THIGH LIFT / THIGHPLASTY

A thigh lift procedure reduces excess skin and fat of the thigh area. This results in smoother skin and a better contour (shape) of the thigh. The decision to have a thigh lift is very personal and it is important to understand all the risks prior to making this decision.


INDICATIONS

If you have excess fat and skin in the thigh area, you will probably benefit from a thigh lift. A thigh lift is often indicated in people who have lost a large amount of weight. It is important to remember that this type of procedure is not indicated in patients with medical conditions that can impair wound healing and in smokers. Although the procedure does remove excess fat and skin, it must be understood that it cannot be done purely as a weight loss procedure.


PROCEDURE AND ALTERNATIVES

There are various types of thigh lifts which depend on the position and severity of excess skin. This will be discussed with you at the consultation.
The incisions for a thigh lift are mostly found in the groin area and moving around to the back of the thigh. There could also be a need to extend these incisions down the inner thigh area. If this is combined with a lower body lift procedure, there may be a need for the incision to be extended toward the outer thigh area. The planned incisions are marked prior to the operation and you will be told what scars to expect after the surgery. All the incisions are planned in strategic places to ensure that they are maximally concealed.
After the incisions are made, the underlying fat and tissue is reshaped and tightened. A thigh lift is often combined with liposuction to achieve best results.
Once the excess skin is excised and the tissue is reshaped, the wounds are closed and dressed. It is likely that you will go home the following day after your surgery and a follow-up appointment will be scheduled for you. You should not bath or wet the wounds until the follow-up visit which will be in a few days. At this appointment, the dressings will be changed and you will be informed of how to manage the wounds further.


COMPLICATIONS / DISADVANTAGES

Some of the risks involved in a thigh lift include the following:
•    Unfavourable scarring
•    Bleeding (hematoma), or fluid accumulation (seroma)
•    Infection
•    Poor wound healing
•    Skin loss 
•    Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
•    Aneasthetic risks
•    Skin discoloration and/or swelling
•    Fatty tissue found deep in the skin might die (fat necrosis)
•    Major wound separation
•    Asymmetry
•    Pain, which may persist
•    Unsatisfactory results such as highly visible surgical scar location, unacceptable visible deformities, bunching and rippling in the skin near the suture lines or at the ends of the incisions
•    Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
•    Recurrent looseness of skin
•    Sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin, become visible or produce irritation that require removal
•    Possibility of revisional surgery


ADVANTAGES

The advantage of this procedure is the marked improvement in the shape of the thighs and this increases your self esteem. Clothes are better fitting and you will be able to wear certain styles of clothing more freely.





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