A thigh lift, or thighplasty, is a body contouring procedure that reshapes the thighs. Excess fat and skin is removed and the supporting ligaments of the thigh are re-suspended. This gives a smoother, more toned look to the skin while improving the contours and proportions of the thigh and lower leg. The thighplasty is almost always married with a liposuction of the area, but is not limited to just removal of fat.

The typical candidate for thigh lift surgery has lost skin elasticity in the thigh area and has been left with loose, hanging, dimpled skin. Excess skin can’t be removed through diet and exercise alone, and thigh lift surgery is the only real solution.

The thighplasty will often take approximately 2 hours. An incision is placed in the groin, and this may be extended along the inner thigh. Excess skin is removed, and underlying tissue repositioned and secured. The residual fat is removed with liposuction and contoured to a more pleasing form.

On the day of your surgery, before the procedure, Dr. Kim will mark incision lines while you’re standing. They may position the sagging skin at different angles to guide these efforts. Once under anesthesia in surgery, Dr. Kim will make an incision in your groin. Depending on the type of thigh lift you have, the incision may extend around the back of your thigh, down toward your knee or around your hip and back. Dr. Kim will then remove fat, reposition tissue and tighten nearby muscles. He may also trim away excess skin. Finally, stitches (sutures) will help secure tissue deep in your thigh to support your new shape, utilizing clips or special skin adhesive to close the incision.