When deciding whether or not you would benefit from a thigh lift, age is not at all the determining factor. Far more important are your skin elasticity, overall health, and personal aesthetic goals. The older you are, the more likely it is that you will have the sagging skin and poor thigh contour that a thigh lift corrects, but you may also experience this condition due to a significant weight loss or the magic of genetics. Let’s take a closer look at how age does, and doesn’t, impact a thigh lift.
Skin elasticity is important when considering a thigh lift. As you age and the skin loses its elasticity, you are more likely to experience unsightly sagging in your thighs. A thigh lift can correct this but may be overkill if your skin is still very elastic and the sagging mild.
Younger patients typically enjoy very good skin elasticity. This makes their skin much more likely to snap back into place after a less invasive liposuction procedure removes excess fat from the thighs. If they do need a thigh lift, they can often get away with a mini thigh lift, which leaves behind only a small scar hidden in the crease of the groin.
Patients in this age bracket usually start to experience a loss of skin elasticity that leads to some sagging in the thighs. They are prime thigh lift candidates who often benefit greatly from the procedure and enjoy long-lasting results. There are four types of thigh lifts to choose from, making the procedure highly customizable to individual needs. Healing, however, may take a bit longer in your 40s and 50s than it would have when you were younger.
If they are healthy, older patients may be candidates for thigh lift surgery. But older candidates may have thinner skin, a higher risk of complications, and a longer healing time than their younger counterparts. This is not true of everyone, of course, but plastic surgeons should perform a thorough health evaluation on older thigh lift candidates to make sure surgery is safe and blood circulation adequate for healing well.
The best time to get a thigh lift is whenever it’s right for you. Good times to consider a thigh lift include:
A thigh lift can benefit you at any age, but your surgical goals and healing times may vary depending on which stage of life you’re in:
No matter what your age, if you’re considering a thigh lift procedure or have questions about how it may benefit you, we encourage you to schedule a free virtual consultation. A consultation is the best way to learn if a thigh lift is right for you based on your age, skin condition, and overall health.