Following major weight loss, or as a result of ageing, the skin around the inside and outside thigh may sag and become uneven.

Many men and women may wish to improve the shape and symmetry of their thighs.

Thigh lift surgery may be a potential option for these concerns, and can restore the youthful contours of the lower body.

Ideal thigh lift candidates include those who:

• Are at a stable weight
• Have excess soft tissue in the outer or inner thighs (which exercise has been unable to remove)
• Have excess cellulite and stubborn fat in the thighs
• Can commit to leading a healthy lifestyle in terms of exercise and diet
• Are non-smokers or are smoke and nicotine free for at least 4 weeks before surgery
• Have realistic expectations of what thigh lift surgery can achieve
• Have an optimistic outlook and are emotionally ready for surge

During your first visit, your plastic surgeon will likely:

• Review your medical history. About current and past medical conditions. Talk about any medications you're taking or have taken recently.
• Do a physical exam. To determine your treatment options, we will examine the undersides of your upper arms. Photos of your thigh will be taken for your medical record.
• Discuss your expectations. Explain why you want thigh lift and what you're hoping for in terms of appearance after the procedure. Make sure you understand the benefits and risks, including scarring.
• You have reached a stable weight. If you lose weight after your surgery, new pockets of sagging skin may form. If you gain a lot of weight after your surgery, it can harm your already weakened skin. This can cause more stretch marks and wide scars.
• Stop Smoking. If you smoke, you have to stop smoking for at least 2 weeks before surgery and during recovery.
• Avoid certain medications. Like aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements, which can increase bleeding.

The thigh lift procedure usually takes between 2 to 4 hours.

It may be done as a day case, but is more commonly an overnight stay in hospital. usually done under general anesthesia
The incisions for thigh lift surgery are made along the inside of the thigh.

The incision may extend from the pubic bone to the just above the knee.

The choice of the most suitable technique will depend on the amount of excess skin, the amount of excess fat, the level of skin laxity and your expectations from the surgery.

There are three types of incisions that your surgeon can use:

• Medial/inner incision

This technique involves a small incision from where the pubic bone meets the thigh and extends to the crease of the buttock.

• Vertical incision

This technique involves an incision that runs from the groin crease along the inside of the leg to the knee.

Thus, as the incision line is very long, it does produce the maximal level of scarring.

This technique is limited for the cases that have a lot of excess skin after weight loss or after liposuction.

The choice of the different techniques will depend on a number of factors including the amount of excess skin and fat in the thigh.

Then the incisions will be closed and the thigh will be wrapped by a tight bandage (compression garment).

You may also have some small drainage tubes put under the skin to help reduce swelling and bruising.

Usually, the drains will be removed within 2 or 3 days.

You can go home in the same day of surgery.

• Compression garment

After your thigh lift, you will need to wear a tight bandage called a compression garment for 4 to 8 weeks.

You should be able to remove this only when bathing.

This garment helps reduce swelling and therefore helps to achieve a better end result.

Scar care, these may include:

1. Massaging your scar: you should wait until your scar fully heals before trying this.
2. Applying silicone sheets, gels or creams on your scar: doing this after your scar fully heals and for 6 months after surgery can help reduce the appearance of the scar.
3. Keep your scars out of the sun: try to avoid exposing your scars to the sun for at least 6 months. If you do expose them, make sure to apply a high-factor sunscreen. This is to prevent large colour differences on the thighs.

• Returning to work

After your thigh lift, you will need to take some time off work.

How long you take off depends on the type of job you have.
For desk jobs with very little strenuous activity, you might need to take 1 to 3 weeks off to give yourself time to recover.

For more active jobs such as a waitressing or manual labour, you will need around 3 to 4 weeks off.

Regardless of your job, you should refrain from lifting heavy items for the first few weeks after surgery.

Daily routine can resume after around 1 week as long as this does not involve anything strenuous.

Returning to exercise and sport

1. Weeks 1 to 4: During the first 4 weeks, you can only do very minimal activity and nothing too strenuous. This is because aerobic exercise can increase the swelling of your thighs. You should not be lifting weights heavier than 5 pounds for at least 3 weeks after the procedure. If you find some movements are causing discomfort on your thighs, you should try to avoid these.
2. Weeks 4 to 6: After 4 weeks pass, you can start partaking in sports that do not involve rigorous movements, such as cycling.
3. After 6 weeks: 6 weeks after your thigh lift, you can resume all forms of exercise and sport. This is an important part of your thigh lift aftercare. If you find that you are experiencing discomfort in your thighs when exercising, you should take a break from rigorous exercise for a week. A good balance between exercise and rest is the best combination for a speedy recovery.

It may take a bit of time to see the final result of your surgery.

You should expect to see some bruising and swelling of the thighs for at least 2 weeks after the procedure.

After 6 to 8 weeks your thighs should heal to the extent that you can see the full permanent results of your thigh lift.

However, it may take up to a year for everything to completely settle.

This is because your scars take time to fully heal and become light and soft to touch.

You can help preserve the effects of your thigh lift by maintaining a stable weight through regular exercise and eating a healthy diet.