Thigh lift
(Reshaping the Thighs)
Thigh lift surgery reshapes the thighs by reducing excess skin, and in some cases fat, resulting in smoother skin and better-proportioned contours of the thighs and lower body.
If fitness and weight loss efforts have not achieved your goals for a body that is firmer, more youthful-looking and more proportionate to your overall body image, a surgical lift may be right for you.
- What a thigh lift won’t do:
Thigh lifts are not intended strictly for the removal of excess fat. Liposuction alone can remove excess fat deposits where skin has good elasticity and is able to naturally conform to new body contours.
In cases where skin elasticity is poor, a combination of liposuction and thigh lift techniques may be recommended.
- Thigh lift candidates
In general, candidates for a thigh lift are:
- People whose weight is relatively stable;
- Individuals with excess soft tissue along the inner or medial thigh region and/or the outer thigh;
- Healthy individuals who do not have medical conditions that impair healing or increase risk of surgery;
- Non-smokers;
- Individuals with a positive outlook and realistic goals for what thigh lift surgery can accomplish;
- Individuals committed to leading a healthy lifestyle, including proper nutrition and fitness;
Before the operation
During your thigh lift surgery consultation be prepared to discuss:
- Your surgical goals;
- Medical conditions, drug allergies and medical treatments;
- Current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drug use
- Previous surgeries.
Your thigh lift surgeon will also:
- Evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors;
- Examine and measure your body, including detailed measurements;
- Take photographs for your medical records;
- Discuss your options;
- Recommend a course of treatment;
- Discuss likely outcomes of thigh lift surgery and any risks or potential complications.
The success and safety of your procedure depends very much on your complete candidness during your consultation.
Also, ensure that you have discussed with your plastic surgeon any concerns you may have. It is very important to understand all aspects of your thigh lift procedure. It’s natural to feel some anxiety, whether it’s excitement for your anticipated new look or a bit of preoperative stress. Don’t be shy about discussing these feelings with your plastic surgeon.
Preparing for thigh lift surgery
In preparing for thigh lift surgery, you may be asked to:
- Get lab testing or a medical evaluation
- Take certain medications or adjust your current medications
- Stop smoking
- Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding
If your thigh lift is performed on an outpatient basis, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery and to stay with you for at least the first night following surgery.
Hospital stay and type of anesthesia
Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedures. The options include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best option for you.
Hospital stay: The duration of hospital stay is usually 1 to 2 days.
The procedure
The incision:
Incision patterns vary based on the area or areas to be treated, degree of correction and patient and surgeon preference.
One common technique used for a thigh lift places incisions in the groin, extending downward and wrapping around the back of the thigh.
The underlying tissue matrix will be reshaped and tightened, and skin will be reduced and re-draped resulting in more proportionate and smoother body contours.
You may qualify for a minimal incision medial thigh lift that involves an incision only in the groin area. Your surgeon will determine what’s appropriate.
Improving the contours of the outer thigh may require an incision extending from the groin around the hip. Advanced techniques usually allow incisions to be placed in strategic locations where they can be hidden by most types of clothing and swimsuits. However, incisions may be extensive.
Closing the incisions:
Deep support sutures within underlying tissues help to form the newly shaped contours. Sutures close the skin incisions.
See the results:
The smoother tighter contouring that result from a thigh lift are apparent almost immediately, although initially obscured by swelling and bruising. Get more information about thigh lift surgery results.
After the operation
Recovery
During your recovery from thigh lift surgery, dressing or bandages may be applied to your incisions, and you may be wrapped in an elastic bandage or a compression garment to minimize swelling and to support your new contours as you heal.
Small, thin tubes may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain excess fluid or blood that may collect.
You will be given specific instructions that may include how to care for the surgical site and drains, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the potential for infection, specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health, and when to follow up with your plastic surgeon.
Thigh lift recovery at home
If you experience any shortness of breath, chest pains, or unusual heart beats, seek medical attention immediately. Should any of these complications occur, you may require hospitalization and additional treatment.
Following your physician’s instructions is key to the success of your surgery.
It is important that the surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, swelling, abrasion, or motion during the time of healing. Your doctor will give you specific instructions on how to care for yourself.
Picture Gallery
The result
The results of a thigh lift are visible almost immediately. However, it may take several months for the final results to fully develop.
Following a thigh lift, skin quality is dramatically improved both in appearance and feel.
Some visible scars will remain, but the overall results are long lasting, provided that you maintain a stable weight and general fitness.
As your body ages, it is natural to lose some firmness. However, most of your initial improvement should be relatively permanent.
Imperfect results
Although good results are expected from your procedure, there is no guarantee. In some situations, it may not be possible to achieve optimal results with a single surgical procedure and another surgery may be necessary.
The decision to have plastic surgery is extremely personal, and you’ll have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications of thigh lift surgery are acceptable.
You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure and any risks and potential complications.
Possible complications
Thigh lift surgery, even if performed for aesthetic reasons, is a genuine surgical procedure, with the consequent risks related to all medical acts. There are surgical and aesthetic complications. Concerning anesthesia, the anesthesiologist will inform you about all the anesthetic risks. You must be aware that anesthesia can sometimes cause unpredictable body reactions that can be difficult to control. The presence of an experienced anesthesiologist, in a surgical environment, means that the risks are statistically practically negligible.
Thigh lift surgery risks may include:
- Poor wound healing
- Bleeding Infection
- Fluid accumulation
- Major wound separation
- Asymmetry
- Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
- Fatty tissue found deep in the skin might die (fat necrosis)
- Persistent pain
- Skin discoloration and/or swelling
- Skin loss
- Sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin, become visible or produce irritation that require removal
- Unfavorable scarring
- Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
- Recurrent looseness of skin
- Possibility of revisional surgery
These risks and others will be fully discussed prior to your consent. It’s important that you address all your questions directly with your plastic surgeon.
My Way …. “Metron Ariston”
Plastic Surgery is all about appearances… This entails fragile borderlines, while crossing the Rubicon can often lead to irrevocable devastating results.
To this end, in Thigh Lift I opt for using techniques that produce minimal scaring, whilst cater for delivering safe and durable results. Firstly, I use Waterjet Assisted Liposuction to remove any excess fat. Secondly, under the right indications, I apply a technique of anchoring the dermis to the Colles’ fascia, to make the surgical outcome more stable over time and to prevent scar migration.
This webpage aims to provide some information about the subject. Individual patient circumstances may differ, which might alter both the advice and course of therapy given to you by your doctor.
Source:
American Society of Plastic Surgeons, British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons, French Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery