Chicago : (312) 788-2560
Removing excess fat and skin from the lower body, including the buttocks and inner and outer thighs, often represents the final touches in a personal journey for patients who have lost significant weight. Butt and thigh lift surgery performed in Chicago by board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. Thomas Mustoe and Dr. Sammy Sinno is also a good option when aging leads to sagging, cellulite, and loose skin.
If you’re looking for a plastic surgeon in Chicago to perform a butt or thigh lift, request a consultation online to meet with Dr. Mustoe or Sinno, board-certified plastic surgeons with offices downtown. You can also call our office at (312) 788-2560 and one of our helpful staff members will schedule your appointment.
Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.
Body contouring surgery to remove excess skin and fat from the thighs and buttocks helps patients regain confidence in their appearance. Some cases involve men or women who underwent bariatric surgery and have lost a significant amount of weight. Other patients, however, may have toned arms and a slim torso but have excess weight in their thighs and buttocks.
The excess skin that remains after losing a great deal of weight is frustrating to many men and women. They are healthier, but still feel self-conscious about their appearance. Thigh and buttocks lift surgery, along with other post-bariatric cosmetic procedures, are often a critical component of long-term weight maintenance.
Heredity also plays a role in a body’s appearance, and some people have a genetic disposition to carry a disproportionate amount of weight in their thighs. Aging is also responsible, as skin loses its elasticity and begins sagging. Patients who exercise regularly and are in good general health often have a hard time toning the buttocks and thighs. No matter the cause, a butt and thigh lift can be the solution for all these concerns.
At our Chicago practice, our surgeons generally combine buttocks and outer thigh lift surgery in a single operation. The extent of the incision is dictated by the amount of excess skin and fat being removed. In many cases, Dr. Mustoe or Sinno makes incisions in the crease of the upper buttocks, extending laterally to the lower abdomen. The incisions are low enough to be hidden by underwear. The incision can be combined with a previous abdominoplasty scar for patients who have had tummy tuck surgery.
Our surgeons recommend some patients stage multiple body contouring procedures at different times, with abdominoplasty performed during one operation (which may be combined with cosmetic breast surgery) and the buttocks and thigh lift in a separate operation. The overall results are sometimes enhanced by staging the procedures, and there’s a reduced risk of complications associated with a circumferential body lift, which is a more extensive option that addresses everything at once. Although there are 2 recoveries, they are generally shorter and involve less discomfort than following a single, overall body lift.
Through extensive research and experience, Dr. Mustoe and Dr. Sinno have developed several innovations that contribute to a better rhinoplasty procedure and result, characterized by:
Inner (medial) thigh lifts require different incisions. For patients whose skin retains some of its elasticity (meaning it will shrink to the thigh’s new size), Dr. Mustoe or Sinno makes the incision in the crease of the groin. The procedure is combined with liposuction to remove excess fat and give the thigh a more contoured appearance. If there’s concern about the skin being too lax, especially for patients who have lost a lot of weight, the surgeon makes a lengthwise incision along the thigh to the knee. The results are dramatic, but the incisions are visible, so Dr. Mustoe and Dr. Sinno generally reserve this technique for the most severe cases.
A buttock and thigh lift is major surgery, and it’s important to allow adequate recovery time to ensure you get optimal results. A compression garment to help maintain the contours of the thighs and buttocks is worn for several weeks after the surgery.
During your recuperation, it’s important to follow the post-surgical instructions your surgeon provides. There are limits on activity during the recovery period, but it is important to walk daily to help the healing process and reduce the chance of blood clots.
Expect swelling and bruising to gradually diminish and be virtually gone about a month after surgery. The time off work needed depends on the physical nature of your job. Incisions heal gradually, and treatment to reduce scarring is available. Scars continue to fade for a year.
