Everyone wants to have the slim, tight thighs of their youth. Unfortunately, if you’ve lost a good deal of weight, the skin on your thighs is probably somewhat loose. Even if you didn’t gain and lose weight, some people lose more elasticity in the skin in this area, which can leave you with loose saggy skin. The problem is, once the skin has stretched and loosened, it usually can’t shrink back down regardless of exercise or changes in diet.
A thigh lift with Dr. Kearney can give you firmer, more contoured thighs once again. It can also tighten your buttocks.
Would I benefit from a thigh lift?
A thigh lift removes excess skin, fat, and tissue to tone and refine the inner and outer thighs. Patients who have lost a good deal of weight are great candidates for thigh lifts. Thigh lifts are also excellent for those with poor skin elasticity on the inner or outer thighs.
There is a simple test to see if a thigh lift would benefit you:
- For the inner thigh lift, stand in front of a mirror and pinch the skin of your inner thigh and lift that skin upwards toward your groin. This will give you an idea of what an inner thigh lift will accomplish.
- For the outer thigh lift, pinch the excess skin at your hip together. Notice the effect this has on the profile of your leg, making it appear more slender and contoured. This is what an outer thigh lift will do.
How is a thigh lift done?
There are various incision options for thigh lift procedures, but there will be some visible scarring. Dr. Kearney will discuss your options and what he feels will work best for your particular situation during your consultation. Generally, the procedures target the inner or outer thighs.
- Inner thigh lift
Sometimes referred to as a medial thigh lift, the inner thigh lift is done with an incision at the junction where the thigh meets the pubic area. This gives Dr. Kearney access to the underlying tissues while making the incision as discreet as possible. A wedge of skin is removed, along with unnecessary fat (some fat needs to stay), and the remaining skin is pulled upward.
- Outer thigh lift
Sometimes referred to as a bilateral thigh lift, the outer lift has the goal of tightening the skin on the front and outside portions of the thighs. For the outer lift, Dr. Kearney makes the incision at the top of the leg near the hipbone, creating a “V” shape. This incision can be hidden beneath the panty line. The incision may wrap around to your hip or buttocks area, depending on your needs. Excess skin is trimmed, and the remaining skin pulled up and attached to the same area. An outer lift can remove more substantial amounts of tissue, and it can lift your buttocks along with your thighs.
If you’ve been hesitant about wearing a swimsuit due to the saggy skin on your thighs, a thigh lift could be an excellent procedure for you. And wintertime is a good time to do it. Call Dr. Kearney at (858) 677-9352 to schedule a consultation.