having cosmetic surgery is an important decision, so make sure you have all the information you need to know that you’re making the right choice for you.

How Should I Prepare for Thigh Lift Surgery?

Most people will have some things they need to do to prepare for surgery, but for some people there may be one or more extra steps to take. If you do have to prepare for surgery, your surgeon will let you know exactly what you need to do, and when. Some possibilities include:

Medication changes: If you take any blood-thinning medications, you may have to stop taking these temporarily ahead of surgery. This is because blood thinners increase the risk of excessive bleeding during surgery. If you take prescription blood thinners, your surgeon may advise you to stop taking them for a week or two prior to surgery. Certain over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen and aspirin, are also included in this category.

Smoking cessation: If you’re a smoker, your surgeon will ask you to stop smoking before your surgery and to refrain from smoking for as long as possible afterwards. This is important because smoking reduces the level of oxygen in your blood, which both adds to surgical risk and negatively impacts your body’s ability to heal afterwards.

What Is the Thigh Lift Treatment Like?

Thigh lift surgery is performed at our surgicenter, typically under a general anesthesia. The procedure begins with incisions, the size and location of which depend on your needs. For an inner thigh lift, incisions are often made in the groin crease, wrapping around the inner thighs to the buttocks area. For an outer thigh lift, incisions may extend from the groin around the hip area to the back.

Once the incisions are done, sutures are made within underlying muscle and tissue to reshape and tighten the upper thigh contours. The excess skin is then removed, the remaining skin is smoothed over the tissue, and the incisions are closed.

Thigh Lift Aftercare and Recovery

After having a thigh lift, you’ll have some pain, bruising, and swelling in your thighs. These symptoms will improve gradually over the first week, although the swelling may linger for longer.

During thigh lift recovery, the location and size of the incisions means it’s vital to be cautious and careful when moving around. We recommend patients restrict their activity level for two weeks or more. This is important because any leg movements—even sitting down or standing up—put pressure on the incisions. Depending on the patient, this may require a period of bedrest after surgery, to reduce swelling and movement that might affect healing.

Most people are able to resume a normal level of activity by around week six, but your own personal timeline will depend on how your recovery proceeds. Your surgeon will give you instructions to follow during recovery, including:

• What types of activities to avoid
• Any prescriptions you need
• When to attend follow-up appointments

Following these instructions closely is the best way to ensure a smooth recovery.

Thigh Lift Risks and Complications

Thigh Lift Risks

Every kind of surgery has some associated risks. While these are rare, it’s still important to understand what they are, so you can give informed consent to surgery. Your surgeon will discuss these risks with you before your procedure goes ahead.

Anesthesia reaction: Up to 1 in 5,000 people have an allergic or sensitivity-type reaction to anesthesia. If you’ve had anesthesia in the past and haven’t had any problems, it’s unlikely you’ll have a dangerous reaction to future anesthesia.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or blood clot: Your risk of a blood clot or DVT increases temporarily after surgery. Smoking raises this risk, as do long periods of inactivity. This is a particular issue for thigh lift patients, due to the need for restricting activity, so it’s important to resume light activities as soon as your surgeon gives you the okay.

Your surgery results: Even with successful surgery, there’s still a potential risk that you don’t get the results you were hoping for. Choosing an experienced surgeon with a good reputation is an important part of this—not just because they can deliver great results but because a good surgeon will help you set realistic, achievable treatment goals.

Thigh Lift Complications

In a review of 447 thigh lift patients by researchers, complications were found to occur in 42.72% of people who had thigh lift surgery. However, for most people complications are mild and quickly resolved. In this study the most common complications of thigh lift included:

• Wound dehiscence: Separation of the edges of the wound, occurring in up to 18% of people
• Seroma: Accumulation of fluid at the wound site, occurring in up to 8% of people
• Wound infection: Occurring in 4.96% of thigh lift patients
• Hypertrophic scarring: Raised scarring that is more prominent than normal, occurring in 2.4% of thigh lift patients
• Scar migration: As the wound heals over time, skin tension may cause a scar to move slightly from its original location. This occurred in 3.57% of people.
• Skin necrosis: Death of skin around an incision site, occurring in 0.22% (1 person in 447)
• Lymph fistula: Damage to a lymph node in the groin causes leakage of lymphatic fluid. This occurred at a rate of 0.22% (1 person in 447).

If you’re concerned about any of these complications, discuss them with your surgeon at your consultation. They’ll be able to address each one specifically.

What Results Can I Expect from a Thigh Lift?

While you’ll see some immediate changes in your silhouette after thigh lift surgery, it does take up to six months for swelling to subside completely. As the swelling reduces, you’ll see that your thighs look leaner and more toned. The scarring from thigh lift surgery is permanent, but the appearance of the scars changes as they heal. They’ll gradually fade and flatten out, becoming less noticeable.

The results of a thigh lift are permanent, in that the excess skin that was removed doesn’t grow back. However, your body is still subject to the effects of time, gravity, and weight changes. Maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine that keeps your weight stable will help preserve the results of your surgery in the long term.

How Much Does a Thigh Lift Cost?

According to RealSelf.com, the average cost of a thigh lift is $8,875. The amount you pay depends on several factors, including your personal treatment goals and the extent of surgery needed to achieve those goals. You’ll discuss all this with your surgeon during your consultation and will receive an exact cost once your personal treatment plan has been finalized. We can also determine whether you’re eligible for insurance coverage.

Does Insurance Cover the Cost of a Thigh Lift?

The thigh lift procedure is considered a cosmetic surgery and, as such, isn’t usually covered by insurance. However, there are rare cases where it may be partially or full covered by insurance. This may occur if your mobility or range of motion is significantly affected by the presence of excess skin or if the excess skin has led to any other health problems.

If you think this may apply to you, discuss it with your surgeon during your consultation. If you are eligible for insurance coverage, make sure to have this confirmed in writing by your insurance provider before having the procedure.

Financing Options for Thigh Lift Surgery at Savannah Plastic Surgery

We offer several payment options, including checks and cash, and all credit cards. We also offer Alpheon®, Care Credit® and PatientFI® financing. To learn more about your payment options, please visit our financing and insurance page.

To learn more about the thigh lift procedure or to schedule your consultation at Savannah Plastic Surgery, contact us today. We welcome patients from Savannah and the surrounding areas of Chatham County, and offer convenient office locations in Brunswick and Hinesville, Georgia and Bluffton, South Carolina.