By liposuction
The most common procedures for thigh lift primarily include tightening the skin by surgically removing excess skin flaps and liposuction in the area of the problem zones, whereby both procedures can be used individually or in combination. What the treating doctor finally decides on depends mainly on the size of the procedure. For example, small riding breeches can achieve a desired result with liposuction alone, while larger riding breeches or tightening on the inside of the thighs as well as additional procedures on the buttocks can usually only be corrected by means of skin incisions and skin flap removal (= so-called body lift; possibly also in combination with liposuction).
In most cases, the reason for an additional skin lift is an excess of skin or a general predisposition to sagging skin, so that liposuction alone would not achieve an optimal effect. In liposuction, a vacuum pump system is used to suck out fat cells through a cannula that is inserted under the skin. There are different methods that vary in the type of fat cell detachment.Again, the choice of the appropriate method depends on the extent of fat accumulation, the body region, the age and constitution of the patient and the tissue structure.
With laser
In the discussions about the use of a laser for thigh lifting, opinions differ among the treating physicians. It has been proven that small fat pads can be removed with the help of a so-called laser liposuction, whereas proper skin tightening is not possible with excess or sagging skin. As with liposuction, laser liposuction also involves the insertion of a cannula under the skin, whereby the excess fat tissue is not sucked out with a vacuum pump system, but instead a laser beam is generated which causes the fat tissue or fat cells to liquefy.
The mechanism of action consists in heating the subcutaneous fat tissue by the laser beam so that the fat cells melt and disappear. Depending on the size of the treated body region, the liquefied fat can either remain in the body, where it is then broken down again on its own after some time. For larger operations, gentle suctioning of the liquid fat tissue may also be necessary. The puncture sites are then treated and healed with plasters only, without the need to sew the wounds in most cases. The procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia, as it is only slightly invasive.