Thigh Lift Dallas - Thighplasty Plano TX
Enhancing Your Appearance with a Thigh Lift
Once excess fat and skin accumulate on your inner and outer thigh, it becomes one of the most difficult areas of the body to firm and tone. Oftentimes, even with proper diet and exercise, the thigh area may never respond as you wish it would to the excess skin that has lost its’ elasticity. For this reason, plastic surgeons developed the surgical thigh lift procedure.
It is a procedure that sculpts and reshapes the contours of your thighs and lower body by removing excess skin and fat from the inner and outer thigh areas.
Is It Right For Me?
The thigh lift may be right for those who:
- Do not have dramatic fluctuations in weight and whose weight is relatively balanced
- Have excess fat and skin in the areas of the inner and outer thigh and lower body
- Are generally healthy and have no pre-existing medical conditions or illness
- Do not smoke
- Have realistic expectations of the procedure and are committed to a healthy lifestyle including proper diet and exercise
What To Expect During Your Consultation
As with any cosmetic enhancement surgery (and as stated throughout this text), you should first consider your motivations for surgery to be sure that you’re choosing surgery for yourself and not to fulfill someone else’s’ desires or expectations of you or your body. It is a very personal matter and any decision for surgery should come after careful consideration of all the facts and emotions involved.
As stated before, you should consider the thigh lift procedure after you’ve reached your weight loss goals, as losing dramatic amounts of weight loss after the thigh lift procedure could have adverse effects on your results, such as additional loose, sagging skin.
In order to create the best possible results from your thigh lift surgery, it is important that you discuss your desires and expectations, as well as how the thigh lift surgery will impact your health, lifestyle and general well-being. It is a good idea to prepare by considering the following before your consultation:
- General medical history, including the results of laboratory work and past surgeries
- A detailed account of current prescription medications, supplements (vitamins or others) that you take
- Any use of tobacco or other drugs
- What are your motivations for surgery? What are your expectations?
At the consultation, I will also:
- Evaluate your current health
- Photographically document the areas of the body to be effected by surgery
- Based on the information gathered, your surgeon will discuss your surgical options and recommend a course of treatment
- Disclose the risk of common complications associated with the thigh lift surgery and the use of anesthesia
- Cover what to do the day of surgery
- Cover post-operative care and recovery
Preparing for Surgery
In the weeks before surgery, I’ll probably request:
- Further laboratory testing or medical evaluations
- Adjusting current prescriptions
- That you avoid the consumption of alcohol, drugs and abstain from smoking for a certain period surrounding surgery
What Happens During the Thigh Lift Procedure?
Anesthesia
Likely, I’ll be suggesting general anesthesia. It is the best way to safely control your airway and do the operation during a ‘controlled nap’ that you’ll be taking. I call it this in that you go to sleep then wake up and the operation is over. The entire time, the proper delivery of oxygen is being delivered. It’s the recommended way to be done by The American Society of Anesthesiologists.
The Incision
The incision itself that is most commonly used runs along the groin and around the back of the thigh, so the incision scar is hidden as much as possible. On occasion, there may be need for the incision to extend down the thigh to the level of the knee (this is for massive weight loss patients that had their stomach stapled or bypassed). The fat and muscle beneath the skin will then be surgically tightened and excess skin cut away, to create a more contoured, youthful appearance. A drain will likely be placed and removed in about a week (according to it’s drain output .. it will need to be less than 30cc in a 24 hour period).
An alternative is the minimal incision medical thigh lift, which involves a smaller incision in the groin area only. I’ll discuss your options in the consultation and the most appropriate approach will be determined to produce the best results relative to your desires and your anatomy.
It is important to note that, although we employ cutting-edge techniques in order to minimize scarring and most incisions can be hidden by clothing and follow swimsuit lines, the scarring can potentially be extensive and on occasion visible. All scars are permanent.
Closing the Incisions
Once the procedure has been completed, the incisions are closed with layered sutures, clips and surgical skin glue. Often, a drain will be necessary to drain extra fluid and minimize edema.
