Thigh Liftin Dallas
Removes loose skin and fat from the thighs, often after weight loss.
Loose Thigh Skin,
Removed.
Loose skin on the inner thighs usually follows significant weight loss, pregnancy or aging. It chafes and irritates the skin every day, and it hides the shape of the leg. Diet and exercise can't remove it. Many of the patients Dr. Schwartz sees for a thigh lift have spent years losing weight, and this skin is what is left, along with the self-consciousness that comes with it.
A thigh lift removes that skin. Dr. Schwartz places the incision in the natural crease of the groin or along the inner thigh, depending on where the loose skin is, so the scar is as hidden as possible. Where there are stubborn pockets of fat he adds liposuction, then tightens the tissue underneath and trims away the extra skin. Removing it stops the chafing and lets you move freely.
The Procedure
A thigh lift (thighplasty) is mainly for people with significant loose skin after massive weight loss, aging or pregnancy, particularly when the extra tissue is physically uncomfortable or hides the results of exercise.
For the inner thigh, Dr. Schwartz typically places the incision in the natural groin crease, where underwear and most swimwear cover it. If there is a lot of loose skin, the incision may extend down toward the mid-thigh so more skin can be removed.
Sagging of the outer thigh and the side of the buttock can be corrected with a lateral lift, which uses an incision along the hip and groin line. Dr. Schwartz often does this as part of a lower body lift, which lifts the midsection and lower body together.
Dr. Schwartz trims away the extra skin and routinely adds liposuction to remove stubborn pockets of fat and smooth the edges. Once the tissue underneath is reshaped and lifted, he stitches the remaining skin closed.
Thigh lift surgery is done under general anesthesia and generally takes between two and three hours.
Most patients return to office work within 5 to 10 days. Dr. Schwartz recommends waiting three to four weeks before strenuous exercise. Full healing takes six to eight weeks, and light walking from early on helps circulation.
A thigh lift tightens the skin and reshapes the thigh, but it is not mainly a treatment for skin texture. Cellulite may look somewhat better as the skin is tightened. If dimpling is your main concern, Dr. Schwartz can suggest other treatments.
Thigh Lift Stories
What to Expect
Because the incisions are in the groin, the first weeks after a thigh lift need some planning. It helps to know what to expect before surgery.
Your Consultation
Dr. Schwartz assesses how much loose skin you have and where it is, and decides whether an inner, extended or outer thigh lift suits you and whether liposuction should be added. He tells you honestly what the scars will be like and goes through the recovery rules that come with groin incisions.
Surgery Day
Thigh lift surgery is performed under general anesthesia as an outpatient procedure, typically taking two to three hours depending on the extent of correction. You are discharged the same day with compression garments, incision care instructions, and a follow-up visit, usually the next day.
Early Recovery
Swelling and bruising in the thighs and groin area are expected and normal. Walking with a shortened stride, to protect the groin incisions, is encouraged from day one, because staying still makes recovery riskier. A compression garment is worn continuously.
Return to Activity
Desk work resumes within 5 to 10 days. Normal walking gait typically resumes by week two as the groin incisions settle. Strenuous exercise and activities that strain the groin incisions are restricted for three to four weeks. Once the incisions have healed, scar care begins, following Dr. Schwartz's instructions.
Final Results
The thigh contour refines as swelling fully resolves over three to six months. Scars mature over twelve to eighteen months, fading gradually.
Why Choose
Dr. Schwartz
Thigh lift incisions sit in a difficult area, where tension, movement and swelling all act on them during recovery. Dr. Schwartz plans the incisions with the scar in mind, and before surgery he goes through exactly what this recovery involves so you are prepared for it.
Full Credentials →Plastic Surgeon
Performed
Practice
Rate
Is This Right for Me?
A thigh lift suits patients with significant loose skin on the inner thighs who are at a stable weight and ready for the particular recovery it involves.
Common Reasons
Patients Choose This
- You have lost a lot of weight, often 100 pounds or more, and have loose skin left over.
- You get discomfort, chafing or skin irritation from the extra tissue on your inner thighs.
- Your thigh skin hangs, wrinkles or sags with age or after pregnancy, and you don't like how it looks.
- Your weight is stable at or near your goal.
- You are in good general health and don't smoke.
- You accept a scar in exchange for firmer thighs.
Things to Consider
Before Proceeding
- You still plan to lose a significant amount of weight. Dr. Schwartz recommends reaching your goal weight before surgery.
- Your skin is still elastic and the fat is in isolated pockets. Liposuction alone may be enough.
- Your main concern is cellulite. A thigh lift tightens skin; it does not correct texture.
- You smoke or use nicotine products. You will need to stop completely.
- You are pregnant or planning to become pregnant soon. Pregnancy can change the result.
- You have a medical condition that isn't under control, or you can't keep up the groin incision care Dr. Schwartz requires during recovery.
If loose inner-thigh skin affects your comfort or confidence, a consultation will show which approach suits you: liposuction alone, a limited lift, or a more extensive one.
Frequently Asked
Answers to the questions Dr. Schwartz hears most often from thigh lift patients.
A good candidate is at a stable weight but frustrated by sagging, 'crepey' skin on the inner or outer thighs. A thigh lift treats loose skin; it is not for removing fat alone. If you have loose skin that makes you self-conscious or uncomfortable in clothing, a thigh lift removes it.
For an inner thigh lift, Dr. Schwartz places the incisions in the groin crease, where underwear and swimwear cover them. If more correction is needed, the incision may extend down the inner thigh. A thigh lift does leave permanent scars. Dr. Schwartz places them where they will show least, and our team gives you a scar-care plan. The scars fade significantly over time.
Yes. Liposuction alone is best when the skin is still elastic. Otherwise Dr. Schwartz often combines it with a thigh lift, removing isolated pockets of fat before trimming the extra skin, so he can reshape the whole thigh. At your consultation he decides whether you need both.
Most patients return to desk work within 5 to 10 days. Walking early helps circulation, but Dr. Schwartz recommends a shortened stride for the first two weeks to protect your incisions. Strenuous exercise is restricted for three to four weeks. Our team gives you incision care instructions.
A thigh lift gives long-lasting results because the skin that was removed can't come back. Aging will continue to affect the skin, but keeping your weight stable is the best way to keep the result for years.
The cost depends on your case: whether the inner thighs, the outer thighs or both are treated, and whether liposuction is added. After your consultation we give you a quote that includes all surgical, anesthesia and facility fees. Financing is available.
No. A thigh lift tightens the skin and can make your legs look smoother, but it is not a treatment for cellulite. If cellulite is your main concern, Dr. Schwartz can discuss other procedures at your consultation that may suit that goal better.
As with any major surgery, risks include swelling, bruising and minor infection. Groin incisions need careful attention, and Dr. Schwartz gives you detailed scar and incision care instructions. Our team supports you through the whole recovery.
Recovery & Concierge Care
You go home the same day, with a compression garment and incision care instructions. Dr. Schwartz sees you the next day, then typically at one week, three weeks, two months, four months and six months, adjusted to how you are healing. He does almost all follow-up visits himself, and at each one he gives you a specific plan for the weeks ahead. You walk from the first day, with a shorter stride to protect the groin incisions, and once they have healed you get a plan for caring for your scars.
The office can be reached 24 hours a day. After-hours calls from patients recovering from surgery go directly to Dr. Schwartz, so an important question never waits until morning. The recovery is planned so that any responsible adult can look after you at home. If you would rather have a nurse caring for you at home or in a hotel, we can arrange it.