What is a thigh lift?
A thigh lift, which is also known as Thighplasty, is a form of body contouring surgery that aims to give you more toned thighs. Most people who come to Australia Medical Travel for thigh reduction surgery are looking to have excess skin or fat removed from their thighs so as to create a firmer, more healthy looking appearance.
In some cases, people feel that they need inner thigh lift surgery after losing significant amounts of weight, which has resulted in the skin on their upper legs losing its elasticity and sagging. Others want to have an inner thigh fat removal procedure in order to get rid of their ‘wobbly’ thighs (a consequence of genetics, aging or both), so that they can feel more confident in their appearance and have a greater range of clothing options.
Whatever the reason, thigh surgery is a straightforward way of giving your legs and buttocks greater tone and contour and helping you to look and feel healthier. You can have a thigh lift procedure that targets your inner thighs, the upper thigh area, or the region more commonly known as saddlebags (which are essentially fat deposits on the outer thighs). Another option that our patients often choose is to combine a thigh lift procedure with a tummy tuck or liposuction at the same time.
As with any sort of cosmetic surgery procedure, it is important to have realistic expectations about what can be achieved through thigh fat removal; if you would like to know more, contact us to arrange a free consultation and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
What does thigh lift surgery involve?
The precise procedure required for leg lift surgery will depend on which part of the thigh you are having surgery on, but generally speaking, a thigh reduction will involve some or all of the following steps.
During thigh surgery, which is usually performed under general anesthetic, an incision is made either in the groin between the thigh and pubic area or on the hip. This enables the cosmetic surgeon to remove excess fat (sometimes using thigh liposuction) and then to tighten the skin by ‘lifting’ it (and in some cases, also removing excess skin). Stitches are then inserted so as to ensure that the newly tightened skin is attached to the muscles and ligaments underneath. It is often the case that drains are used once the thigh reduction surgery is complete in order to prevent a build-up of excess fluids, but these are generally removed within a day or so.
The nature of the procedure means that there will be some thigh lift scars visible after your surgery. However, these are usually horizontal and so can be concealed in natural skin crease lines. If a vertical incision is required, this will generally be on the inner thigh and so not especially visible in everyday life. Most surgical scars will also fade over time.
Thigh lift recovery time
Generally speaking, thigh fat removal surgery will require an overnight stay in the hospital, but most patients are able to move around quite freely in the days immediately afterward. Any discomfort in this initial post-surgery period can usually be successfully managed with painkillers.
Most patients are able to return to work and resume normal activities about two weeks after thigh lift surgery. It is advisable that you don’t undertake any strenuous physical exercise, or heavy lifting, for about four to six weeks.
Once your thigh lift surgery has been completed, you will be able to see the results immediately, as your inner and upper thighs will already look more contoured and toned. However, you may need to wear a compression garment for up to six weeks after the procedure to aid in the healing process.
Thigh lift cost in Thailand
If you opt to have inner thigh surgery in Australia (or any sort of elective surgery procedure), the costs can be quite prohibitive. You will incur a surgeon’s fee, hospital fees and anesthetist fees at the very least, and the overall cost can very quickly mount up.
However, there is a way to reduce the thigh lift cost you have to pay. We facilitate medical tourism packages to Thailand and Malaysia that can save you thousands of dollars on comparable treatments in Australia.
We partner with award-winning international hospitals like Bangkok Hospital and Sunway Medical Centre in Malaysia to provide high quality, affordable medical travel packages for Australians looking to have thigh lift surgery and a range of other plastic surgery procedures.
