There are multiple techniques to customize a thigh lift procedure to the needs of individual patients. These are differentiated by the size and shape of the incision used to remove excess skin, fat, and tissue. Your plastic surgeon will evaluate your candidacy for each of these kinds of thigh lifts and recommend the procedure that suits your needs and preferences.
Inner Thigh Lift
This type of thigh lift targets the inner thigh. It deals with exercise-resistant fat and sagging skin that leads to reduced skin elasticity.
During an inner thigh lift, your plastic surgeon will make an incision at the junction where the thigh meets the pubic area. This allows him/her to access the underlying tissues while making the most discreet incision possible since the resulting scar can easily be hidden by underwear. Your plastic surgeon will then remove a wedge of skin and possibly fat from the region and tighten the remaining skin to provide improved leg contours.
Mini Thigh Lift
If you have sagging tissues only in the upper thigh of the leg, you may qualify for a mini thigh lift, a modification of the inner thigh lift technique that involves only a short scar in the groin area. While this technique offers less dramatic results, it produces only minimal scarring and typically requires a shorter recovery period.
Bilateral Thigh Lift
The bilateral thigh lift or “outer thigh lift,” is designed to tighten skin on the front and outside of the leg. During this, your surgeon will make an incision at the top of the leg where the lower edge of a bikini bottom or pair of underwear would be, creating a “V” shape.
Depending on your needs, this incision may wrap around to your hip or buttocks area. Your surgeon will then remove a certain amount of skin, depending on your needs and preferences, before pulling the remaining skin up and attaching it to the same area so that it is smooth.
Medial Thigh Lift
A medial thigh lift reduces excess skin and fat on the upper portion of the inner thigh. It is designed for patients who are dissatisfied with the shape of their legs or who would like to remove excess skin after extreme weight loss. During a medial thigh lift procedure, an incision is made in the groin, extending to the back of the crease of the buttock or to the hip. It might also include vertical scars extending down the legs from the groin for greater access to underlying tissue. The skin is lifted, removing excess skin and fat to improve the shape of the leg and tone it.
