What Is 'Thighlighting'? Latest Plastic Surgery Emerges In Hollywood

It's common for people to look to celebrities for beauty trends and tips. The latest trend sweeping Hollywood? Well, it's called "thighlighting."

Stars such as Bella Hadid, Jennifer Lopez, Taylor Swift and Kendall Jenner are among the celebrities that have brought exposure to the new cosmetic procedure.

Thighlighting involves combining a variety of body-contouring procedures to a patient's leg. The trend, which is essentially a full leg makeover, was inspired by celebrities high-slit red carpet dresses, including the crimson red Alexandre Vauthier Couture gown Hadid wore in 2016 to the Cannes Film Festival. The surgery's result is a slimmer, contoured leg that can aid elongating a patient's appearance. The procedure would also help to make the individual's body more proportional.

"The most common reason is that they feel that their thighs are too full or thick," Dr. Norman Rowe, an NYC-based plastic surgeon, said Wednesday to International Business Times. "I have seen an increase in request for thigh contouring procedures due to celebrity exposure and recent fashion trends."

"I perform the procedure 5-10 times per week," Rowe added.

This beauty look is accomplished through either a thigh lift, liposuction, contouring of the inner thighs or contouring of the outer thighs. A patient could combine one or more of these methods in their procedure to help them achieve their overall thigh goal.

"Over the last few years, more women have focused on the appearance of their thighs," Dr. Tijion Esho, of The ESHO Clinic in England, told the Independent. "When contoured correctly, the shape of the thighs helps to elongate the legs, creating a desirable silhouette."

The entire procedure only takes a couple of hours to complete and most patients are typically permitted to leave that day.

"It's all about correcting irregularities and improving leg contours to create symmetry, elongate the legs, and improve body proportions," according to the website of the Plastic Surgery Group in Albany, New York. "The procedure can enhance natural features and unveil your confidence along with new contours.

"There's at least one tangible benefit: You won't have to rely on loose-fitting clothes or pants to feel comfortable in public."

Thighlighting can be executed nonsurgically. The Georgia Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery clinic in Marietta, Georgia, does this through procedures like laser hair removal, Coolsculpting and ThermiTight, among other methods.

Doctors nationwide are now offering plans to accommodate this new trend, including Dr. Simon Ourian, a Beverly Hills surgeon who has performed procedures for the Kardashian-Jenner family. Ourian has previously depicted a non-invasive version of thighlighting alongside other procedures on his Instagram account.

The cost of thighlighting varies and depends on the patient's target areas.