What is a Thigh Lift?
A thigh lift, offered at our Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina plastic surgery office, improves the appearance of a person’s legs by removing excess fat, tissue, and skin from the inner and outer thighs. Also referred to as thighplasty, thigh lift surgery is often performed following extreme weight loss. A thigh lift is one of many post-bariatric cosmetic surgeryprocedures available at H/K/B A thigh lift may be directed at the medial thighs, called a medial thigh lift, or at the medial and lateral thighs, called a circumferential thigh lift. The circumferential thigh lift requires longer incisions, longer surgery time, and a longer recovery.
Thigh Lift Surgery
During the thigh lift surgery, discreet incisions are made from which the surgeon extracts the excess tissue. These incisions are determined ahead of time during your consultation and are based on the best way to achieve your goals. The incisions will be made discreetly along the contours and creases of your lower body so that bathing suits and other under garments will conceal any scarring.
A thigh lift is performed under general anesthesia and usually requires two to four hours to complete.
After Thigh Lift Surgery
After thigh lift surgery at our Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina plastic surgery office, patients can return home several hours after the procedure, but it may be preferable to spend the night in an overnight care facility. The surgeon may place a small tube to help drain excess fluid. You may experience mild pain or swelling for the first two or three days, but the pain is easily controlled by medication.
Recovery
You should refrain from strenuous activity for at least the two to three weeks following thigh lift surgery. You can expect to be off from work for at least a week. Any sutures that do not dissolve will be removed after 10 days. As with all the surgeries we perform, your return to normal activity will be determined by the extent of your surgery. as well as your physical condition. Those in good physical health recover faster after surgery. Avoid heavy lifting, pushing, pulling, or elevations in heart rate or blood pressure for at least two to three weeks after surgery.
Potential Risks
While we take great care in performing thigh lifts and monitoring your post-surgery progress at our Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina plastic surgery office, complications are possible, though rare. Infection can be treated with drainage and antibiotics, but will prolong your hospital stay. Slow or impeded healing resulting in larger scars may necessitate a second operation. Smokers are advised to stop smoking as it may increase the risk of complications and delay the healing process after thigh lift surgery.
*Each patient is unique and individual results may vary*
If you’d like to learn more about thigh lift surgery, contact our Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina plastic surgery office.
