If you're at or close to your ideal body weight but struggling to achieve proportionate contours of the thighs and lower body, you might be a good candidate for thigh lift surgery.

Ideal candidates are at a stable weight but may have lost a significant amount of weight resulting in soft or sagging tissue along the inner or outer thighs.

Patients dedicated to a healthy lifestyle are commonly good patients for this procedure. Thigh lift candidates don't smoke, are in good general health and have realistic goals about their surgery.

Patients are administered medications and anesthesia for comfort throughout the procedure—patients are asleep for the duration of thigh lift surgery at our comfortable Mishawaka clinic.

Next, your South Bend surgeon will make an incision in the groin area which may extend along the inner thigh to the knee. Depending on the patient, the outer thigh may require an incision along the groin and around the hip area. Loose and sagging skin is carefully removed. Liposuction is sometimes used to reshape the thighs and lower body.

Next, deep sutures are placed within underlying tissues to help support the new shape and contour of the thighs. Sutures, skin adhesive, or clips are used to close skin incisions.

Finally, bandages will be applied to incision areas. In some cases, thin tubes may be temporarily placed under the skin to allow fluids and blood to drain.

Most thigh lifts are outpatient procedures—patients can typically go home with a caregiver a few hours after the surgery.

Incision areas will be tight and tender for several days—swelling is to be expected. Patients will wear a compression garment to control swelling and bruising. Your cosmetic surgeon will prescribe medications to control pain and discomfort.

Patients will be given specific instruction regarding the care of their bandages and incisions as well as a medication schedule.

Patients should get plenty of rest during the first week after surgery. Walking is encouraged to reduce the chances of blood clot; however, strenuous activities should be avoided to ensure incision sites remain clean, dry, and allowed time to heal.

Patients should rest and sleep with their legs slightly bent at the knee to reduce pressure on incision sites.

Patients must avoid smoking, alcohol, strenuous exercise, sexual activity, squatting, and bending until advised otherwise.

Recovery from a thigh lift can take longer than other cosmetic procedures. Depending on the patient, a thigh lift procedure requires four to six weeks of recovery before normal activities may resume.