Thigh Lift – St. Louis

Saggy, dimply skin of the inner thighs is impossible to get rid of through diet and exercise. Dr. Michele Koo is able to perform an inner thigh lift or a circumferential thigh lift to remove the excess skin and wrinkles that are present down your entire thigh. The amount of lax, loose skin will determine how extensive the surgery is and how long the scar is.

Dr. Koo anchors your deep tissues to re-suspend your thigh skin and achieve the smoothest result possible. While this is a very safe procedure, Dr. Koo wants you to understand that the recovery is fairly lengthy.

About the Thigh Lift Procedure

A thigh lift is performed to remove excess skin and fat from the upper legs. The result is smoother skin and better proportioned contours of the thighs. The outer thigh is generally not targeted in a thigh lift as liposuction and a butt lift tend to produce better results in that area of the leg.

When combined with other procedures, patients can achieve maximum results and enjoy a younger and more refreshed appearance overall. I will discuss your personal aesthetic goals with you in order to develop the best treatment plan for you.

Candidates for Thigh Lift

Patients considering a thigh lift often suffer from loose and inelastic skin as a result of extreme weight loss due to diet or bariatric surgery, or patients who are in good general health but have excess skin and tissue within the thigh area as a result of the natural aging process, pregnancy or significant weight loss. A thigh lift should not be considered an easy weight loss solution. The procedure is most effective on patients who are close to their ideal weight but unhappy with the appearance of their thighs.

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Thigh Lift Procedure

The thigh lift procedure is performed under general anesthesia and requires an incision in the groin area and sometimes extending downward around the back of the thigh, depending on the results desired by the patient.

There are two common types of thigh lift procedures designed to treat different areas of the thigh which include different incision locations. The two thigh lifts include a medial thigh lift (inner thigh lift) and a lateral thigh lift (outer thigh lift).

• Medial (Inner) Thigh Lift: The incision is made along the line where the leg meets the groin.
• Lateral (Outer) Thigh Lift: An incision is made from the groin around the back of the body, allowing the buttocks to be lifted along with the thigh.

These incisions are placed so that they can be hidden by even swimsuits. If a large amount of correction is necessary, the incision may need to be extensive resulting in more visible scarring.
I will then tighten the tissues in the area to create a smoother and more toned contour. The incisions are closed with sutures and the patient will be asked to wear a compression garment in order to minimize swelling and promote proper healing.

Recovery from Thigh Lift

After surgery, patients may experience mild bruising, swelling and soreness. Discomfort is generally minimal in smaller lifts, but when large amounts of skin are removed, an overnight stay in the hospital may be required. In either case, pain medication and anti-inflammatory methods will be utilized. The results of the procedure will be visible right away and will continue to improve and swelling and other symptoms subside.

Light labor is normally possible after less than two weeks, while most physical activity is permissible at four to six weeks. All symptoms should be gone and incisions are typically made in inconspicuous areas to reduce visible scarring, and the scarring will fade as the incision heals. Scarring can typically be covered by bikinis.

Risks and Complications of Thigh Lift

Although this procedure is considered safe for most patients, there are certain risks and complications associated with any type of surgical procedure. Some of these risks include infection, healing problems, blood clots and fluid drainage. Patients can reduce these risks by choosing a skilled and experienced surgeon such as Dr. Koo to perform their procedure.

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