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Inner Thigh Lift After Weight Loss

INTRODUCTION

Toned and proportional thighs give a person a great deal of satisfaction and a healthy self-image. When the inner thighs rub together, or the outer thighs are disproportionate to the hips, a person can have significant grief. When someone loses weight, inherits bad genes, or simply ages, the inner thighs can sag, leaving the body contour with an unpleasant aesthetic appearance. Exercise may tighten the muscles and reduce the fat, but it will not be able to improve sagging skin that has lost elasticity. The best solution is an inner thigh lift.

The inner thigh lift operation has gained a lot of popularity in recent years due to gastric bypass surgeries and the large population of people who are left unhappy with the sagging appearance of the inner thighs. Outer thighs are usually not affected, with the factors mentioned above, as much as the inner thighs. Also, outer thigh skin, in general, tends to have more elasticity, and is more forgiving than inner thigh skin. Therefore, an inner thigh lift is a more popular procedure. We address outer thighs with liposuction or with another operation, a lower body lift, which addresses sagging outer thighs, buttocks, and the abdomen.

An inner thigh lift is a straightforward operation with very high satisfaction among patients because it enables them to have more toned inner thighs, more self-confidence, more ability to exercise, and more fashion choices. The scar on the upper aspect of the inner thigh is well tolerated, given the benefits of this procedure.

View Before & Afters

PREPARING FOR SURGERY

We believe a well-prepared patient leads to a successful surgery and recovery. Whether you are flying in internationally or a local, our staff strives to give you a great experience. During your initial call to our office, one of our patient care coordinators will discuss the different options available to improve the areas of your concern. A consultation is scheduled with the doctor who best fits your personal situation. The doctor will review your medical history, spend the appropriate time to review all surgical and non-surgical options, and discuss whether surgery can be performed in-office under local sedation or at the hospital under general anesthesia. In sharing our before and after photos, you get a better sense in the quality of surgery our doctors offer and what outcome you can expect to achieve. We will review pre- and post-operative care so you can be prepared for what your role is in surgery. You will be asked to stop smoking two weeks prior to and post-surgery. Safety is our top priority, so we will ask you to see your primary care physician to perform a physical exam, lab work and, in some patients, an EKG 30 days prior to surgery. Next, we see you for a pre-op appointment two week prior to surgery to discuss any questions you may have and review surgery details, ensuring everyone is on the same page. You will then receive a courtesy call the evening before surgery to review instructions and any questions you may have.

PROCEDURE DESCRIPTION

Inner Thigh Liposuction: This procedure is performed with a tumescent liposuction technique with minimal scarring, minimal downtime, and excellent improvement for the appropriate patient.

Inner Thigh Lift: The appropriate candidate for the thigh lift procedure is a patient who has loose skin, or loose skin and excess fat of the upper thigh. The way an inner thigh lift is performed is by resecting a crescent-shaped segment of skin and fat of the inner thigh extending from the mid-thigh in the back, to the mid thigh in the front, just below the groin crease. This will remove the excess skin of the upper inner thighs that rub together, and tighten the inner thigh. The resultant scar is usually hidden with clothes.

Extended Inner Thigh Lift: The appropriate candidate for the extended thigh lift procedure is a patient who has very loose skin, very loose muscles, and a large amount of excess fat extending from the groin to the inner aspect of the knee. This procedure is an extension of the inner thigh lift, described above. After the crescent-shaped skin is excised from the upper inner thighs, excess skin is excised along the inner aspect of the thigh tapering down to the knee. When the skin is removed, and the incisions are closed, the resultant scars are T-shaped or L-shaped, extending down to the knee. This technique leaves more obvious scars than the inner thigh lift technique, but its advantage lies in the ability to remove a significantly larger amount of inner thigh skin. Sometimes drains need to be placed under the skin with this technique, since the surgical area is larger, to manage any post-operative bleeding.

