Brian D. Cohen, MD, an outstanding plastic surgeon with offices in Great Neck and Manhattan, is a master of his craft with a reputation among his patients for empathy as well as skill. His seven consecutive years of inclusion in Super Doctors 2020, New York and Newsday Top Doctors by Castle Connolly 2020 are proof that he is esteemed by his peers as well. Thigh lift, known medically as thighplasty, is one of the procedures about which he has in-depth knowledge. If you are troubled by flabby or dimpled thighs, contacting Dr. Cohen may be a life-changer.

What Exactly is a Thigh Lift?

A thigh lift is a procedure to tighten and improve the overall appearance of your thighs. Often performed on patients who have lost a sizable amount of weight, a thigh lift dramatically improves your appearance by lifting loose skin, and reducing excess skin and fat. 

If your skin elasticity is poor, Dr. Cohen may recommend a thigh lift combined with liposuction, though it is important to note that a thigh lift’s basic purpose is not to make you more slender, but rather more sleek. Also, some patients who have undergone liposuction, then decide that they want the further improvement of a thigh lift. The surgery replaces a flabby look with a firm one so that you present with smoother skin and more appealing contours. 

Are you a good candidate?

If you remain dissatisfied with your thighs after weight loss resulting from diet and exercise and yearn for a more youthful body image, a thigh lift may be appropriate for you. Good candidates for thigh lifts are individuals:

  • Whose weight is relatively stable
  • Who have excess soft tissue along the inner or outer thigh
  • Who are in general good health without medical conditions that impede healing
  • Who are nonsmokers
  • Who are committed to a healthy lifestyle with proper nutrition and exercise
  • Who have realistic goals for the surgery and a positive outlook

The best way to find out whether you are a good candidate for thighplasty is to make an appointment with Dr. Cohen to discuss your options.

The Thigh Lift Surgical Procedure

For the convenience of his patients, Dr. Cohen performs surgeries in surgical centers in both Lake Success and Manhattan. In each location, they are performed on an outpatient basis, either under local anesthesia with sedation or under general anesthesia. Thigh lift procedures take about two hours and the incisions vary according to each patient’s individual needs. There are three types of thighplasty, all of which involve making a small incision and pulling up the remaining skin to tighten it:

  • Inner thigh lift, in which the surgeon makes an incision at the top of the leg, approximately at the lower edge of panties or underwear, to tighten the inner thigh
  • Medial thigh lift, which tightens skin on the upper part of the inner thigh by making an incision from the groin back to the crease of the buttock
  • Outer thigh lift, which lifts the entire thigh and buttock, requires an incision extending from the groin around the hip and across the back to tighten and remove bulges along the outer thigh

For any of the above procedures, Dr. Cohen will mark your thighs before surgery while you are in a standing position. In all cases, after the procedure, he will close the incision site with deep sutures to make certain that you are left with no sagging tissues and that resulting scars will be hidden in the crease of the groin. Drains will possiby be inserted to remove excess fluid, but will be removed after a few days.

Recovery from a Thigh Lift

Although most patients experience minimal pain after a thigh lift, a compression wrap will be applied to your thigh for 24 to 48 hours after the procedure to minimize your discomfort; any pain you experience after that is usually well-relieved with medication. Recovery time varies depending on the extent of the particular procedure. Dr. Cohen recommends that all patients rest as much as possible and avoid moving their legs. 

If you have a thigh lift, you should plan to take at least a week off from work (longer if your job requires vigorous exercise). Swelling and bruising are typically gone after about a month, and you should be able to return to all of your normal activities within 4 to 6 weeks. All thigh lifts result in a scar, the length of which will depend on how much loose skin has been removed. Scarring differs from patient to patient, but Dr. Cohen strategically places all scars to reduce visibility and scars tend to fade as time passes.

If You’re Considering a Thigh Lift, Contact Dr. Brian D. Cohen

Of course, your friends and relatives will all have opinions about whether you should have a thigh lift, but the person whose opinion matters most is you. If you are considering this aesthetic procedure, the best thing to do is consult an expert. You will find Dr. Cohen informative, honest, and compassionate. He will help you decide whether a thigh lift is right for you. Call for an appointment today.