Following liposuction to the thighs, laxity in the skin can develop if the elastic fibers in the skin do not retract to allow the skin to smooth itself against the underlying muscle. Depending upon where you had your liposuction in the thigh, inner thigh, lateral thigh, posterior thigh, anterior thigh, or circumferentially, you may have looseness in any of these locations. The areas of loose skin will determine the best approach in choosing between a more focused thigh lift and the more extensive lower body lift.
The lower body lift has the advantage of tightening in multiple areas of the thigh and buttocks. It extends circumferential around the back to allow tightening of the buttocks and back of the thighs, the hips and lateral thighs, and the front of the thighs. If you are satisfied with your abdominal contours this can be extended into the groin crease area to help tighten the inner thighs. While it makes a more dramatic difference in those patients who have lost weight through bariatric surgery, it is also very useful in patients who have lost more moderate amounts of body weight. Lifting in the buttocks and back of the thigh, as well as the hips and sides of the thigh can transmit a significant amount of tightening to the inner thighs, lessening the amount of skin removal needed in this area. Because of the amount of skin removed, there are long incisions which mean longer scars, longer healing times, and the use of drains. In the properly chosen patient, the lower body lift will achieve a great deal of slimming and patient satisfaction.
If your thigh has been treated with liposuction in only one or two areas, and the resulting skin laxity is limited to only the inner thigh or the outer thigh, a more limited thigh lift may be all that is needed. The procedure may take a shorter amount of time in the operating room and may, therefore, be less expensive. However it may still require the use of drains. Whenever skin is being pulled to tighten areas near joints, like the hip and waist, there can be separations in the wound and delayed wound healing in either limited thigh lifts or more extensive lower body lifts.
However, the best way to make your decision is to see a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with extensive experience in both lower body lift surgery and in thigh lifts. Only a surgeon with experience in both procedures can tell you which one is more appropriate for you based on your individual distribution of skin laxity, and based on his experience doing both types of procedures. A surgeon who has done thigh lifts but only a limited number of thigh lifts may not be able to contrast the benefits for you based on that experience. Examination of before and after photographs of thigh lifts and lower body lifts will give you a better sense of any surgeon's individual experience.
Hope this is helpful. Good Luck!
