Thigh Lift Sydney

Cosmetic Concerns Procedure Information Risks & Complications Procedure FAQs Procedure Pricing

A thigh lift involves the excision of loose skin and fat from the thigh – from the area of the groin to the region of the knee.

A limited thigh lift involves a scar just in the region of the groin and can be effective in mild cases of loose skin and fat.
For moderate to severe skin laxity the scar needs to extend down to the knee to achieve an acceptable result.
The aim is to reduce the circumference of the thigh, which produces a slimmer, contoured shape to the thigh.

This procedure is suitable for men and women who have lost a large amount of weight which could be either through diet and exercise or through bariatric surgery. The loose amount of skin and fat often interferes with their daily life, and exacerbates skin rashes and other skin conditions.

Men and women seek thigh lift surgery to:

Wear clothes that may otherwise reveal the loose skin or excess fat they find embarrassing
Wear swimwear they want to wear
Feel confident in social situations
Restore shape of their thighs after going through massive weight loss
Remove skin and fat that cannot be addressed through other means
Improve skin rashes and conditions that are exacerbated by the loose skin and do not improve through other means

The best candidates for a thigh lift are men and women who:

Have already lost the weight they want to lose
Have been a stable weight for at least 6 months (ideally 12 months)
Are physically and mentally healthy
Have realistic expectations
Are willing to accept the long and visible scar of a thigh lift

A thigh lift may not be suitable for those who:

Have not lost the weight they want to lose or have significant fluctuations in their weight
Are very overweight or obese (BMI >35) – ideally your BMI should be less than 30 for best results.
Have lymphoedema of the leg/lower limb
Have a neurological or vascular disorder affecting the leg/ lower limb
Have multiple medical problems
Are on blood thinning medication
Are actively smoking
Will not accept the long visible scar of a thigh lift

Those who can accept the trade-off of large scars for excision of skin and fat, can achieve remarkable outcomes from thigh lift surgery.

Patients who lose massive amounts of weight may consider other surgeries:

Women may consider Breast Surgery
- Breast Augmentation
- Breast lift/Reduction
- Augmentation-Mastopexy
Lower Body Lift
Upper body lift
Arm lift
Liposuction
Face and neck lift.

For more information on other procedures please read the other sections of this website.

Dr Aggarwal

At MODE, Dr Aggarwal will guide you through the planning of surgery and help decide which procedure is best suited to achieve your goals.

Procedure Snapshot

Anaesthetic: GA by accredited anaesthetist
Time: 3 hours (1.5 hours per side)
Duration of stay: 1 week stay in hospital *can be longer
Hospital: At any of the private hospitals where Dr Aggarwal works.
Medicare/Health fund rebate: Yes for those who meet the following criteria (introduced in 2016):
- Significant loss of weight equal to or greater than 5 BMI points
- Skin condition exacerbated by loose skin and fat
- Skin condition not resolving with 3 months of conservative therapy

In addition you need to have the appropriate level of health fund cover.
Recovery: Most people stay in hospital for 1 week, largely due to drains and dressing changes. This also depends on what other surgery has been performed. You will have to stay off your feet as much as possible for the first 2 weeks. Heavy lifting or exercise is disallowed for 8 weeks and strenuous exercise for 3 months. For 8 weeks you will be required to wear a compression garment for the leg and thigh. You can shower once the drains have been removed and have to avoid swimming until all wounds have healed (at least 2-3 weeks but it can be longer).
Results: Can be a life changing operation and a massive reward for patients who have done well to lose massive amounts of weight.

Cosmetic Concerns

I don’t mind the scars but want to have as much skin and fat excised.

This is a good mindset to have after undergoing massive weight loss, and it these patients who will do well from thigh lift surgery.
The scar from a thigh lift traditionally extends from the groin down to the knee but sometimes can extend past the knee.
This area can be visible especially when wearing shorts.
The quality of the scar is not always great in this area, so this has to be kept in mind before opting for surgery.
However the reduction of skin and fat from the thigh and therefore the reduced thigh circumference can be dramatic.

I have lymphoedema of the leg as I had lymph nodes removed from the groin– can this be fixed

This means you should not have a thigh lift as this is a contraindication to surgery.
Lymphoedema of the leg is a very difficult problem to fix – it is managed by compression and massage on a day to day basis.
There is some evidence that a vascularised lymph node transfer to the groin can have improve lymphoedema of the leg, but this is a very different procedure to a thigh lift.

I want to have a shorter scar – is this possible?

