Thigh Lift

Time, age and weight changes, along with sun exposure, can cause skin of the thighs to sag or wrinkle. The goal of cosmetic surgery of the thighs is to create the most pleasing result with the least visible scar and shortest recovery time.

The Henry Ford Center for Cosmetic Surgery offers a variety of techniques to improve the shape of the thighs, including laser ablation, liposuction, coolsculpting, surgery, or a combination of these approaches.

What to expect

• Sciton Laser SkinTyte – This is the least invasive method to improve the skin quality of the thighs. Performed in an office setting, the laser procedure takes 45 minutes to an hour, and requires no anesthesia and no down time. Typically, four to five sessions are required to achieve an optimum result.
• Liposuction – This outpatient procedure is typically performed in an operating room to remove the excess fat on the thighs and upper legs and allow loose skin to contour around the smaller limb. Depending on the amount of correction desired, this surgery may take one to two hours.
  • A compression garment is worn for three to four weeks following the procedure to reduce swelling. Often there are no activity restrictions following this procedure.
• Coolsculpting– This treatment “freezes” fat cells in the thigh, creating a shapelier appearance. Performed in an office setting, each session takes one hour. The procedure targets 20 percent of the cells per session, so more than one session may be required to achieve an optimum result. The treated area may be red with slight discomfort; however, no downtime is required.
• Thigh Lift – During this procedure, both skin and fat are removed from the inner or outer thigh. This surgery is performed on an outpatient basis or may require an overnight stay.

Common questions about thigh lifts

Is a thigh lift painful?

The goal of any procedure is to make you as comfortable as we can. While you may experience some discomfort, pain medication is prescribed so that you are comfortable walking and performing daily activities during the recovery period.

How long is the recovery?

Initially, a patient may have drains following surgery that will be removed after a few days. A compression garment is worn for three to four weeks following the procedure.

When can I return to work?

Many patients will return to work one to two weeks following surgery.

How noticeable will my scar be?

Sometimes there is a balance between having a visible scar and creating the most contoured thigh. Some patients may opt for the least visible scar and have less correction, while others may choose a scar that is visible in exchange for the smallest contoured thigh. The incision is designed to not be obvious while giving the most correction.