Thigh Lifts: Before, During, and After

Did you recently lose weight, especially in your thighs? Are you looking for an effective way to achieve shapely and smoother legs? Maybe you want to improve the appearance of the sagging skin on your thighs as you age. For most people in such situations, a thigh lift is one of the best solutions for such issues.
 

What Is a Thigh Lift?

Also known as thighplasty, a thigh lift is an invasive cosmetic procedure meant to eliminate excess fat and skin from the thighs. If you are considering undergoing this procedure, you need to understand that it is a major surgical procedure. Therefore, it can pose some risks, especially for patients with an underlying health problem.
 

Types of Thigh Lifts

The purpose of all thigh lifts is to get rid of excess fat and skin from the thighs. However, cosmetic surgeons can achieve this goal through different techniques and incisions. Your doctor will help you choose the most appropriate procedure to help you achieve your goals. Some of the different procedures to consider include:

• A mini thigh lift
• An inner thigh lift
• An outer thigh lift
• Lift with liposuction
• A vertical thigh lift

 

Before the Procedure

Before surgery, your cosmetic surgeon will instruct you to stop smoking or taking any medications that might increase bleeding. These include anti-inflammatory drugs, aspirin, and herbal supplements. Sometimes, cosmetic surgeons ask their patients to take certain medications. You may also need to undergo a medical evaluation to ensure that you are a good candidate for the procedure.
Patients may undergo this cosmetic procedure in a hospital, licensed ambulatory surgical center, or accredited office-based facility. If you choose to undergo the procedure on an outpatient basis, you will need to arrange for a friend or family member to drive you to and from the facility. You should also ask your friend to stay with you at least overnight following surgery.

 

During the Procedure
 

The procedure will involve two steps, which are the administration of anesthesia and the incision. The options for anesthesia include general anesthesia and intravenous sedation. Your cosmetic surgeon will help you choose the best option for you.
 

When it comes to the incision, the patterns will vary depending on your surgeon’s preference and your preference. It will also depend on the areas you want to be treated and the degree of correction you desire.

After making the appropriate incisions, your cosmetic surgeon will remove excess fat cells and skin before closing up the incisions. The entire procedure can take up to two hours to complete. However, you will need to spend several hours before and after the operation. Therefore, the whole process might take up most of the day.
 

After Surgery

 

To ease the swelling following surgery, your cosmetic surgeon will dress the incisions. In certain cases, the surgeon may insert a tube to drain excess fluids and blood from your thighs. After your doctor removes these items, you will need to make a follow-up appointment.

Since a thigh lift is a major surgical procedure, you will need adequate time to recover. Therefore, you should take time off work. Also, you will probably experience some swelling, bruising, and pain for a few days. You should start noticing some positive changes right away. The full results, however, will take several months to manifest.

To learn more about thigh lifts, visit Kenneth Bermudez, MD, at our office in San Francisco, California. You can call 415-712-1800 today to schedule an appointment.