Thigh Lift

A thigh lift, also frequently referred to as thighplasty, is a cosmetic procedure that is done to improve the look of an individual’s thighs. Since a thigh lift is considered a major surgical procedure it is something that should not be taken lightly. A qualified professional performs the procedure and there is a specific length of recovery time to be expected from a thigh lift procedure.

Reasons for getting a thigh lift procedure vary from one patient to the next. Some patients that have lost a tremendous amount of weight find themselves dealing with another problem: excess skin. Excess skin can be removed from the thighs surgically; this is part and parcel of the thigh lift procedure. Don’t be deceived by the name of the procedure however, because a thigh lift also improves the appearance of the buttocks: another area that can be adversely affected in terms of appearance after significant weight loss.

Other individuals notice that gravity is not a friend when they age. The body reflects aging in adverse ways and a thigh lift can improve the appearance of the thighs and buttock. The only real downside to getting a thigh lift include the need to schedule some recovery time, the chance of dealing with certain health risks, and the fact that because the procedure is a cosmetic one, the procedure is not covered by health insurance. In contrast, the most positive aspect involved in getting a thigh lift is that the individual’s appearance improves and their self-esteem improves as well. After a successful thigh lift a patient not only looks good but they feel better about how they look.

Thigh lifts are a bit costly—ranging from 3500 to 7500 dollars, depending upon the patient’s needs and a doctor’s set fees. In some instances, financing is available for thigh lift procedures. While pricing is important, it is more important that a patient find a competent physician to perform the thigh lift procedure. Health should always be the primary concern—a concern that rises above any involved costs.

If an individual is looking to improve the look of their thighs because they have cellulite present, a thigh lift is certainly an option. Liposuction is performed prior to the actual lift and it can help reduce the appearance of larger thighs. A thigh lift procedure should not be viewed as a magical cure however, while the thigh lift itself will reduce the appearance of fat, the patient will have to make lifestyle changes in order to maintain the appearance of their thighs. A good, healthy diet and exercise regimen can be incorporated into one’s daily routine to maintain the look that a thigh lift produces.

A patient can get a thigh lift to repair the damage gained from being overweight or damage in the area that is the result of aging. Patients typically seek out a thigh lift when the surface of the skin appears dimpled or like an “orange peel” to remove the cellulite beneath the skin that creates such an appearance. Smooth, beautiful legs make the patient feel better about how they look in clothing and it helps them to improve their body image. An improved body image makes the patient have more confidence. Thus, a thigh lift can improve several areas of an individual’s life—more confident individuals do well in both their private and work life.

If an individual is looking to improve their overall appearance, they too may be a candidate for a thigh lift. Whatever the reasoning behind the thigh lift, it is imperative that the patient is healthy before the procedure. The patient will probably have to have a physical to ensure they are in a state of maximum health. It is vital that the patient get a physical that produces an honest evaluation of their health: their condition prior to the thigh lift procedure will determine how well they will handle the procedure and how well they will heal after the thigh lift procedure.

There are various standards that must be met before a thigh lift procedure can be conducted. An initial consultation, a preoperative visit, and a full physical are standard. A patient will find out more during the initial consultation with a cosmetic surgeon. The initial consultation serves as a time when a patient can pose questions and address all of their questions and concerns pertaining to the thigh lift procedure, its costs, and recovery.

After you provide the doctor with a complete medical history and you are examined, the doctor will take a look at your skin to determine its tone, as well as what needs to be done to achieve the contour desired. You will more than likely be expected to pay a pre-operative visit to the doctor’s office to make sure you are healthy enough to undergo the procedure. At such time, you will be ordered to stop taking medications that may increase the likelihood of bleeding or any other medications that may interfere with the procedure and your healthy, successful recovery.

A thigh lift procedure is often conducted on an out patient basis. Some physicians will perform the thigh lift procedure in their office while others may require you to visit the local hospital. Patients will receive anesthesia before the thigh lift procedure so they will need to have someone drive them home upon release.

