In general, candidates for a thigh lift are:

• Individuals whose weight is relatively stable;
• Individuals with sagging along the inner or medial region of the thigh and/or outer thigh;
• Healthy individuals without pathology that could impair healing or increase the risk of surgery;
• Non smokers;
• Individuals with a positive attitude and realistic expectations of the surgical result;
• Individuals committed to leading a healthy lifestyle, including proper nutrition and fitness.

• The reason why you want to undergo surgery, your expectations and the desired result;
• The options available in thigh lift surgery;
• Medical conditions, drug allergies and medical treatment;
• Current use of medication, vitamins, natural medicines, tobacco, alcohol and drugs;
• Previous surgeries.

• Assess your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors;
• Examine and measure your body;
• Take photographs for medical records;
• Discuss your options and recommend the most suitable one;
• Discuss the possible results of the surgery and any potential risks or complications.

Before surgery, it may be necessary to:

• Take laboratory tests or medical evaluation,
• Take certain medications or adjust current medications,
• Quit smoking well in advance of surgery,
• Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatories and natural medicines, as they can increase bleeding.

• What to do on the day of surgery (fasting time, medications, bath),
• Information on the type of anesthesia to be performed during the surgical procedure,
• Guidance on post-operative care.

The procedure must be carried out in a safe and comfortable place for the doctor and patient, in a surgical center authorized by the Health Surveillance, with equipment and trained staff for any complications.

Be sure to ask someone to accompany you and stay with you for at least the first night after surgery.

Surgical procedure

Step 1 – Anesthesia
Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. Options include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best option for you.

Step 2 – Incision
Incision patterns vary according to the area or areas to be treated, degree of correction and patient and surgeon preference. A common technique used in thigh lift surgery makes the incisions in the groin, extending down around the back of the thigh. The underlying connective tissue matrix will be remodeled and stretched, and the skin will be reduced and accommodated, resulting in more proportionate and smoother body contours. Perhaps your case can be performed with a minimal incision in the medial thigh, which involves an incision only in the groin area. Your surgeon will determine what is appropriate for you.

Step 2 – Incision
Incision patterns vary according to the area or areas to be treated, degree of correction and patient and surgeon preference. A common technique used in thigh lift surgery makes the incisions in the groin, extending down around the back of the thigh. The underlying connective tissue matrix will be remodeled and stretched, and the skin will be reduced and accommodated, resulting in more proportionate and smoother body contours. Perhaps your case can be performed with a minimal incision in the medial thigh, which involves an incision only in the groin area. Your surgeon will determine what is appropriate for you.

Medial Thigh Lift
Improving the contours of the outer thigh may require an incision that extends from the groin around the hip. Through these incisions, the plastic surgeon will firm the tissues so that you have a smoother, more toned body contour. Advanced techniques often allow incisions to be made in strategic locations where they can be hidden by most types of clothing and swimwear. However, the incisions can be extensive.

External Thigh Lift

Step 3 – Closing the Incisions
Deep supportive sutures within the underlying tissues help form the newly shaped contours. Sutures close the incisions in the skin.

Step 4 – Results
Smoother, more toned contours resulting from a thigh lift are visible almost immediately, although initially obscured by swelling and bruising. You may need to wear a compression garment for several weeks after the procedure to minimize swelling and support the tissues as they heal. With a thigh lift, the quality of the skin drastically improves in appearance.

The decision to undergo the surgical procedure is personal and it is you who must decide whether the benefits will achieve your goals and whether the risks and potential complications are acceptable. Your plastic surgeon and/or team will explain, in detail, the risks associated with the surgery.

You will be asked to sign the consent form to ensure that you fully understand the procedure you will undergo and any potential risks or complications.

• Unfavorable scars;
• Bleeding (bruise);
• Infection;
• Accumulation of fluid (seroma);
• Poor healing;
• Skin necrosis;
• Numbness or other changes in skin sensitivity;
• Anesthetic risks;
• Skin depigmentation and/or prolonged swelling;
• Adipose tissue necrosis (fat necrosis);
• Dehiscence (reopening of a previously opened wound);
• Asymmetry;
• Recurrent sagging of the skin;
• Pain, which may last;
• Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications;
• Persistent swelling in the legs;
• Possibility of a new surgical procedure (touch-up).

If you experience shortness of breath, chest pains, or an abnormal heartbeat, seek medical attention immediately. If any of these complications occur, you may need hospitalization and additional treatment. The practice of medicine and surgery is not an exact science. Although good results are expected, there is no guarantee. In some situations, it may not be possible to achieve the best results with a single surgical procedure, requiring a new surgery.

It is important that you ask all your questions directly to the plastic surgeon about the procedure you will undergo. It is natural to feel a little anxiety, to have expectations about the result or pre-operative stress. Don't be shy about discussing these feelings with your plastic surgeon.

Following your doctor's recommendations is essential for the success of the surgery. It is important that surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, abrasion, or movement during the healing time.

After surgery, dressings or bandages may be applied over the incisions and you may be wrapped in an elastic bandage or compression to minimize swelling and support the new contours as they heal. A drain may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain any excess blood and fluid that may accumulate.

How to care for the surgical wound and drains, medications to take orally to help reduce the potential for infection, specific care for the surgery site, your health status, and post-operative follow-up with your plastic surgeon.

• Where will I remain in recovery after the surgery ends?
• What medication will I be given or prescribed after surgery?
• Will dressings be necessary after surgery? When will they be removed?
• Will the stitches be removed? When?
• When will I be able to resume my normal activities and exercise?
• When will the return appointment be?

The results of thigh lift surgery are visible almost immediately. However, it may take several months for the final results of the procedure to fully appear. The scars will remain, but the results can be long-lasting if you maintain a stable weight and good shape, and also depend on your skin type and hereditary characteristics. As the body ages, it is natural to lose some firmness over time.

Cost is always a consideration in elective surgery. A surgeon's fees may vary depending on their experience and the type of procedure performed.

• Surgeon's fees;
• Hospital or surgical center costs;
• Anesthetist's fees;
• Prescribed medications;
• Post-operative and mesh;
• Medical exams.

• General anesthesia: Drugs and/or gases used during surgery to relieve pain and reduce consciousness.
• Hematoma: Accumulation of blood beneath the skin.
• Intravenous sedation: Sedatives given by injection into a vein to help you relax.
• Liposuction: Procedure that suctions fat from beneath the surface of the skin.
• Local anesthesia: Drug injected directly into the site of an incision during surgery to relieve pain.
• Medial thigh lift: Surgical procedure to correct sagging of the inner thigh.
• External thigh lift: Surgical procedure to correct sagging of the external part of the thigh.
• Sutures: Stitches used by surgeons to hold skin and tissue together.