A thigh lift is a body contouring procedure for patients who have lost a significant amount of weight or are simply victims of lax skin as a result of aging. The thighs can sometimes be toned through diet and exercise alone; however, this is often not enough. This is because when skin is stretched to a certain point it cannot retract to original contour without surgical intervention. When patients have excess skin on their thighs that prohibits them from showing off their legs, they may want to consider a thigh lift to help them achieve their goals.
Patients interested in taking the next step can contact Dr. Ptak at Silhouette Surgical Spa in Scottsdale, AZ to learn more about his state-of-the-art thigh lift operation and the transformative results he delivers.
About Thigh Lifts
Thigh lifts can make patients happy to show off their legs when they otherwise wouldn’t. Dr. Ptak believes a thigh lift can create firmer more attractive upper legs. The surgery contours the upper leg, tightens the skin, can remove fat, and reshape the overall look of the thigh. It will make the patient’s legs look toned, thinner and refined. In many cases, it makes patients happy to show off their legs in shorts, mini skirts, and swimwear. There are several types of thigh lifts, each designed to enhance a particular area of the thigh. An Inner Thigh Lift, targets the inner thigh, tightening the skin and reducing the overall size. The Bilateral Thigh Lift tightens the skin on the front and outside of the leg. The Medial Thigh Lift reduces skin and excess fat, shaping and enhancing the appearance of the upper inner thigh. The best thigh lift technique for a given patient will be determined by the doctor at the time of the consultation. Dr. Ptak’s goal is to make the patient look and feel their very best.
In order to start on your own transformative journey, contact Silhouette Surgical Spa. We look forward to meeting with new and existing patients ready to begin their new lives.
Who Is A Candidate?
Thigh lift surgery is ideal for women and men who have loose excess skin, often as a result of dramatic weight loss or the natural result of aging. A thigh lift can also involve fat removal and liposuction from the thigh if necessary. This is most often performed in the upper section of the thigh, to reduce the overall size, and improve contour and shape.Specifically, the Inner Thigh Lift is ideal for those who have reduced skin elasticity in the inner thigh due to extreme weight loss or aging. The Bilateral Thigh Lift is particularly helpful for those with excess skin due to extreme weight loss, much like the Inner Thigh Lift, but focuses on the outer and front portion of the thigh. The Medial Thigh Lift is recommended for those with fat deposits in the upper inner thigh, which are difficult to address through diet or exercise. During the consultation, the doctor will ask the patient about their goals for the procedure and their medical history. It is very important that the patient is honest with the doctor about their physical and mental medical history. This is for the patient’s own safety. Please inform the doctor of prior medical procedures, medications, drug, tobacco, or alcohol use, and mental health concerns. More often, these concerns will not preclude the patient from a thigh lift procedure.
Contact Dr. Ptak in order to find out if you are a good candidate for a thigh lift and in order to schedule a consultation.
Thigh Lift vs Liposuction
Thigh lifts and liposuction both help to contour the thighs but accomplish this in different ways. A thigh lift is a procedure designed to remove loose skin on the legs, while liposuction removes fat deposits from the legs. A thigh lift does not include fat removal and liposuction does not remove loose skin; this is why the two procedures are often performed together. By combining a thigh lift with liposuction, the tightened skin will lay smooth on the thighs with the removal of localized fat deposits, improving shape, tone, and contour.
Preparation
Preparation prior to undergoing any surgical procedure is key not only to ensure a proper procedure but also to maximize healing capabilities.
A few weeks before the surgery, the patient should stop taking certain medications and supplements, including aspirin, naproxen, ibuprofen, and fish oil pills. The doctor may also ask the patient to adjust their medications and refrain from tobacco or alcohol use. In the days leading up to the surgery, the patient should take extra care to make sure they are eating healthy and getting enough rest. Exercise can be continued leading up to the surgery, but the patient will only be able to do light exercise for a few weeks after the procedure. After the procedure, the patient will not be able to drive home on their own. They should make arrangements for another responsible adult to drive them from the surgical facility. The patient should also be sure to have help on hand for the first week after the procedure, as they may find it difficult to move around and accomplish everyday tasks alone.
Procedure
Each thigh lift procedure involves a slightly different incision and technique. With an Inner Thigh Lift, an incision is made at the junction of the thigh and the pubic area. Skin is removed, as well as fat if necessary. The skin is then tightened and sutured to improve the overall contour of the thigh. The Bilateral Thigh Lift is performed with an incision at the top of the leg, along the bikini line. Excess skin is removed, and the remaining skin is lifted and tightened, resulting in tighter, firmer skin on both sides of the leg. A Medial Thigh Lift is performed with an incision along the groin that runs front to back to the crease of the buttock. Skin and excess fat are removed; the skin is then tightened and sutured to create a smooth contour.
Postoperative
While it is possible to go home the same day as surgery, some thigh lift patients are required to stay inpatient overnight. There is minimal pain and swelling after treatment, which is easily treated with medications. In addition, there is generally little or no bruising associated with a thigh lift. For several days after surgery, a light compression garment is worn. Any drains placed after surgery will be removed after about two days. Stitches are usually removed after ten days. Most patients feel a bit groggy for the first week and work is not recommended during this time, though the patient should be up and about in their own home. Light activities can be resumed after one week, and most activity can be resumed after three weeks. Patients will be asked to come in for follow up appointments at regular intervals so the doctor can make sure they are healing as expected.
Consultation
Dr. Ptak uses the consultation as a time to understand the patient’s expectations and goals. During this time, he will examine the patient to determine whether or not they would be a good candidate for the procedure. Of course, the different types of thigh lift procedures require different prerequisites. Nonetheless, certain prerequisites remain, including good mental and physical health. For example, the patient should not have any health issues that could refrain from his or her ability to undergo or recover from the procedure. Furthermore, they should let the doctor know about any health problems, as this is necessary information about the patient to ensure their safety. Patients should have already attempted to address their physical concerns through typical measures, such as diet and exercise. While this is not always possible in order to meet the concerns addressed by a thigh lift, it is the first step.
If Dr. Ptak determines that the patient is a good candidate for a thigh lift, then he will go over the details of the procedure with the patient in depth.
Dr. Ptak urges the patient to ask any outstanding questions they have about the procedure at this time. This includes questions about the cost of the procedure. Once the doctor has completed his evaluation, he will be able to provide an accurate cost estimate. If a patient is interested in additional body contouring treatments they are encouraged to bring this up. Dr. Ptak is more than happy to go over any treatments that can heighten results. It should be noted that Dr. Ptak is not in the business to sell you on anything he doesn’t believe will help you; he will let you know if you will benefit, or not benefit, from particular procedures. His goal is to provide patients with optimal results by safe means.
Dr. Ptak looks forward to meeting with all patients interested in improving their appearance through cosmetic surgery. Silhouette Surgical Spa is conveniently located in Scottsdale, AZ to meet his patients’ needs.