The inner thighs are particularly susceptible to loose, drooping skin due to weight loss or the natural ageing process, or fat excess which is very resistant to diet and exercise. This excess tissue rubs together causing discomfort when walking. The inner thigh lift, in most cases assisted by liposuction, produces smoother, shapelier and much younger-looking thighs which no longer rub together.

Inner Thigh Lift Candidates
The general conception amongst patients is that the inner thigh lift is a simple, quick procedure, but in fact for the surgeon it is technically demanding due to the awkward site and the difficulty of access.

The inner thigh lift is performed through a T-shaped incision made at the top of the thigh near the pubic area. The top of the T runs from the groin, across the top of the inner thigh and into the buttock fold at the back. As in brachioplasty, patients understandably expect the lift to be done though this incision alone, but the reality is that patients in whom this can be done are few, and the incision almost invariably extends down the inner aspect of the thigh, often as far as the knee. Liposuction is usually also performed. Early mobilisation is critical. Suction drains are used for 48 hrs and are removed prior to discharge on the second post-operative day. A compression garment is worn for 4 - 6 weeks if a significant amount of liposuction has been performed.

After the Inner Thigh Lift
After the inner thigh lift, patients need to rest for approximately 2 weeks before returning to work. Slow healing at the skin T-junction deep in the groin is very common. Patients are naturally alarmed if this occurs, but the area heals reliably with simple dressings over 2 weeks. If the incision extends all the way to the knee, fluid occasionally collects at this site due to the interruption of lymphatic channels. This is called a 'lymphocoele'. The fluid collection is drained painlessly in the rooms, usually on two or three occasions before it resolves spontaneously. On rare occasions the lymphocoele may persist and require re-operation to tie off the leaking lymphatic channels. Detailed instructions are provided for patients to follow during the recovery period so that healing is as quick as possible. As in brachioplasty the vertical scar down the thigh is not in a 'favourable' skin line and therefore may remain pink and visible for some months but then settles down into a pale scar which is hard to see.