The thigh is one of the most beautiful parts of the body. So sought after are beautiful thighs that they are even celebrated in the Bible (Song of Solomon 7:1, et al) and in many famous works of poetry, literature and visual art. But for those whose thighs are marred by drooping, saggy or inelastic skin due to aging or dramatic weight loss, the thighs can be a source of physical and psychological pain.

Enter the thigh lift. A thigh lift (aka thighplasty) is a surgical operation during which the thighs are given a firmer, smoother, more youthful and more pleasingly contoured look and feel. This cosmetic procedure tightens sagging thighs by removing excess skin and associated tissues, reshaping and proportioning the thigh. And since sagging buttocks often accompany sagging thighs, the thigh lift operation is frequently performed simultaneously with a buttock lift, producing a more shapely lower body.

Although thigh lifts are more frequently performed on female than on male patients, the difference is likely due to the tendency of excess fat in women's bodies to settle in the thighs.

Three basic types of thigh lift operations are commonly performed:

?Inner thigh lift ? concentrates on the lower portion of the inner thigh

?Medial thigh lift ? centered on the upper portion of the inner thigh

?Bilateral thigh lift ? eliminates loose, hanging skin on the front and outside of the thigh. These are the areas most commonly treated in patients who have lost significant amounts of weight.

The surgical procedure itself is relatively straightforward. In many cases the patient is placed under general anesthesia prior to the procedure, which can take up to two hours. In certain cases liposuction is performed prior to the thigh lift itself to remove stubborn fat in the affected area of the thigh. Removal of excess skin, repositioning, suturing and bandaging follow, then the patient is moved to a recovery suite.

During the typical six-week recovery process, patients will likely experience swelling, bruising, and tenderness of the wound areas; these are treated using over-the-counter analgesics or prescription pain medication as necessary. Any abnormal swelling, bleeding, discoloration, smell, or change in temperature discovered in tissue adjacent to the wound areas should be reported promptly.

The thigh lift is not a particularly risky operation ? but, like any operation, it involves a certain degree of risk, including the risk of disfigurement and even death. By choosing an experienced and board-certified surgeon, these risks are greatly reduced. Potential thigh lift patients should consult with him or her and weight the pros and cons of thigh lift surgery in the context of their own lives.