Advantages
Patients who are not happy with the way their inner thighs look may benefit from one of three procedures:

• Inner Thigh Liposuction: For people with good skin tone, good muscle tone, and excess fat of the inner thighs.
• Inner Thigh Lift: For people with loose muscle tone, excess thigh fat and loose skin in the upper aspect of the inner thigh.
• Extended Inner Thigh Lift: For people who have very loose skin, very loose muscles, and a large amount of excess fat extending from the groin to the inner aspect of the knee.

RECOVERY

Our office will provide a comprehensive post-operative plan to ensure the best possible outcome. The plan will include what to expect postoperatively, such as estimated recovery time, pain management, garments or dressings, and anticipated activity level. For your safety, we require that an adult stay with you at least the first 24 hours after surgery and drives you to your next day follow-up visit. With most facial procedures, you will be instructed to limit activity for the first week or two, which could include restrictions on driving, prolonged travel and flying. In addition, we ask you refrain from exercise until cleared by the physician, usually around four weeks post-op. You are asked to refrain from smoking for a minimum of two weeks. To optimize healing, we recommend that you eat a high protein diet. You should anticipate a variable degree of bruising and swelling, as with any surgical procedure; light make-up may be used to cover bruises starting a week after surgery. We also offer scar creams at an additional cost to optimize results.

To promote healing and minimize complications, you will be seen in a series of post-op appointments, including the day after surgery. These appointments will continue throughout the first year after the procedure to make sure you are healing as planned. For your added convenience, you also have direct access to Dr. Bitar’s cell phone number if you need to reach him after hours. The final post-op visit, one year after surgery, is one of our favorites since the results are fully apparent and we love seeing our patients happy. You are always welcome to come back and see us, even years after your surgery.

MAXIMIZING POSITIVE OUTCOMES

At the Bitar Cosmetic Surgery Institute, we take pride in providing our patients with the best surgical experience possible, emphasizing patient safety while trying to optimize surgical results. This is a process that includes comprehensive pre-operative preparation and patient education, the development of a personalized operative plan, and a thoughtful post operative care regimen emphasizing patient comfort and promoting recovery.

There are a number of strategies which the Institute has adapted to further ensure patient safety. We are selective and only offer surgery to patients whose general health and lifestyle choices permit healing and facilitate recovery. To minimize risk, we require a preoperative assessment that includes a thoughtful history and physical exam, as well as targeted laboratory tests.

We operate at accredited hospitals and surgicenters that have demonstrated a commitment to the highest standards of care, employing board certified anesthesiologists and nurses. We adhere to well established surgical principles designed to ensure patient safety and have developed policies and protocols to minimize the risk of infection. Dr. Bitar is committed to continuing education, honing their skills and introducing new techniques always with the aim of improving safety and surgical results.

We emphasize patient safety in our peri-operative care plan, advocating early mobilization, optimizing nutrition, and providing detailed care instructions. After surgery, patients are seen in our office frequently and early, starting the day after their procedure, and a staff member is available around the clock for any questions or concerns. Our entire team is committed to our patients’ well being and every measure is designed to minimize potential complications, promote comfortable and rapid recovery, and optimize surgical results.

WHY CHOOSE BITAR COSMETIC SURGERY INSTITUTE?

Our commitment to excellence and exceptional patient care is in every step of your doctor-patient experience. Dr. George Bitar is a distinguished board certified plastic surgeon who stays on the cutting edge of advancements in cosmetic surgery and technology to offer the best possible results. With a blend of artistry and meticulous surgical technique, he is able to achieve beautiful and natural results for our patients. We provide a high level of patient safety and our experienced and caring staff will be with you every step of the way. Our institute offers a wide variety of surgical and non-surgical options, from skin care, injectables and lasers to in-office or hospital options, to provide a versatile approach to fit individual patient needs. Your aesthetic goals are our priority and each procedure is customized to ensure you receive the best possible outcome.

For more information, call our office at 703-206-0506.

Content on this website is for information only and should not be used to diagnose or treat your plastic surgery or cosmetic surgery problems. Please contact your plastic surgeon with all questions and concerns.