What Are the Benefits of Thigh Lifts?
Thigh lifts can address skin issues related to significant weight loss, aging, and pregnancy, enabling individuals to feel more comfortable and confident in their legs. A thigh lift surgery removes surplus skin from the upper leg to improve contour and reduce sagging. There are a few types of thigh lifts:
- Inner: An inner, or medial, thigh lift uses an incision that starts in the groin and extends down the back of the thigh to the knee.
- Outer: An outer, or bilateral, thigh lift removes excess skin near the hips and butt. The incision starts at the upper groin and extends around the hip and across the waistline.
Individuals may receive one or both types of thigh lifts during the same surgical session, depending on their needs and goals. Thigh lifts offer many aesthetic and physical benefits that can improve an individual’s daily life and self-image. By defining the appearance of your thighs, minimizing stretch marks, reducing chafing, and eliminating folds, thigh lifts have the potential to boost confidence and make physical activity more enjoyable. Explore the benefits of thigh lifts below.
Enhanced Aesthetics
A thigh lift helps restore confidence. It offers aesthetic benefits, such as a tighter, smoother shape and reduced stretch marks, helping individuals feel more comfortable with their body’s appearance.
1. Contour and Shape
Thigh lifts are true to their name — they lift the thigh. They remove sagging skin to reshape the upper leg and give it greater definition and contouring. A smoother, shapelier appearance can empower individuals to feel more confident and comfortable. Many people also find that clothing fits better after a thigh lift due to the new shape of their upper leg.
Some surgery candidates may benefit from a thigh lift combined with a liposuction treatment. For example, some people who eat a healthy diet and follow a solid exercise routine may find getting rid of stubborn fat in their thighs difficult. Liposuction can remove fat deposits along the thigh to help sculpt the leg. These combined procedures can create a contour that better aligns with an individual’s aesthetic goals.
2. Excess Skin Removal
Skin can sag for several reasons, including:
- Significant weight loss: People who have lost a lot of weight may experience excess skin. While exercise is important for toning the thigh, it cannot reduce surplus skin. Thigh lifts can remove the extra skin to improve comfort and appearance.
- Aging: Skin loses its elasticity over time, causing it to sag and fold. Collagen levels also decline with age, leading to weaker skin that is more susceptible to stretching. Individuals who want to retain a toned and youthful appearance may benefit from a thigh lift.
- Pregnancy: The body changes rapidly during and after pregnancy. Hormonal changes can cause substantial — and stubborn — fat accumulation around the thighs, as well as stretched skin. A thigh lift can remove excess skin to help a new parent feel more confident after giving birth.
3. Muscle Tightening
Muscles can lose their definition over time, leading to loose and stretched muscles that can make skin appear saggy or dimpled. As muscles and connective tissues weaken, fat deposits are more likely to slip by and travel down through the thigh, contributing to the dimpled look.
In addition to removing excess skin, thigh lifts can tighten underlying muscles to make legs look firmer and more youthful. By improving muscle contour, thigh lifts enhance the skin’s appearance for a tighter and smoother look.
4. Stretch Mark Reduction
Thigh lifts help with stretch marks by tightening the skin. Tighter skin minimizes stretch mark appearances, making them look softer and less severe. Results are best seen with shallow stretch marks.
If an individual has deep stretch marks, they may want to combine a thigh lift procedure with other stretch mark treatments, such as skin resurfacing. Laser skin resurfacing uses light energy to encourage skin cell regeneration. The procedure can help soften and flatten stretch mark appearances, especially when paired with a thigh lift.
Enriched Physical Well-Being
Excess skin can affect an individual’s self-image — it can also have a significant impact on their physical comfort. In addition to enhancing appearance and confidence, thigh lifts can bring many practical physical benefits that make daily living more comfortable and hygienic.
1. Increased Mobility and Comfort
Thigh lifts improve thigh contour to make physical activities more enjoyable. By removing surplus skin, a thigh lift enables an individual to move more freely for exercise and other daily activities. With increased mobility, individuals are better able to exercise and keep their thighs toned and smooth.
Excessive skin can lead to painful and irritating chafing that can interfere with everyday living. It may prevent an individual from wearing certain clothing styles or participating in activities they enjoy. A thigh lift can reduce extra skin between the thighs to minimize chafing, making physical activities more enjoyable and clothing more comfortable.
2. Reduced Skin Infections
Skin folds are more likely to produce and collect sweat than other areas of the body. They are also prone to rubbing and chafing. This increased moisture, warmth, and friction can lead to bacterial or fungal infections, irritations, and rashes.
Another benefit of a thigh lift is that it can minimize skin folds, reducing risks of infection, rashes, and open wounds. Individuals may turn to a thigh lift as a solution when regular treatment options, such as topical ointments, fail to treat infections or irritations.
3. Improved Hygiene
Surplus skin can cause sweat accumulation and constant rubbing, leading to various hygiene issues such as odors, infections, inflammation, and rashes. It can also make it difficult to reach certain areas of the body for cleaning and care.
A thigh lift can facilitate better hygiene by reducing excess skin and folds. The thighs will be smoother and leaner, making them easier to clean. When they can take better care of their bodies, people often feel more confident in their appearance and physical well-being.