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thigh lift

What Are The Different Kinds of Thigh Lift Surgery?

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woman-gets-inner-thigh-checked-by-doctorFor many years, body contouring surgery has been focused primarily on the upper body. Areas like the breasts, abdomen, and upper arms are usually what first come to mind when talking about rejuvenating the body with plastic surgery. But the appearance of the lower body, specifically our legs, should not be ignored and is something patients commonly ask about. I perform thigh lift surgery as a way to help patients refine the contour of their legs. The thighs can be very vulnerable to loose sagging skin and deposits of stubborn, hard-to-lose fat as we age and gain or lose weight.

One of the first things I always make a point of discussing with prospective thigh lift patients is that the procedure can be performed in different ways depending on the needs of each individual patient. I wanted to discuss these different thigh lift procedure methods in more detail below to explain the way this surgery can help people with different aesthetic issues.

Medial Thigh Lift

By far the most common type of thigh lift procedure, the medial thigh lift is performed to help people who are not satisfied with the shape of their legs or those who have loose skin in the thigh area after weight loss. During the procedure, I will make an incision in the inner thigh area, and then remove excess skin and fat from the area. The remaining tissue is then lifted and tightened to provide a more lean and healthy-looking leg contour.

Lateral Thigh Lift

The lateral thigh lift, also known as an outer thigh lift, is used to tighten the skin found on the front and outside of the leg. During this type of thigh lift, I begin by making an incision at the top of the leg (where the lower edge of underwear would be). In some cases, the incision may wrap around to the hip or buttocks area, but this approach is not always necessary. I then remove some skin from the area before lifting the remaining skin and tissue up to provide a smoother, leaner texture.

Mini Thigh Lift

Like many other procedures, I also offer a less invasive thigh lift alternative for patients who only experience sagging skin in the upper third of the leg. The mini thigh lift procedure is done by making a short incision in the groin area and removing small amounts of skin and fat. Although a mini thigh lift offers less dramatic results, sometimes it is all that is needed and it generally produces only minimal post-surgery scarring and often requires a shorter recovery period.

Thigh lift surgery can be incredibly helpful for patients wanting to improve the contour of their lower body. Regardless of which procedure method is right for you, the results from thigh lift surgery can be long-lasting and truly outstanding. For more information or to schedule a plastic surgery consultation appointment, please contact me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott. You can also follow along with me on Facebook for additional tips, videos, news, and more.

What To Ask Your Plastic Surgeon At a Thigh Lift Consultation

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marking-areas-of-ladies-thighRegardless of the specific procedure being performed, every cosmetic surgery journey starts the same way. And that is with a consultation between a patient and board-certified plastic surgeon like myself. This pre-surgery appointment allows me to better get to know each prospective patient, as well as their aesthetic goals and preferences, in order to guide them towards their best and most helpful surgical options. Today I wanted to focus specifically on consultation questions for thigh lift surgery.

Like with any other cosmetic surgery, making the most of your thigh lift consultation is essential for both fully understanding what this procedure is capable of as well as establishing a baselines of realistic expectations.

  • Are you board-certified as a plastic surgeon?
  • How many years of experience do you have performing thigh lift surgery?
  • Which thigh lift surgery method is the best fit for my specific needs?
  • Will my thigh lift be performed under general anesthesia or a local anesthetic?
  • How much visible scarring can I expect following thigh lift?
  • Can my thigh lift be combined with other body contouring procedures?
  • Do you have any thigh lift before and after pictures from patients you have previously performed surgery on?
  • Are there any notable risks or complications associated with thigh lift surgery?
  • What will recovery be like in the days following my thigh lift?
  • How much downtime for recovery should I plan for following my procedure?

My hope is that these questions will be able to serve as a starting point for any patient preparing for an upcoming thigh lift consultation. For more information on thigh lift surgery or if you would like to schedule a plastic surgery consultation, please contact me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott. Don’t forget that you can also follow along with me on Facebook for additional plastic surgery tips, news, and much more.

Ask Dr. Elliott: Popular Body Contouring Procedures

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Ask Dr. Elliott Popular Body Contouring ProceduresBody contouring is a very hot topic in the world of cosmetic surgery, and with good reason. Body contouring procedures offer patients the chance to rejuvenate problematic areas of the body by surgically removing, repositioning, and tightening excess skin, tissue, and fat. Body contouring surgery can be performed on areas all over the body including the abdomen, back, arms, legs, and more. For patients who may not be sure how body contouring can help them achieve their aesthetic goals, I have answered questions about a few popular body contouring procedures:

Question #1: How can I know if arm lift surgery or liposuction would be a better solution to treat sagging in my arms?

Choosing between arm lift surgery and liposuction to relieve upper arm sagging depends entirely on what is causing your aesthetic issue. An arm lift can help by removing loose, excess skin from the upper arm, whereas liposuction is better for patients who suffer from excess fat in their arms. During your consultation, I will examine your arms to determine the cause of your arm sagging and make my recommendation based on what I believe is best. Some patients may actually benefit from combining both procedures to achieve even more comprehensive results.

Question #2: Who are good candidates for thigh lift surgery?

Thigh lift surgery can be a solution for patients who suffer from stretched or loose skin around their inner (medial) thigh region and/or their outer (lateral) thigh. These are common problem areas for people who have experienced significant weight loss. Thigh lift candidates should be in stable mental and physical health and should bring realistic, but positive expectations into their surgery. I advise patients to reach their ideal body weight before undergoing their surgery. Additionally, thigh lift patients should be non-smokers, as nicotine can disrupt healing and cause complications during the post-surgery recovery period.

Question #3: Can a mommy makeover be used to help me lose weight?

Even body contouring procedures like a mommy makeover that offer comprehensive physique-altering results cannot be expected to provide considerable weight loss. While the component procedures of a mommy makeover (liposuction and tummy tuck surgery) are meant to help patients achieve a trimmer, more shapely body contour, the skin and fatty tissue that is removed during a mommy makeover does not typically weigh very much. There may be some residual weight loss after surgery, but this is not a result that patients should count on. This is why I advise mommy makeover patients to reach their ideal weight before their surgery.

Regardless of what has caused the skin to sag, I have seen firsthand over the years how body contouring can elevate a patient’s self-esteem and pride in their appearance. If you think you might be a good candidate for body contouring surgery or would like more information on the subject, contact me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott, to schedule a plastic surgery consultation. Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook and Twitter for additional plastic surgery tips, news, and more.