See the results
Although you will notice immediate results, your tissues will continue to recover even further as swelling subsides and scars begin to fade, and you will find that your results will continue to unfold over time.
The recovery period immediately following your surgery is critical to achieving the best results possible from the surgery. It is, therefore, of paramount importance that you follow your instructions exactly (low salt diet, limit fluids to only drinking for thirst). Bandages will need to be changed if an area weeps fluid (this happens if some areas are struggling to heal but don’t worry they will). Restrictive garments should be worn at all times except showering and personal hygiene as necessary. Restrictions on physical activity must be followed strictly. These are just a few of the steps one can take in order to fully realize the potential results of thigh lift surgery. In most cases, you can return to work within a week or so and resume limited physical activity shortly thereafter.
Important Facts about the Safety and Risks Associated with Thigh Lift Surgery
Ultimately, the decision to undergo the thigh lift procedure is yours alone. After careful consideration of both the risks and benefits of surgery, you’ll have to weigh the risks against the potential benefits to make an informed decision that you can live with. These are most of the potential risks of surgery. I will make myself available to answer any and all of your questions.
Here is a listing of some of the risks associated with thigh lift surgery:
- Adverse scarring
- Excessive bleeding (hematoma)
- Infection
- Complications associated with scar healing, including pain associated with surgery
- Fluids aggregation (seroma collection)
- Necrosis, or fatty tissues deep within the affected area may die
- Leg swelling that won’t go away
- Skin loosening persists
- Potential risks of anesthesia use
- Blood clots
- Temporary or permanent loss of sensation, or nerve damage
When You Go Home
If you experience 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.
The practice of medicine and surgery is not an exact science. Although good results are expected, 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.
Be Careful
After any surgery, it is important to closely monitor how you feel, especially directly after surgery. Varying degrees of pain are certainly to be expected, however, if you experience any kind of tightness or shortness of breath, pains deep in your chest or an irregular heart beat you should go to the ER immediately. To avoid complications, it is of paramount importance that you strictly follow your post-surgical instructions and be cautious!
My Recovery
The recovery period immediately following your surgery is critical to achieving the best results possible from the surgery. It is, therefore, of paramount importance that you follow your instructions exactly. Bandages will need to be changed if fluid is draining from any incision (this can happen and is not an emergency) and restrictions on physical activity are just a few of the steps one must take in order to fully realize the potential results of contouring surgery. In most cases, you can return to work within 1-2 weeks and resume limited physical activity shortly thereafter.
Here are some important questions regarding recovery to ask before surgery:
- Where will I recover directly after surgery?
- Will I be prescribed any post-surgery medications? (antibiotic, pain pills)
- How often do my bandages need to be changed and when will they be removed permanently? (as needed, but typically only wear your compressive garment 23.5 hours a day!)
- When will the stitches be removed? (I avoid removable sutures, just drains come out in about a week)
- How soon will I need to return for a follow-up visit? (one week)
- When can I resume physical activity, like exercise? (6weeks)
The Results Will Be Long Lasting
While some results will be visible immediately, your body will continue to heal and as the swelling subsides and results will continue to reveal a more contoured, shapely lower body that can be maintained through use of proper diet and exercise. It is important to understand that by following your post-operative instructions thoroughly and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you can determine the quality of the results of your surgery, to some degree.
How Much Will Thigh Lift Surgery Cost?
Cost depends on many varying factors, including the experience of the surgeon with this procedure and the geographic location of the procedure. Oftentimes, higher cost is not indicative of higher quality; but, it can also be said that you get what you pay for. I try to keep our prices reasonable, not too low, nor too high. Come on in for a free consultation and we’d be glad to quote you.
Costs you can expect to incur:
- Surgeon’s fee
- Facility fee
- Anesthesiologist
- Medications
- Laboratory tests
In addition, our practice offers patient financing options to consider, so please feel free to ask!
