cOSMETIC PROCEDURES > body > Thigh Lift
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Thigh Lift
A thigh lift surgery helps reshape and firm up the upper inner thighs by removing the sagging skin in the area. It is often combined with liposuction to help improve contour in the thighs. The procedure aims to create a smoother and more sculpted look, enhancing your overall appearance. Dr. Abedi can help you decide if this surgery is right for you.
What is a thigh Lift?
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. 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.
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
What it 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.
Consultation and Preparing for Surgery
The success and safety of your thigh lift procedure depends very much on your complete candidness during your consultation. You'll be asked a number of questions about your health, desires, and lifestyle.
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Your surgical goals
Medical conditions, drug allergies, and medical treatments
Current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco, and drug use
Previous surgeries
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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
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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
The Procedure
STEP 1: Anesthesia
Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedures. The anesthesiologist will discuss different options with you on the day of your surgery. Be sure to let your doctor know if you have had prior complications from general anesthetic.
Step 2: 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. Dr. Abedi will determine what's appropriate based on your goals, your skin quality, the fat distribution, and the amount of excess skin along the thighs.
In cases of massive weight loss, more extensive incisions are needed to remove the excess skin along the entire length of the thigh. In these cases, additional incisions are placed along the inner portion of the thigh, extending from the groin to the knee.
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.
STEP 3: Closing the Incisions
Deep support sutures within underlying tissues help to form the newly shaped contours. Sutures close the skin incisions.
STEP 4: See the Results
The smoother, tighter contouring that results from a thigh lift are apparent almost immediately, although initially obscured by swelling and bruising. You may be required to wear a compression garment for several weeks following your procedure to minimize swelling and support the tissues as they heal. Following a thigh lift, skin quality is dramatically improved both in appearance and feel.
risks and safety
The decision to have thigh lift surgery is extremely personal, and you'll have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications are acceptable. You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure and any risks and potential complications.
The risks include:
Anesthesia risks
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
When you go 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.
Be careful
Following Dr. Abedi’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. Dr. Abedi will give you specific instructions on how to care for yourself after the surgery
RECOVERY AFTER SURGERY
When your procedure is completed, 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.
Dr. Abedi will give you 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 her in the office.
You may be instructed to avoid strenuous activities and heavy lifting for 4-6 weeks post surgery. Dr. Abedi may also instruct you to avoid standing for prolonged durations specially in the first 2 weeks after the surgery. However, to minimize the risk of DVT (blood clots in the legs) you will need to be up and walking as soon as possible and drinking plenty of fluid. Follow all instructions carefully - this is essential to the success of your outcome.
results
The results of a thigh lift are visible almost immediately. However, it may take several months for the final results to fully develop. 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.
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.
Cost is always a consideration in elective surgery. A surgeon's cost for Thigh lift may vary based on his or her experience, the type of procedure used, and geographic office location. Dr. Abedi offers patient financing plans through Beautifi, so be sure to ask.
Cost may include:
Anesthesia fees
Hospital or surgical facility costs
Medical tests
Post-surgery garments
Prescriptions for medication
Surgeon's fee
Note: The Medical Services Plan does not cover thigh lift surgery.
cost
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