Thigh (Groin) Lift

A thigh lift is the elimination of the skin excess and fat accumulation that form on the upper and inner sides of the thighs. Although it provides some slimming of the leg, its effect is mainly limited to the inner side of the thigh.

Thigh lift operations are generally performed on women over the age of 40. The looseness that forms on the inner and upper sides of the thighs increases especially after gaining and losing weight. Some skin types are prone to laxity. In such patients, the problem may appear at an earlier age. In some patients the problem is only skin laxity, while in others there is also excess fat.

In thigh lift operations, in thin patients with very little skin excess, the excess skin is removed so as to leave a horizontal scar on the inner side of the groin, and the skin is pulled taut and stitched. In patients with a lot of skin excess and with fat accumulation, applying this method causes the scar to lengthen and to slide downwards over time, which in turn deforms the genitals. For this reason, in most patients the excess skin is removed in a way that leaves a vertical scar. Beforehand, liposuction is performed on the inner part of the thighs. The vertical incision is placed on the inner side of the leg, running from the inner side of the groin down towards the knee. In this way, the scar is not visible from the front when the patient is standing.

The skin in the inner thigh area is very thin and lax. When liposuction is applied alone, the laxity increases. For this reason, liposuction can be applied in limited amounts only in young patients with firm skin. Applying radiofrequency during liposuction can tighten the skin and reduce the risk of waviness. However, it should not be forgotten that in most patients liposuction is not an ideal method for tightening the thigh area.

Exercising regularly and not gaining weight are beneficial for the inner thighs, as they are for the whole body. Lymphatic drainage and radiofrequency treatments are also effective for tightening the skin in this area.

As with all operations, in thigh lift operations aspirin and smoking must be stopped three weeks before surgery. In the last week, it is necessary to stay away from drugs and similar substances that may thin the blood.

Things that should not be used:

• Painkillers such as Apranaks, Voltaren and Vermidon (when a painkiller is needed, Minoset or Novalgin can be used),
• Multivitamin pills containing substances such as ginseng, ginkgo biloba and coenzyme Q,
• Herbal products such as green tea, flaxseed, cherry stalk and tomato seed
• All slimming products

Thigh lift operations are performed in an operating theatre and under general anaesthesia.

Thigh lift surgery takes between two and three hours.

Thigh lift operations are not very painful procedures.

Three to four hours after thigh lift surgery, the patient is fed and helped to stand. The next morning the urinary catheter is removed and the patient is discharged. A shower can be taken 2-3 days after surgery. Since all the stitches are left under the skin, there is no need for stitch removal. One week after surgery, patients can return to their daily lives. After three weeks, sport can be started. After six weeks, all sporting activities are allowed.

The most important problems after thigh lift operations are those that develop at the wound site. There may be delays in wound healing. Errors in preoperative planning, removal of too much skin, inadequate control of bleeding and smoking increase such problems.

Thigh lift surgery provides a radical solution to problems in the leg area, and its results can be said to be permanent. In the event of gaining and losing a great deal of weight again after surgery, the results may be somewhat diminished, but they never return to the state before surgery.