Thighlighting, is it Really a Thing?
We should have seen it coming. The cosmetic surgery industry has proven itself to be fertile ground for marketeers, who routinely come up with tactics like these:
• Gimmicky names for cosmetic procedures, like the “designer vagina”
• Ways to bundle procedures for maximum appeal, like the “mommy makeover”
• Strategies for luring patients with a celebrity look, like the coveted “thigh gap”
Now, presenting “thighlighting!” A procedure that promotes itself in all three ways!
Seriously, there are some very good reasons patients talk with us about their legs in New York, though “thighlighting” is a term we have yet to hear in the consulting room. Here are three leading ways we help women and men improve the look of their legs:
• Liposuction: The outer thighs are one of the most popular targets for liposuction for our New York patients. That’s because where the body stores fat is genetically determined, and saddlebags are a common complaint. For many, no amount of exercise and dieting can banish those bulges, even when a person is otherwise fit, but liposuction can eliminate fat cells forever in a couple of hours.
Our practice in Manhattan has been on the forefront of liposuction since the start. We operated alongside one of the pioneers of the procedure more than three decades ago, and we’ve designed and patented our own instruments for delicate spots. Men and women seek us out to take advantage of our expertise.
• Thigh lift: After losing a great deal of weight—or just due to the passing years—both men and women can find their thighs displaying significantly saggy skin, and sometimes stray fat pockets. A thigh lift can remove and tighten excess skin, and we can also perform light liposuction to smooth away stubborn fat cells. Read more about thigh lift surgery here.
A thigh lift is not necessarily simple for the patient or the doctor; therefore, it’s important for patients to choose a highly experienced, board certified plastic surgeon to perform the procedure.
• Calf implants: Occasionally we meet a patient whose goal is to have highly defined calves. These are most often people who are very fit. Many are bodybuilders who have worked to tone and enlarge their lower leg muscles; only to find that they just don’t have the genetics to reach the sculpted look they’re after. We can help by inserting small implants in a relatively straightforward procedure.
Most patients interested in calf implants are men. Unlike most other plastic surgery practices, we work with almost as many men as we do women here in Manhattan. Guys can feel comfortable walking through our door—we understand their goals and concerns.
So, is thighlighting really a thing? In a way, yes. We are ready if a patient in New York asks about thighlighting. We’ll talk about it in the same way we discuss mommy makeovers: we can certainly design a combination of procedures to fit a person’s unique needs. In fact, no procedure we perform is ever exactly the same because patients aren’t carbon copies.
But if someone comes in the door asking for a specific set of procedures, or seeking legs that resemble those of Kendall Jenner, Angelina Jolie or another Hollywood celebrity, we’ll have a heart-to-heart talk about reasonable expectations.
Perhaps you have worked to slim and sculpt your legs and found that a little surgical help may be in order. Maybe all the media fuss about thighlighting has even brought you a little closer to seriously considering cosmetic surgery. Whatever the reason, why not contact us online and tell us what you’re thinking. We promise to give you the individual attention you need!