Before the thigh lift procedure, a procedure that can take anywhere from two to four hours depending on the complexity of the procedure, the physician will carefully detail the procedure to the patient. The procedure and the type of cuts the doctor must make will depend on the result the patient is looking for and the condition of the patient’s body. Some scarring results from a thigh lift, but the scarring is minimal and well worth the final result. Basically, the doctor reconstructs the area to meet with the approval of the patient.

You will be expected to arrive for your thigh lift procedure on time to receive yet another evaluation and to have your vital signs checked. The doctor then marks off where he or she plans to cut during the thigh lift procedure. Once you have seen the anesthesiologist and you have received anesthesia, the thigh lift procedure will begin with liposuction and finish with the removal of excess skin.

A cosmetic surgeon will determine the type of cut they use based on a patient’s needs. The type of incisions made will be thoroughly discussed with the patient before the thigh lift procedure is conducted. Some cuts are small, while others may be long—depending upon the effect that the patient is looking to achieve. The inner thighs can be lifted with a relatively small cut. Meanwhile, outer thigh lifts can result in long cuts across the buttocks, just below the swimwear line. There will indeed be scars, but the cosmetic surgeon ensures that they are minimal.

A patient should be concerned with the cuts the doctor plans on making as it will determine where scars are located. Ultimately, scarring is unavoidable after a thigh lift and the patient will need to be clear on such an issue. However, it is more important to be concerned with how well the scars will heal—a good healing process will keep the scars from looking to bad or from getting worse than planned. In the end, being informed and being healthy are two very important things when it comes time for a thigh lift.

Patients should speak with the doctor and be totally clear on the end result of a thigh lift. A patient needs to ask where scars will be located and what the scarring extent will be. When a patient gets a thigh lift there should be no question as to what the end result is. Typically, during the initial consultation the doctor will inform the patient thoroughly. Pamphlets, brochures and instructions are provided to the patient as well, and a good cosmetic surgeon will again go over the procedure during the pre-operative visit.

Usually, the thigh lift procedure is finished off with stitches that dissolve. The patient will not have to return to have the stitches removed. Once the doctor has completed the thigh lift procedure, the sutured areas will have a sterile dressing applied to them. Typically the entire procedure takes less than four hours, but the patient will spend time in recovery for four to six hours to ensure that they are in good enough condition to leave.

Patients can expect drainage to occur from the areas where the skin has been sutured, it is part of the natural healing process. While it may be somewhat tender, patients are thoroughly encouraged to walk around after the procedure so that they can maintain good blood flow and circulation to the area. In contrast, stairs, and any other activity that causes the patient to stretch or strain the area are to be avoided for a while: this is in an effort to minimize pain or the possibility of reopening the sutured areas.

The sterile bandages will be taken off when the patient returns to the doctor’s office for a follow up visit after their thigh lift. It is imperative that the patient go to all follow up visits to ensure that they are healing properly and that none of the sutured areas have gotten infected. If an infection is caught early enough, a doctor can prescribe a suitable antibiotic to ensure that the patient reaches full recovery.

Having a thigh lift is, in general, a safe procedure. Yet, every surgical procedure has risks associated with it. Knowing the risks ahead of time, a patient can watch for signs or symptoms of a problem. If a problem does arise, the patient should contact their physician immediately. There are several problems that can occur during and after a thigh lift and patients should be alert for warning signs or symptoms that may indicate a problem.

Bleeding or Clotting: Bleeding may result if the sutured areas do not heal correctly or if there is improper coagulation after the thigh lift procedure. If a patient notices any unusual bleeding after a thigh lift they need to contact the doctor immediately. Likewise, sometimes a blood clot will form and it can be dangerous if not treated. If the patient suspects that they have a blood clot they should visit the doctors office at once. Often times, medication can be given to the patient that will alleviate the issue.

Infection: Sometimes sutured areas will develop an infection after a thigh lift is performed. If the patient notices any unusual drainage, more drainage than normal, discolored drainage or drainage that is foul smelling they should call their doctor immediately. Antibiotics are often prescribed to alleviate an issue with infection.

