Thigh Lift in Birmingham AL

Thigh Lift Candidates

In general, candidates for a thigh lift are:

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

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 the new body contours. In cases where skin elasticity is poor, a combination of liposuction and thigh lift techniques may be recommended.

Your Thigh Lift Consultation

The success and safety of your procedure depends very much on your complete candidness during your thigh lift consultation. Be prepared to discuss:

• Your surgical goals.
• Medical conditions, drug allergies and medical treatments.
• Current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drug use.
• Previous surgeries.

Your thigh lift surgeon will also:

• Evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors.
• Examine and measure your body, including detailed measurements.
• Take photographs for your medical records.
• Discuss your options.
• Recommend a course of treatment.
• Discuss likely outcomes of thigh lift surgery and any risks or potential complications.
• Answer any questions you have about your thigh lift.

Thigh Lift Risks and Safety

Your plastic surgeon and/or staff will explain in detail the risks associated with surgery. The possible risks of a thigh lift include:

• Anesthesia risks.
• Asymmetry.
• Bleeding.
• Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications.
• Fatty tissue under the skin might die (fat necrosis).
• Fluid accumulation (seroma).
• Infection.
• Major wound separation.
• Numbness or other changes in skin sensation.
• Persistent pain.
• Poor wound healing.
• Possibility of revisionary surgery.
• Recurrent looseness of skin.
• Skin discoloration and/or swelling.
• Skin loss.
• Sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin, become visible or produce irritation that require removal.
• Unfavorable scarring.

Thigh lift risks will be fully discussed prior to your consent. It's important that you address all of your concerns about risks with your plastic surgeon. You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure and any risks and potential complications.

Preparing for Thigh Lift Surgery

In preparing for thigh lift surgery, you may be asked to:

• Get lab testing or a medical evaluation.
• Take certain medications or adjust your current medications.
• Stop smoking.
• Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements or other medications that may increase bleeding.

Thigh lift procedures are performed at our accredited Outpatient Surgery Facility in Birmingham, Alabama. Be sure to arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery and stay with you for at least the first night after surgery.

Thigh Lift Procedure

Anesthesia options for thigh lift surgery include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best option for you.

Inner Thigh Lift Incision

One technique used for a thigh lift places incisions in the groin, extending downward and wrapping around the back of the thigh.

Another technique removes excess skin from the groin down to the knee using an incision along the inseam.

You may also qualify for a minimal incision inner thigh lift that involves an incision only in the groin area. Your plastic surgeon will determine what's appropriate for you.

Outer Thigh Lift Incision

Improving the contours of the outer thigh may require an incision extending from the groin around the hip and across the back.

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.

Thigh Lift Recovery

Dressings/bandages may be applied to your incisions following your thigh lift procedure.

Small, thin tubes may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain excess fluid or blood that may collect.

Your plastic surgeon will give you specific instructions on how to care for yourself after surgery. Following these instructions is essential to the success of your thigh lift. The instructions may include:

• How to care for the surgical site(s).
• Medications to apply or take orally to aid healing.
• Specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health.
• When to follow-up with your plastic surgeon.

Seek medical attention immediately if you experience shortness of breath, chest pains or unusual heartbeats after going home. You may require hospitalization and additional treatment if any of these complications occur.

The surgical incisions should not be subjected to excessive force, swelling, abrasion or motion during the time of healing.

Thigh Lift Results

The results of a thigh lift with Dr. William Hedden, Dr. Stephen Gunn or Dr. Joshua Halka are visible almost immediately. However, it may take several months for the final results to fully develop.

Following a thigh lift, skin quality is improved both in appearance and feel.

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 remain.

Although good results are expected from your procedure, 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.

Thigh Lift Words to Know

• General anesthesia: Medications that are inhaled and/or given by injection into a vein used during an operation to relieve pain and alter consciousness.
• Hematoma: Blood pooling beneath the skin.
• Intravenous sedation: Sedatives administered by injection into a vein to help you relax.
• Liposuction: Also called lipoplasty or suction lipectomy, this procedure vacuums out fat from beneath the skin's surface to reduce fullness.
• Local anesthesia: A medication injected directly to the site of an incision during an operation to relieve pain.
• Medial thigh lift: A surgical procedure to correct sagging of the inner thigh.
• Outer/lateral thigh lift: A surgical procedure to correct sagging of the outer thigh.
• Sutures: Stitches used by surgeons to hold skin and tissue together.