If you lack the confidence to wear shorts or a bathing suit, chances are the appearance of your legs are holding you back and you might be a candidate for a thigh lift.
By Carolynn Grimes and Peter Rubin MD
ThePlasticsurgeryChannel.com
Sagging skin and plump thighs are among the more common aesthetic concerns for women. Age, gravity and weight loss are the usual culprits according to board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Peter Rubin. He says, “there are operations that will correct those issues, including thigh lift operations.”
A thigh lift reshapes the thighs by reducing excess skin, and in some cases fat, resulting in smoother skin and better-proportioned contours of the thigh.
Dr. Rubin is director of the Life After Weight Loss program, a clinical center at the University of Pittsburgh dedicated to the care of patients after weight loss. Dr. Rubin says there is usually a lengthy scar involved in this procedure and “the patient needs to realize the scar is in exchange for the removal of excess skin.” According to Rubin, there are some versions of these operations where the scar can be minimized. He says, “you may qualify for a minimal incision medial thigh lift which involves an incision only in the groin area.”
The timing and planning for one of these procedures is critical and many patients are excited to have some of their loose skin removed after weight loss. One of the first questions many patients ask is, “when is the right time for a body contouring procedure?”
Dr. Rubin says a patient should ask themselves the following questions:
Has my weight been stable for the last three months?
Have I reached or am I close to my goal weight?
Am I committed to the lifestyle changes that are going to help me be successful with long-term weight loss success?
Once a patient feels the timing is right for surgery, patients need to know that recovery from a thigh lift can be fairly extensive.
Rubin says, “these are major operations and recovery time has to be accounted for when you’re planning for these procedures.” “Each operation is tailored to an individual’s specific body type,” says Rubin, “and your surgeon will determine what’s appropriate.” Dr. Rubin advises that these operations should be performed by a board certified plastic surgeon with experience in patients who have lost a substantial amount of weight.