Want Lovely Legs? Think Thigh Lift!

Celebrity news suggests that Gravity star Sandra Bullock “is killing it on the red carpet this year.” Showing off her long, smooth, shapely legs at the British Film Institute Festival in London, the 50-year-old beauty proved that age and gravity aren’t detracting from her gorgeous gams. In fact, Ms. Bullock’s legs could arguably be the envy of many women much younger than she!

What elements make beautiful legs?

Today’s standard of beauty for legs includes muscular, strong-looking legs that suggest an active, healthy lifestyle. In addition, evenly balanced thighs and calves, having no varicose or spider veins, having even skin tone and texture, and having taut skin free of the signs of aging such as sagging and dimpling are key to beautiful, healthy-looking, and young-looking legs.

Aging and gravity as well as gaining and losing weight can cause the skin of the inner and outer thighs to lose tone, dimple, and sag. Especially in women, fat tends to collect in the thighs with age. Even the most avid middle-aged and older exercisers know that weight loss and exercise don’t help tighten skin on the thighs. And many fit, slim, otherwise attractive people age 40+ have some sagging and dimpling, especially on the back and sides of the upper legs as well as the inner thighs.

Although liposuction can help improve the contour of the thighs, only a thigh lift (or thighplasty) can tighten your skin and leave you with beautiful, smooth, slender, younger-looking legs.

Thigh lift can restore your legs to an overall more slender and youthful appearance!

What is thigh lift?

Often combined with liposuction, thigh lift reshapes contours of the thighs by removing excess skin and fat on the upper legs for well-proportioned legs that are balanced with your overall physique. Thigh lift also is used to smooth, tighten, and firm skin tone on the upper legs.

Thigh lift surgery usually takes about 2 hours. It is performed under general anesthesia.

The length and location of incisions is based on the amount of tissue that must be removed, lifted, and tightened. A good plastic surgeon will minimize scars whenever possible for the most natural-looking results. Some incisions, for example, are made in the crease of the legs so that the scar is hidden.

Are you a candidate for thigh lift?

If you are in good health and relatively good shape but diet and exercise have not achieved your goals for great-looking legs, you are likely to be a good candidate for thigh lift!

Thigh lift is well-suited for men and women who have loose skin and/or excess fat in the inner and outer thighs. The best candidates for thigh lift have skin that still has good elasticity and can naturally conform to the new contours of the thighs. If your skin has lost much of its elasticity, your surgeon might recommend a combination of liposuction and thigh lift techniques to help you reach your goals.

If you are working to lose weight (10 or more pounds), however, you should wait to have thigh lift surgery after you are at a healthy weight for your height.

Thigh lift results

Immediately after thigh lift, you will have smoother, tighter contours on your upper legs. But it usually takes 6 or more weeks for all swelling and bruising to resolve and for your legs to take their final shape.

By maintaining a stable weight and exercising regularly, you can enjoy the outstanding and long-lasting results of thigh lift surgery. Natural effects of aging and gravity will eventually begin to loosen the skin on your thighs somewhat, but your thighs will always look better than they did before your thigh lift procedure!

Recovering from thigh lift surgery

Most people who have thigh lift go home 4 to 6 hours after their surgery. You will have some bruising, swelling, and soreness for up to a week after your thigh lift. Oral over-the-counter or prescription medications can help minimize your discomfort if you need them.

Your surgeon will ask you to avoid many activities, especially those that put pressure on and pull at your incisions, namely climbing stairs and squatting. During your follow-up visits, your surgeon will tell you when you can return to all your activities. People with jobs that require little activity often return to work within a week after having thigh lift surgery; but if your job requires you to stand, walk, and/or lift heavy objects, you should wait 3 to 6 weeks before returning to work. You should not engage in vigorous activities or aerobic exercises for at least 6 weeks.

If you would like beautiful, firm, younger-looking legs that are balanced with the rest of your physique, a surgical thigh lift may be right for you!