The decision of which scar will be employed depends on the amount of loose skin and fat.
In a limited thigh lift the incision is significantly smaller than a conventional thigh lift where the scar is limited largely to the groin. This can be a good option for those who have mild skin laxity.
However if you do have significant loose skin and fat it is better you will need a longer scar to achieve the goals you want from surgery. In these cases the shorter scar will improve some of the contour closer to the groin but will not achieve improvement on the loose skin closer to the knee.

I want to have an arm lift at the same time

This is certainly possible at the time of thigh lift surgery.
Often our patients will have their lower body lift and chest procedures first.

I want to have my breast surgery at the same time

This is certainly possible.
At Mode we suggest that these patients have their chest surgery (or breast surgery for females) and a lower body lift first.

Procedure Information

The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia given by an accredited anaesthetist in a fully accredited and licensed facility (usually one of the North Shore’s premier private hospitals). The procedure takes 3 hours for both sides and most patients will spend at a week in hospital

Preoperative nutritional assessment

Patients with massive weight loss can have nutritional deficiencies
This is especially the case in patients who have undergone bariatric surgery and have experienced rapid weight loss
You are most likely to be sent for preoperative blood tests and sometimes a nutritional assessment before undergoing lower body lift surgery

Incisions

A scar has to be placed from the groin all the way around to the knee on the inside of the thigh. The exact position of this scar is changed in different patients depending on the amount of loose skin and fat.
In mild cases the scar may be limited to the groin only (limited thigh lift).

The operation usually begins with liposuction which helps decrease the circumference of the thigh, allowing more skin to be removed. This step depends on the amount of fat excess in the thigh.
The skin is excised carefully and closure is undertaken at the same time.

Drains

In general 1 drain is used in each thigh.
Whilst in hospital the drain outputs are recorded, and the drains removed once fluid drainage is minimal.
It is not uncommon for patients to go home with a drain and see Dr Aggarwal or his staff in rooms to have the drain removed after discharge from hospital.

After your thigh lift surgery

Dr Aggarwal will place dressings over the incisions.
When you come out of surgery you will have your legs and thighs wrapped in tight compression bandaging to help with swelling.
Initially you will only be allowed to do limited walking and must keep your legs elevated as much as possible for the first 2 weeks.
You will be able to get all areas wet once the drains are removed.
Swimming in a pool or beach is usually deferred for several weeks until all incisions are healed and all the drains are out.
You will be given a script for antibiotics by Dr Aggarwal which you must continue until all drains are removed. You will also be given appropriate pain relief medications.
When you go home it is best to have someone look after you as you recover.
While most sedentary activities can be resumed when you go home, you must lay low and not exert yourself. You will also not be allowed to do any heavy lifting or exercises for the first 8 weeks. During this period you will also be required to wear a compression garment.
Dr Aggarwal will see regularly after your discharge from hospital.

Risks & Complications

Every surgery carries risks, and therefore one must consider if risks outweigh the benefits for your own personal situation. If they do then the surgery may be well worth it. Dr Aggarwal will discuss the pros and cons of surgery with you during your consultation.

General Complications

Risks of anaesthetic – there are general risks of going under an anaesthetic such as stress on the heart and lungs, risk of reaction to anaesthetic drugs and risk of clotting in the legs.
Bleeding (2-5%) – any bleeding is controlled during surgery however unexpected bleeding can occur in the immediate postoperative period. If this occurs it will necessitate a return to theatre to control the bleeding.
Infection (2-5%) – this is rare. However you are given antibiotics during induction (when you are going to sleep), as well as a course of oral antibiotics after your surgery to keep this risk to a minimum.

Specific Complications

Poor Wound Healing, wound separation (10-20%) – Risk of wound issues are much more common in thigh lift due to the long scar but also the tension created by removing the skin around the cylindrical thigh, and the swelling that occurs after surgery. These are more common in patients who are malnourished or have protein or other vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and in those with medical problems, diabetes and patients who smoke. Usually wound issues resolve with dressings over several weeks.
Skin necrosis – this is a rare complication but risk is higher in patients who smoke or are diabetic.
Change in thigh sensation – it is common for parts of the thigh and leg to be numb after surgery. Very small nerves that are barely visible, are removed during excision of the skin from the thigh. While the larger nerves are left behind they may also be traumatised during liposuction which frequently accompanies this procedure. Usually sensation returns over weeks to months, and can take up to 12 months to recover.
Asymmetrical scars – This should be regarded as the norm in thigh lift surgery given that all tissues are lax and floppy. There are natural asymmetries to the body and there can be a difference in how each side of the body behaves to surgery and skin tension, and can produce an asymmetry to the scars, albeit the aim is to get them as symmetrical as possible.
Change in the shape of vulval tissues – this is a known complication of a medial thigh lift due to pull on the tight thigh tissues. Dr Aggarwal takes care to anchor the tension so there is no pull on the vulval tissues.
Hypertrophic or poor scars – How one’s body behaves to scarring is individual and largely genetic. Some types of skin are more prone to hypertrophic or keloid scarring, and some individuals and families are more prone to this. We will routinely advise you on how to improve the quality of scars over time. You should also discuss any history of abnormal scarring with Dr Aggarwal preoperatively.

