How Long Does a Thigh Lift Last?

• 30 July 2021
• Dr Masood Ansari

At My Cosmetic Clinic in Wollongong, Rosebery, Sydney, Nowra, Newcastle, Erina, Crows Nest, and Castle Hill, we have a mission to help patients enhance their natural beauty. One of our favourite procedures that does just this is the thigh lift. With carefully placed incisions and deep sutures, we give your thighs the toned, curvaceous appearance you desire. And results are likely to last longer than you think.

How Long Does a Thigh Lift Last?

Although not a substitute for a healthy lifestyle, a thigh lift sculpts and contours your lower limbs so they’re more proportionate with the rest of your body. The procedure removes excess skin and fat to deliver seductively-shaped legs. Meanwhile, the remaining skin is tightened for a smoother and more youthful appearance.

Combining this surgery with proper diet and exercise can give you results that last at least a decade. But this is a relatively conservative estimate. A lift is in fact intended to provide a permanent solution to one of the most troubling spots on the body.

The Nature of Stubborn Thighs

As you likely already know, it can be tough to shed fat from the buttocks, abdomen, and thighs. Even when the rest of your body is slim and toned, these spots can remain enduringly jiggly. The explanation for this can be found in science.

Research tells us that for women, these fat reserves are intended to meet the energy demands of lactation. You might therefore blame biology for those areas that don’t easily respond to diet and exercise. Men, meanwhile, tend to store excess fat in their stomachs.

Why Leg Lifts Don’t Help

Targeted exercises like sit-ups and leg lifts can help redefine your overall body shape, but they don’t burn fat in specific places. This is because the body has a mind of its own; we cannot dictate where fat gets burned, and once you start to develop excess padding in one spot, you’re likely to continue in that same vein.

Subcutaneous fat, which develops just under the skin’s surface, contains estrogen receptors. This means it responds to estrogen production, and the female body is well known for pumping out quantities of this sex hormone. But subcutaneous fat also produces and stores its own estrogen. The more fat you have, the higher your estrogen levels will be. The end result is a vicious cycle in which excess fat continues to produce additional padding.

An Easy Solution 

A lift provides an easy solution to nagging concerns like:

• Chaffing between your thighs
• Lax, loose skin
• Unbalanced body proportions
• Thigh wrinkles

Many patients combine their lifts with liposuction to further remove localised areas of fat. We’ll determine your candidacy for liposuction during your first consultation. This is a great time for us to get to know you, understand your goals for treatment, and identify the best way to deliver the contours you want.

Exploring Your Candidacy

Generally speaking, patients who want to improve the definition of their thighs are eligible for a lift. Some of the requirements we look for include:

• Maintaining a stable weight
• Having realistic expectations for the procedure
• Committing to a healthy diet and exercise after surgery

Post-Op Care

After your procedure, you’ll want to care for your body in specific ways. For instance, we recommend you not take aspirin or ibuprofen for at least two days; both can thin the blood and increase your risks of bleeding.

You’ll need help around the house for the first 24 hours after surgery, including assistance with using the bathroom and making food. It’s important you rest during this time to assist with your recovery. You’ll also need to repose in a position that does not stretch your thigh tissues; many patients slide pillows under their legs to relieve pressure.

Showering and Exercising

Most patients can resume showering two days after their procedure. Just remember to remove bandages and/or compression garments first and wash your thighs with a gentle touch.

Exercising is off the table for about six to eight weeks. In particular, you won’t be able to squat, climb stairs, or engage in strenuous physical activity. It is important, however, that you take short walks around the house to keep your blood circulating.

Foods To Eat

It takes about a month to get back into your normal routine; we recommend you reduce your food intake by about 20% until then. This helps balance the intake and output. The foods you do eat should be wholesome to feed your body with essential vitamins and minerals. Options like fruits, vegetables, and lean meats are low in calories but high in nutrients.

Throughout that first month, it’s best to reduce salt intake as it increases swelling. Drink plenty of fluids, especially water, to keep your body hydrated. Green tea and fruit-flavoured waters can also be enjoyed. What you shouldn’t reach for are alcoholic beverages. Also, keep the cigarettes out of reach for four weeks before and after surgery. Their harmful chemicals can increase your risk of complications.

Say Hello to Your New Shape

A lift can give your thighs a firmer, smoother, and more youthful appearance. It’s the ideal way to remove unwanted padding, tighten loose skin, and restore your natural curves. Schedule your consultation today by contacting My Cosmetic Clinic at any of our NSW locations: Wollongong, Rosebery, Sydney, Nowra, Newcastle, Erina, Crows Nest, and Castle Hill.