Thigh Lift

A thigh lift reshapes the thighs by reducing excess skin, and in some cases fat, resulting in smoother skin and better-proportioned contours of the thighs and lower body. If fitness and weight loss efforts have not achieved your goals for a body that is firmer, more youthful-looking and more proportionate to your overall body image, a surgical thigh lift may be right for you.

This surgery reshapes the thighs by reducing excess skin, and in some cases fat, resulting in smoother skin and better-proportioned contours of the thighs and lower body.

Is it right for you?

Candidates for thigh lift are:

• People whose weight is relatively stable
• Individuals with excess soft tissue along the inner or medial thigh region and/or the outer thigh
• Healthy individuals who do not have medical conditions that can impair healing or increase risk of surgery
• Non-smokers
• Individuals with a positive outlook and realistic goals for what thigh lift surgery can accomplish
• Individuals committed to leading a healthy lifestyle including proper nutrition and fitness

What it won’t do: Thigh lifts are not intended strictly for the removal of excess fat. Liposuction alone can remove excess fat deposits where skin has good elasticity and is able to naturally conform to new body contours. In cases where skin elasticity is poor, a combination of liposuction and thigh lift techniques may be recommended.

Procedural Steps -What happens during arm lift surgery?

Anaesthesia
Dr Vrtik only performs thigh lift under full general anaesthetic for your comfort and safety.

The Incisions
Incision patterns vary based on the area or areas to be treated (outer, inner, upper or lower thigh), degree of correction, and surgeon preference. Dr Vrtik will determine what’s appropriate after assessment and consultation with you.

One common technique used for a thigh lift places incisions in the groin, extending backwards around the thigh. Extension of the incision is dependent on the region to be lifted.

Medial Thigh Lift – You may qualify for a minimal incision medial thigh lift which involves an incision only in the groin area. This incision will limit the amount of lift, especially of the outer and lower part of the thigh.
Outer Thigh Lift - Improving the contours of the outer thigh may require an incision extending from the groin around the hip. Through these incisions your plastic surgeon will tighten tissues for a smoother, better-toned lower body contour. Advanced techniques usually allow incisions to be placed in strategic locations where they can be hidden by most types of clothing and swimsuits. However, incisions may be extensive.

Extended Thigh Lift – If circumferential laxity of the upper and lower thighs is present, a vertical extension is required down on the inner part of the thigh. This will allow tightening and extensive reshaping of the thigh. The only disadvantage is the visibility of the scars in swimsuits.

Reshaping and Liposuction
The underlying tissue matrix will be reshaped and tightened, and skin will be reduced and redraped resulting in more proportionate and smoother body contours. Liposuction is used to assist in removal of any disproportionate fat deposits. Deep soft tissues are anchored with deep support sutures, to ensure longevity of the lift, as well as minimise stretching of the scar.

Closing the incisions
Sutures and skin adhesives are used to close the skin.

Specific Risks of Thigh Lift

The decision to have thigh lift surgery is extremely personal and you’ll have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications are acceptable. Dr Vrtik and our staff will explain in detail the risks associated with surgery. You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure you will undergo and any risks and potential complications.

Possible risks of thigh lift surgery include:

• Unfavorable scarring
• Bleeding (hematoma)
• Infection
• Fluid accumulation
• Poor wound healing
• Skin loss
• Blood clots
• Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
• Anaesthesia risks
• Skin discolouration 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 revision surgery

Most of the risks are very uncommon, and some people (with particular health problems or specific body shapes), may be at higher risk for specific complications. Dr Vrtik will discuss this with you during your consultation if any of these risks are specifically pertinent to you.

Although thigh lift surgery can be an effective procedure where the benefits significantly outweigh the risks, like everything in the practice of medicine and surgery, it is not an exact science. The degree of surgical success can be altered by how each individual’s body responds to surgery and healing. 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; revision surgery may be necessary.

Be sure to ask questions: It’s very important to ask questions about your procedure. It’s natural to feel some anxiety, whether it’s excitement for your anticipated new look or a bit of preoperative stress. Don’t be shy about discussing these feelings and any specific concerns with Dr Vrtik or any of our staff members.

Postoperative Recovery

When your procedure is completed, elastic foamy tape or your garment will be applied to your incisions, to minimize swelling and to support your new contours as you heal. Small drainage tubes may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain excess fluid or blood that may collect.

You will be required to stay overnight to ensure you are comfortable, with effective treatment for any postoperative pain or nausea. The following day, you will be discharged after your drains are removed. Your first postoperative appointment will be with our nurse where your wounds will be checked, cleaned and garment reapplied. Delayed wound healing may occur in the groin area due to persistent moisture and hair follicle contamination. This may require dressings until healed.

It is highly recommended that you take adequate rest at home for the first 2 weeks. No heavy lifting or exercise should be undertaken for 4-6 weeks and no swimming until the wounds have healed.

To find out more about your postoperative care, please click here.

Results and Expectations

The smoother tighter contouring that result from a thigh lift are apparent almost immediately, although initially obscured by some swelling and bruising. You will be required to wear a compression garment for a minimum of six weeks following your procedure to minimize swelling and support the tissues as they heal. Following a thigh lift, skin quality is dramatically improved both in appearance and feel. It may take several months for the final results to fully develop as residue tissue swelling subsides.

Some visible scars will remain, but the overall results are long lasting, provided that you maintain a stable weight and general fitness. As your body ages, it is natural to lose some firmness. However, most of your initial improvement should be relatively permanent.

Special Note on Cost of Arm Lift Surgery

Brachioplasty may be rebatable from your private health insurance. This will depend on whether you symptoms and severity meet the criteria for a medicare item number. Preoperative photos may be required for application to the Medicare Board in some cases. Use the item number (if you are eligible) when talking to your health insurer; it is also important that you check whether your policy covers plastic surgery.

Vocabulary to Know

• General anesthesia: Drugs and/or gases used during an operation to relieve pain and alter consciousness.
• Hematoma: Blood pooling beneath the skin.
• Liposuction: Also called lipoplasty or suction lipectomy, this procedure vacuums out fat from beneath the skin’s surface to reduce fullness.
• Medial thigh lift: A surgical procedure to correct sagging of the inner thigh.
• Outer thigh lift: A surgical procedure to correct sagging of the outer and mid-thigh.
• Sutures: Stitches used by surgeons to hold skin and tissue together.

(Some Information & Illustrations are courtesy of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons)