Our LivingAfterWLS frequent contributor and my good friend Kim Stover underwent a surgical thigh lift yesterday. She is home today recovering nicely and has found a way to use the computer laying down. For the next two weeks she must lay down or stand, she cannot be in a sitting position. I look forward to update from her soon.

Though not often talked about a thigh lift is a common procedure following massive weight loss. For women it is biologically naturally to carry much fat in the thighs so when weight is lost excessive loose skin remains.

Also called a leg lift, the reconstructive surgery removes the loose, hanging skin in the thigh and buttocks. The procedure is intended to tighten and firm these areas, improving overall body contour. The 2-4 hour surgery removes lax skin and fat and places the scars in locations that can be hidden within the bikini line.

Commonly during a leg lift, an incision is made in the upper inner thighs (possibly into the lower inner thigh), and the excess skin and fat is lifted at the surgeons discretion. He or she will determine how much can safely be removed. Once the excess is removed, the remaining skin is closed with sutures that can be removed in about a week. The type of incision and a patients resulting scar will be determined by the location and amount of excess skin and fat. It may be limited to the upper groin crease or possibly extend to the knee area if this region requires treatment.

Like any surgical procedure there are risks and benefits that will be discussed at your consultation. Patients generally return to work two weeks after surgery and can resume strenuous activity within 4 to 6 weeks upon the surgeons approval.

Risks of a surgical thigh lift include scarring, wound healing problems, infection, blood or fluid collection, loss of sensation, asymmetry, wrinkling of skin, lumpiness, areas of depression. Nerve damage may cause weakness in foot or leg. Possibility of permanent discoloration.

In most cases results are long-lasting, but subject to weight fluctuation. Patients should maintain a steady weight following a thigh lift or any cosmetic contouring surgery.

For other reconstructive procedures after weight loss link to the LivingAfterWLS Body Reconstruction page.

Kaye Bailey

An award winning journalist and former newspaper editor Kaye Bailey brings expertise in writing and personal experience with gastric bypass surgery to EzineArticles.com. Ms. Bailey developed a passion for writing at an early age. As a teenager she found writing her feelings about obesity helped her cope in a world that is often cruel to overweight children and adults alike.

Ms. Bailey says she found out she was fat in kindergarten when another child told her she was fat. ?I didn?t even know what fat was but I could tell it was bad and I didn?t want to be fat. Until that day I had been unaware I was different. But there I was, a five-year-old girl sitting cross-legged on the floor learning a new word that would define me.?

At age 33 she underwent laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery. For the first time in her life after multiple failed diet attempts she lost weight. She said the decision to have surgery took courage, nerve, and a little bit of plain old faith. But she learned surgery was the easy part. Dealing with newfound emotions, struggling with food choices and fighting to keep from regaining weight were unexpected bumps in the road following massive weight loss with surgery.

Having spent most of her life overweight Ms. Bailey is strongly empathetic toward the obese, particularly overweight children. This compassion compelled her to found the website LivingAfterWLS.com, a fast-growing resource of information, understanding and support for the weight loss surgery community. While weight loss surgery is publicly perceived as an easy fix to obesity Ms. Bailey maintains the struggles after surgery challenge the vigor of even the most dedicated individual. As WLS becomes more readily available patients are finding there is a lack of long-term aftercare and support from bariatric centers.

The LivingAfterWLS.com site is complimented with daily blog. The blog, livingafterwls.blogspot.com offers readers the chance to comment or leave feedback about fresh content added daily. This site contains success stories and recipes as well as general information and WLS inspired topics. Complementing the site is a monthly newsletter titled ?You Have Arrived? available exclusively to people who subscribe through the website or the blog. The path forward includes community forums, nutrition and fitness tracking tools.

Ms. Bailey makes her home on a ranch in the Rocky Mountains with her husband of eight years who has been her consort in life after WLS.