Understanding the Benefits of Thigh Lifts
After over-indulging during the holiday season, many people become keenly interested in weight loss and body contouring procedures. While a healthy diet and responsible exercise routine are extremely effective ways to trim away excess holiday pounds, some problem areas, like the hips and thighs, can stubbornly resist any concerted weight loss efforts. Moreover, even though liposuction procedures can remove isolated fat deposits, they can often leave behind folds of lax, sagging tissue in areas where the skin has lost elasticity and is unable to naturally conform to the new body contours. A thigh lift, or thighplasty procedure, can address these problems by tightening the underlying tissue and reducing and re-draping the skin in the thighs, improving the contours and overall appearance of the leg. Thigh lifts are generally performed as outpatient procedures with the use of general anesthesia, however the specific approach can differ depending on the specific regions most in need of treatment. There are three common approaches to thigh lift surgery:
Bilateral Thigh Lift
The bilateral thigh lift procedure focuses on the front and outer areas of the legs, and is the approach most often used for patients who have undergone post-bariatric surgery since it usually produces the most extensive plastic surgery results. The incision is made at the top of the leg, where the lower edge of a bikini bottom would be, and then a pre-determined amount of skin is removed before the remaining skin is lifted and attached to the same area. This effectively tightens the skin along both the right and left side of the leg while improving the contours of the outer thigh.
Inner Thigh Lift
As indicated by the name, an inner thigh lift targets the inner thigh. This type of thigh lift is particularly effective in eliminating excess fat from the most difficult to exercise areas of the leg, areas that are most resistant to weight loss efforts. During an inner thigh lift, an incision is made at the junction of the thigh and pubic area and a wedge of skin, and possibly fat, is removed. The skin is then tightened to provide an improved leg contour and enhanced skin elasticity.
Medial Thigh Lift
A medial thigh lift targets a higher area than an inner thigh lift, reducing excess skin and fat near the groin and next to the hips. During a medial thigh lift procedure, an incision is made alongside the pelvic area, back to the crease of the buttock, and then excess skin and fat are removed to improve the contour of the leg. In some cases, only a minimal incision in the groin area may be necessary to achieve the desired results.
If you are interested in learning more about Atlantic Plastic Surgery, P.C. or the plastic surgery procedures our plastic surgeons perform, contact us at one of our Atlanta, Alpharetta, Cumming, or Newnan offices. Additionally, we provide a variety of options for financing, including Care Credit®, in order to assist you. Please contact us with any questions you may have concerning the financial planning of your procedure and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for the latest news.