Unusual scarring: If the sutured area doesn’t heal properly or if the area takes too long to heal, the scars that are a result of the thigh lift may be thicker than normal. If the patient heals relatively quickly, minimal scarring results. Scars will take years to fade, but they are permanent.

Asymmetry: On occasion, asymmetry may occur after a thigh lift. This is when one thigh does not quite match the other thigh in terms of contour and definition. Although this is not typical, it is a risk associated with the thigh lift procedure—every body and every patient is different.

Nerve damage: If improper healing occurs, the patient may have some nerve damage. The possibility of nerve damage should be discussed with the physician before the procedure. Nerve damage can result in over sensitivity or it can result in a lack of sensitivity in certain areas where the thigh lift was performed.

Improper healing: Individuals that have a slower than average healing rate or those who are smokers may find that they do not heal properly, that the sutured areas reopen easily or that they are more prone to infection. Smokers should avoid smoking before and after the procedure so that their body’s natural healing process is not hindered.

Finding a doctor to perform the thigh lift is a crucial step: find a cosmetic surgeon that you are comfortable with, you will be working with the doctor long term and you will want to be happy with them. If you are not satisfied with the way the cosmetic surgeon responds to your questions or concerns or if you fear that the doctor doesn’t really understand your needs, find another cosmetic surgeon that you are more comfortable with.

The yellow pages serve as a good place to start looking for a cosmetic surgeon, whereas the Internet also serves as an excellent resource. Many cosmetic surgeons have complete websites devoted to explaining all of their services. You can also get recommendations from friends or family members that may have undergone some form of cosmetic surgery. Ask people you know if they can recommend someone reliable to perform your thigh lift.

Call a cosmetic surgeon that appeals to you and have an initial consultation to discuss the thigh lift procedure. This is a good time to create a list of questions that you may have to ask so that you can approach the doctor with your concerns. If you want to go the extra mile, you can check to see if the doctor is certified or if the doctor has hand any prior complaints. Contact the medical board for more information.

Make sure that you are not only comfortable with the doctor, but that you are comfortable with where the procedure will take place. If you are not satisfied with the services of a particular hospital that a cosmetic surgeon is associated with, you may find that you will have to seek out a different cosmetic surgeon to address your needs.

You will be expected to pay for your thigh lift, often times in full, before the procedure is completed. Remember, a thigh lift is a cosmetic procedure so it is considered an optional surgery, not a procedure that is required for your health. Thusly, health insurance will not cover a thigh lift procedure and many patients pay the entire thigh lift procedure fee straight out of pocket.

Some surgeons work with various finance companies. Check out a surgeon’s website or ask a cosmetic surgeon about financing when you have your initial consultation with them. Short of that, you will find that you are paying for a thigh lift out of pocket. A variety of fees will have to be paid before the thigh lift is performed. Fees included doctor’s visits, the procedure, and can begin right around 3500 dollars and run up to 7500 dollars. Fees are determined on the extent of work needed, and how many visits are required.

While the cost is concerning, a patient should be far more concerned with the doctor they select. A competent, well practiced doctor with experience is well worth the money spent. Experience goes a long way in protecting the patient from encountering various complications and a patient will be more confident in a doctor that has experience.

The patient recovering from a thigh lift procedure needs to follow their surgeon’s instructions and recommendations. Just because the thigh lift is completed, it doesn’t mean that the patient should skip follow up visits. Follow up visits are critical to the patient—any problems with the procedure can be identified and remedied in a follow up procedure.

The patient that undergoes a thigh lift can expect a recovery period of four weeks or more. Thus, ample time will need to be scheduled so that the patient can return to full health. Patients may experience pain, swelling, redness, discomfort and, in some cases, depression. The results of a thigh lift are not always immediate and it can prove disconcerting to some patients.

Patients should take their time and not try to overdo anything after a thigh lift procedure. The healing process takes time, and it also takes time for the patient to really see the full results of the thigh lift procedure. Once the patient is fully healed from a thigh lift procedure, the results can be fully realized and enjoyed.