Procedure FAQs

Do I need a referral for a thigh lift?

It is best to obtain a referral for a thigh lift surgery as it is possible to claim a Medicare rebate of approximately $73 for the consultation if you have a referral.
You should have documented in your referral the amount of weight lost, the reduction in your BMI, and skin rashes or other skin conditions that may have been exacerbated by the loose skin and fat. This is because as of 2016 there are strict criteria used by Medicare for this surgery.
A referral will therefore also allow you to claim a rebate for this procedure from Medicare/health funds, as long as you are appropriately insured.

Where can I see Dr Aggarwal?

You can see us at our main practice at Gordon, or at our other locations at Hornsby, Hunters Hill or Camperdown.
Please scroll to the bottom of the page to find out more information about these locations.

Where will I have my operation?

Any of the hospitals where Dr Aggarwal works – usually at Sydney Adventist Hospital, or Hunters Hill Private hospitals.

What can I do to prepare for surgery?

Cease fish oil, and other supplements such as Ginkgo, Ginseng.
Take protein supplements and multivitamins well in advance of your surgery, and any other supplements to correct nutritional deficiencies that may have been picked up before surgery.
Stop smoking well in advance of surgery – Dr Aggarwal does not offer thigh lift surgery to patients who are actively smoking.

After surgery, will I need to wear a special surgical garment?

You will also be required to wear a compression garment for around 8 weeks.

Will I be able to exercise after surgery?

Exercise is disallowed for 8 weeks.
Heavy lifting and exercise will need to be avoided for 3 months to allow the thigh tissues to heal.

Will I need special medications after surgery?

Dr Aggarwal will provide you with the necessary scripts for antibiotics and pain relief. The antibiotics need to be continued until when the drains are out.

Will I need further surgery?

Not usually for the thigh.
However patients who undergo massive weight loss return for other surgeries such as arm lift, upper and lower body lift, chest or breast surgery and facial cosmetic surgery.

Can I travel in an airplane after surgery?

Yes
However we always encourage patients not to be away overseas shortly after having a procedure, so that we can closely follow your recovery and address any concerns that may arise

When will I be able to swim after a thigh lift?

You may do gentle swimming in a pool or beach after all wounds have healed and all the drains are out. This can be several weeks after the operation.

When will I be able to drive after a thigh lift?

It is best to not drive for the first 4 weeks after thigh lift surgery.

Will a thigh lift change the sensation of my thigh and leg?

Yes it can.
It is common for parts of the thigh and leg to be numb after surgery. Very small nerves that are barely visible, are removed during excision of the skin from the thigh.
While the larger nerves are left behind they may also be traumatised during liposuction which frequently accompanies this procedure. Usually sensation returns over weeks to months, and can take up to 12 months to recover.

Are there any alternatives to a thigh lift?

Not really.
Mild degrees of skin laxity and fat excess can be treated with liposuction and a scar localised largely to the groin.
However moderate to severe degree of skin laxity and fat excess require a conventional thigh lift – loose skin has to be cut out and there are no alternatives to this.

Procedure Pricing

Thigh lift surgery attracts a Medicare/health insurance rebate for those who meet the following criteria (the rules changed in 2016):
- Significant loss of weight equal to or greater than 5 BMI points
- Skin condition exacerbated by loose skin and fat
- Skin condition not resolving with 3 months of conservative therapy
In addition to this you need to have the appropriate level of health fund cover.
A quote for this procedure will be provided to you after a consultation with Dr. Aggarwal. You can also call or email our office for our current indicative pricing.
Please note that the above prices do not include
- Preoperative consultation fees
- Fees for other procedures such as liposuction, breast or face surgery, thigh or body lift.

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