Question:
What is the difference between medial/inner thigh lift and

thighplasty? A question below talks about this, but I am confused as to what is thighplasty as opposed to medial thigh lift. What situation would have someone have a thighplasty (which from the posts below appears to be more invasive) rather than a medial thigh lift? I appreciate any information on this since I am researching the thigh lift for myself.    — Hackett (posted on April 23, 2004)

April 23, 2004
Just like some docs use panniculectomy and abdominoplasty interchangeably, so docs do the same with the lift and thighplasty. My understanding, right or wrong, is that usually a lift if just that - a lift. A horizontal cut in the crease at the top of the leg in the groin area. It might involve some lipo and then the skin is pulled up and the excess removed. Usually no vertical cut down the side of the leg is involved as there isn't much circumference to remove, just pull the saggy skin up tight. <p>In my case there is a lot of skin to be cut off. A large wedge starting at the groin. Medial refers to the fact that it's the inner thighs. I had a lateral thigh lift as part of my lower body lift and that was the outside of the thighs only. He did lipo and then pulled the saddle bags up and hung them (stitched them up to the fascia at the hips) off my hips and cut away the excess skin. I have no vertical incision related to the thighs at all. Like I said each docs interpretation is slightly different. I know of some docs that do muscle tightening with a panniculectomy yet the medical description of a panni does not include that. So ask your particular PS what they are going to do and how extensive it is. You'll also be able to tell by the cost as to how extensive they are going.
   — zoedogcbr

April 25, 2004
I would only add that the lateral thigh lift (which lifts the side of the leg) and an anterior thigh lift (the front of the leg) can be done as part of a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), a body lift, or my own procedure, the "extended" tummy tuck....which is between a full body lift and tummy tuck. Best advice is ehat Chris said...sit down with PS with your pics or in the mirorr and "pull and point" and say "is this going to get fixed?" Don't get stuck on the naming of the procedures. I do the actual markings in the comfort of the office the day before surgery so the patient and I are clear on what exactly we are doing !
   — DrL