How Long Is The Recovery Time After A Medial Thigh Lift?

If you have lost a great deal of weight, but still struggle with cumbersome, embarrassing, and frustrating excess skin, rest assured that you are not alone. While significant weight loss is certainly something of which to be proud, countless men and women feel defeated and discouraged about their new bodies due to the loose skin that often remains. One of the most common areas of the body where this occurs is the thighs. In fact, many people develop wrinkled, sagging thighs as they age. award-winning plastic surgeon and weight loss plastic surgery specialist, Dr. J. Timothy Katzen and the exceptional team at J. Timothy Katzen, M.D Beverly Hills are proud to help patients complete the final stage of their weight loss transformation with the medial thigh lift and other skin tightening procedures.

What is a medial thigh lift?

A thigh lift, also referred to as thighplasty or thigh reduction, is primarily a skin tightening procedure designed to improve the contour of the legs through the removal of excess thigh skin and fat. During a medial thigh lift, which addresses the inner portion of the thigh, Dr. Katzen will make an incision in the upper thigh. There are seven different types of thigh lifts: crescent, modified, longitudinal, “T” incision, medial vertical, lateral, spiral and full from thigh to ankle. The precise length and position of your incision will depend on the amount of tissue that needs to be excised. Dr. Katzen will make every effort to minimize the potential for visible scarring as much as possible. Liposuction is often utilized during a thigh lift to eliminate stubborn deposits of fat and further enhance the final results. Once Dr. Katzen has carefully excised the loose, excess skin, the remaining thigh skin will be pulled tightly and secured with sutures, resulting in a slim, smooth, beautiful new thigh shape.

It is important that patients have realistic expectations for their thigh contouring procedure and understand that it is not designed as a large volume fat loss tool. Patients in Beverly Hills, CA should be at a stable weight before undergoing a thigh lift. A thigh lift can also target cellulite. Most patients notice an improvement in the appearance of cellulite following the procedure. If areas of thigh cellulite concern you, mention this to Dr. Katzen during your reduction consultation.

How long is a thigh lift recovery?

The details of recovery after thighplasty may vary from patient to patient, particularly when additional procedures are performed simultaneously. For example, many patients choose to combine their thigh lift with a tummy tuck and butt lift as part of a lower body lift or mommy makeover, which may contribute to a longer healing time and more extensive post-operative period.

In general, patients in Beverly Hills, CA can expect some level of discomfort, bruising, and swelling for the first week after thigh skin removal surgery. Dr. Katzen will provide you with prescription medication, compression garments, and other instructions to help relieve your symptoms. After the first week or so, most patients are able to begin walking around the house more comfortably, which is important to speed up the healing process and avoid complications. However, it is still important to take it easy and not overextend yourself physically during this time.

Many patients choose to take off about 3 to 4 weeks from work after their thigh lift, depending on the physical demands of their job. The majority of the swelling and bruising should have resolved around this time, though it may still be several weeks before you are able to resume a normal level of activity. In most cases, patients are able to return to their daily routines, including most forms of exercise, after about 6 to 8 weeks. Before resuming any fitness regimen, though, it is essential that you obtain clearance from Dr. Katzen in order to ensure your incisions have fully healed.

When will I see results after a thigh lift?

Following a medial thigh lift, you should notice an improvement in the appearance of your legs right away, although there will be visible swelling, bruising, and incisions. Once these symptoms have subsided, which usually takes about 3 to 4 weeks, you will begin to see your slimmer, smoother thighs taking shape. In some cases, it can take up to a year to realize your final results. Around this time, your thigh lift/reduction scars should have faded significantly. Most patients agree that the dramatic improvement in their physique is well worth the presence of thigh scars.

BEFORE AND AFTER