5 Things You Need to Know About a Thigh Lift

1. Quick Weight Loss

While you can certainly incorporate exercises and training into your routines to tone your legs, sometimes it is tough to really make a difference. Unless you are a runner or do regular aerobics training, you probably have more fat on your thighs than anywhere else. Also, if you have carrying extra weight, it's most like lodged on your thighs. You can diet and exercise, but when all else fails, you can get a procedure and have it all removed in a couple of hours.

2. Sucking the fat out

A thighplasty is a cosmetic surgery procedure that trims off the excess skin on the thighs and butt. During the surgery, the physician also will insert a vacuum hose and suck out the extra fat. The thigh lift often is done within the context of an entire body lift. After all, many people don't see the point of great legs if the belly is sagging and knees are lost in mounds of fat. Often, when a person loses a lot of weight, a thigh lift is done to remove extra sagging skin.

3. In and out

A thigh lift is done on an outpatient basis and usually takes about two to four hours, depending on how much needs to be done. You are given a twilight anesthesia so you don't have to be completely knocked out. Most people do not remember much of the procedure after being under this light anesthesia for a couple of hours and you don't have to put up with the risks associated with full anesthesia. The doctor draws on your legs before you go under to mark the places that need to be improved. Typically, you experience few side effects and recovery takes about two weeks. You can resume more rigorous activities in four to six weeks.

4. Pay to Play

A thigh lift will set you back upwards of about $4,000 or more. You should plan ahead and save for the procedure because it is not covered by any insurance policy. It is elective and purely cosmetic. No one has ever died from saggy thighs, even if you think you might after walking around on a hot summer day in shorts. Most cosmetic surgery practices offer some kind of financing arrangement or you can get a personal loan yourself.

5. No one Will Be the Wiser

A thigh lift lasts for ten years or more, as long as you keep your weight under control and don't go adding more fat back into your body. A good plastic surgeon will hide the scars, though some areas of your skin will not tan and will show more. Scars are usually placed in the groin area.