THIGH LIFT SURGERY By Joshua Zuckerman, MD, FACS in New York City

Candidates for thigh lift surgery are most often those who have lost a significant amount of weight, but any adult who experiences excess skin of the legs and thighs may be able to benefit from this procedure. Patients must be in good overall health, able to obtain medical clearance to undergo general anesthesia, and typically don’t suffer from healing problems. If you are at risk for the formation of keloid scars, please inform Dr. Zuckerman at your consultation as this may be able to be managed during your surgical process. If you solely desire to reduce the prominence of the inner thighs and eliminate excess fat deposits, liposuction of the thighs may be a better fit for you.

Example incision patterns for thigh lift surgery. Source: American Society of Plastic Surgeons

Dr. Zuckerman performs the thigh lift procedure using different surgical techniques depending on the amount of excess skin present. In less extensive cases, he makes an incision in the groin and removes a crescent of tissue from the upper thigh. For weight loss patients, he typically must make a second vertical incision running longitudinally down the medial, or inner, thigh. The length of the incision may extend down the upper thigh only partially or may end at the knee. The two incisions together form an “L” or a “T” junction depending on their placement, although this intersection is well-hidden in the groin. The groin incision itself is well-camouflaged and can run from the bottom of the buttocks in the back to the frontal groin crease. In thigh lift surgery, the plastic surgeon must determine the right length of incision for each patient depending on their level of skin laxity and excess. Dr. Zuckerman strives to minimize incision length without compromising the ultimate surgical result.

Thigh lift surgery typically requires approximately three hours of operative time under general anesthesia. You may undergo thigh lift surgery at Dr. Zuckerman’s state-of-the-art, fully equipped operating room located inside his office in midtown Manhattan. This operatory facility has been certified by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, Inc. (AAAASF), certifying it as a facility that offers an equally high standard of care as a hospital. The privacy, discretion, and convenience of Dr. Zuckerman’s private in-office operating room facility is an exclusive benefit of Zuckerman Plastic Surgery that many patients appreciate. Should you desire, you may also undergo surgery with Dr. Zuckerman at Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital, a major hospital in Manhattan in the Northwell system where all types of breast, body, and face cosmetic surgery procedures are performed. Dr. Zuckerman is on staff in the department of plastic surgery for Northwell system hospitals in Manhattan among others.

Recovery from a thigh lift is similar to that of arm lift surgery (brachioplasty) but may last a bit longer and requrie more care to avoid stressing the surgical incisions during the initial healing process. Swelling and bruising should be expected in the days after the procedure, which should resolve within two to three weeks. In addition, any postoperative discomfort will be managed with pain medication prescribed by Dr. Zuckerman. He typically places a surgical drain to collect excess fluid and to lower the risk of certain complications. The drain will stay in place for a week or less and is removed relatively painlessly in the office. Dr. Zuckerman also advises that patients wear a compression garment to reduce swelling for up to six weeks. He will provide you with a comprehensive scar care regimen for up to one year after surgery to minimize the appearance of your ultimate scar. Heavy lifting or strenuous activity should be avoided for approximately six weeks after surgery. However, most patients return to their normal routines after one to two weeks.

Dr. Zuckerman publishes many of his previous thigh lift surgery results with patient consent. The before and after image gallery has pairs of high resolution images from three to four angles for each patient. Many prospective patients enjoy finding a similar case to their own that Dr. Zuckerman has performed in the past. Take a look through the gallery by clicking on the button below.

BEFORE AND AFTER IMAGE GALLERY

Thigh lift surgery is overwhelmingly safe when performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon. However, all surgery does involve some risk of complications. We list some of the possible, although uncommon, complication below:

• Seroma (fluid collection which must be drained)
• Wound healing issues
• Infection

And, as described above, the patient will be left with a lengthwise scar down the inner portion of the upper thigh after surgery.

Below are the answers to some questions Dr. Zuckerman most frequently receives from prospective patients. If you don’t see your question below, feel free to contact Dr. Zuckerman’s office, and a member of his staff will be glad to reach out to you.

Must I lose weight before undergoing thigh lift surgery?

Generally speaking, yes. Dr. Zuckerman recommends that patients be near their goal weight before undergoing surgery. If not, the patient risks compromising their surgical result with additional weight loss, which may create further skin laxity after surgery.

Can arm thigh lift surgery be combined with other procedures?

Yes, typically combinations include arm lift surgery or other post weight loss / body contouring procedures. However, Dr. Zuckerman does recommend that operative time not exceed six hours for a single surgery.

Will I compromise my surgical result if I gain weight after thigh lift surgery?

Unfortunately significant weight gain can indeed have deleterious effects on the tightened contour Dr. Zuckerman creates during surgery. He strongly recommends that patients maintain a healthy lifestyle of diet and exercise after surgery.

Are you ready for your thigh lift surgery consultation with Dr. Zuckerman? He will perform a thorough evaluation of your desired outcome and needs based on your anatomy and medical history. Dr. Zuckerman will also address any questions or concerns you may have about the surgery and discuss with you the details of his approach: incision location(s), procedure length and techniques, likely operative outcome, etc. Contact his office by clicking the button below or by calling 212-231-9897. Dr. Zuckerman also offers consultations via Skype and a process for out-of-town patients to visit New York City to have surgery with him.

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