5 Things You Need to Know About an Outer Thigh Lift

1. Outer Thigh Lift Plus Buttocks/Inner Thigh Lift

Before a surgeon performs an outer thigh lift, he will evaluate your desires to determine your needs. Some people may have lost a lot of weight that leaves extra skin. Other people have thighs that sag and/or are larger than they would like. If you are in the latter group, your surgeon may recommend doing liposuction at the same time as the outer thigh lift. It is also common for surgeons to recommend a buttocks lift and inner thigh lift at the same time. When skin is sagging on the outer thigh, these other two areas are usually sagging, too.

2. Surgery Day

On the day of your surgery, your surgeon marks off areas of skin. You'll most likely receive general anesthesia, but talk to your surgeon if you have concerns. Although a thigh lift can be an outpatient procedure, some doctors advise that you'll be more comfortable if you stay one night in the hospital. During surgery, he removes a layer of fat that is under the skin by liposuction. Then he removes skin at the groin so he can loosen and pull the tissues up from there. To ensure the skin stays put, he secures it to the bone and ligaments with deep sutures. The surgery takes 2 or 3 hours.

3. Recovery Expectations

Surgeons generally hide the scars from these cosmetic procedures in the groin. You can expect the scar to be wide and dark at first, but it should improve with time. It's common to remove 5 to 10 inches of skin, so that is how long the stitches will be. Your surgeon may place drains at the site of the incisions for a couple of days, which shouldn't cause any extra discomfort because they are pliable. You will have dressing and a compression garment for 2 days after a thigh lift.

4. Home Care While Recovering

Most people recover within a week or two. If you work, you should plan to take some time off. You won't shower for a few days until after your doctor or her staff removes the drains and dressings. The stitches will remain for 10 days. Everyone experiences pain differently, and you can expect some for a few days. If over-the-counter medications do not work, your doctor can prescribe pain medication. You may be groggy from the anesthesia for a few days but should be able to resume some activities within the first week. You should be getting back to most activities within a few weeks after a thigh lift.

5. Effects on Your Wallet

Cosmetic surgery is so popular now that many doctors offer payment plans. The cost will vary depending on where in the country you have the surgery done and whether you combine surgeries. If you have more than one cosmetic surgery, many doctors offer a discount. The cost generally includes all follow-up visits.