Do you feel self-conscious wearing shorts due to excess thigh skin? Do you feel like you’ve tried everything you can to firm up your inner or outer thighs? If so, you may be a good candidate for a thigh lift at eSSe Plastic Surgery in Fort Lauderdale, FL. If you think your self-confidence would improve by eliminating excess skin and tightening loose skin on your inner or outer thigh, keep reading to learn more about this life-changing procedure.
Who Is a Good Candidate for a Thigh Lift?
When determining who is a good candidate for a thigh lift, we consider many factors. We generally look for nonsmokers because one of the most important preparation steps you must take prior to your procedure is to not consume nicotine for two weeks. Additionally, nonsmokers tend to make better candidates for surgery because tobacco consumption often causes health problems, like high blood pressure, that may disqualify someone from surgery.
Another factor we strongly consider is how likely it is that someone will maintain their weight after surgery. Typically, only people who are likely to maintain a relatively stable weight after surgery qualify. This is because significant weight gain and subsequent weight loss after surgery can result in excess skin. Similarly, loose skin may occur after surgery if a significant amount of weight is lost too quickly.
Will I Qualify for This Procedure If I Have a Lot of Excess Fat?
You may be considered a good candidate for this procedure if you have a lot of excess fat, but you may not get the results you want from a thigh lift alone. Only a small amount of excess fat can be excised during this procedure because it is a body contouring procedure, not a fat removal procedure. If you aim to remove a lot of excess fat, eliminate excess skin, and tighten loose skin, you may need liposuction in addition to a thigh lift.
What Should I Know About Liposuction?
You should know that when determining who is a good candidate for liposuction, we generally look for individuals with at least an inch of pinchable fat. However, exceptions can be made depending on the unique case. You should also know that you can safely have between 10 and 11 pounds of fat removed during liposuction.
How Should I Prepare for Surgery?
Attend an Initial Consultation
Attending an initial consultation is the most important preoperative preparation step. During this initial consultation, we will verify that this procedure will be safe for you by evaluating your medical history and current health. We will also assess how effective this procedure will be based on your goals and current contours.
Furthermore, we will provide you with all of the information you need to determine if this procedure is right for you. This includes a comprehensive set of rules you need to follow before and after surgery. We will also answer any questions you may have about the thigh rejuvenation process.
Stop Smoking
To reiterate, avoiding nicotine consumption is a critical preparation step you must take prior to surgery. This is critical for both your safety during surgery and your recovery process. If you don’t think you can go two weeks without consuming anything containing nicotine, talk to your doctor about creating an effective plan to quit.
Don’t Take Blood-Thinning Pharmaceuticals
You also must refrain from taking any drugs or supplements that can impede the coagulation of your blood. Some of the most common examples include NSAIDs and vitamin E supplements. However, you should also refrain from taking less common pharmaceuticals that cause blood-thinning, like MAOIs. Just make sure you clear the cessation of certain drugs with your primary care physician beforehand.
Arrange for Help With Aftercare
Following your procedure, you will not be able to drive for no fewer than 10 days. Therefore, you should make sure you have someone to drive you home after surgery and run errands for you during the early stages of your recovery process. It is generally advisable to have someone stay with you during the first one to three days post-op to help you take care of yourself and your responsibilities around the house.
What Happens During a Thigh Lift?
Before your procedure begins, we will administer medication to keep you comfortable. Depending on numerous factors, including your overall health and the scope of your procedure, you may be given general or local anesthesia. If you receive local anesthesia, we will also administer intravenous sedation to keep you calm throughout your procedure.
Once you are prepared for surgery, your inner thigh skin will be incised. This incision is placed very strategically so that it is hidden by the natural crease in your inner leg while it heals. Through the incision made, excess skin and fat are removed. Then, the remaining skin is tightened to achieve a slim, youthful, attractive contour.
What Can I Expect After Surgery?
Once your incisions are closed, we will bandage your thighs and observe you until you are sufficiently alert. Then, we will review your recovery guidelines with you again. If there are no questions, you are free to go home and rest. Generally, you can expect your recovery to take two to four weeks to finish.
However, individual experiences vary based on several factors, including the scope of the procedure and the choices you make after surgery. It is also worth noting that some of your usual activities, like your workout routine, may be restricted for six to eight weeks following surgery.
How Long Will I Need to Take Off From Work?
People usually take seven to 10 days off from work following this procedure. Typically, people can return to work just seven days after surgery if only a moderate amount of excess tissue was removed and they have a sedentary job. If a significant amount of excess tissue is removed during your thigh rejuvenation, it is more likely that you will need to take 10 days off from work to focus on your recovery.
What Can I Do to Heal As Quickly as Possible?
Wear Your Compression Garments As Instructed
Wearing your compression garments for six weeks after surgery is one of the most effective steps you can take to heal as quickly as possible. During the first two weeks post-op, you will need to wear your compression garments 24/7 except for when you are showering.
During the third through sixth weeks of your recovery process, you will only need to wear your compression garments for half of the day. One reason it is so important to wear compression garments after your procedure is that it mitigates the risk of developing DVT, or deep vein thrombosis. Another reason it is so important is that they improve your circulation. Moreover, they mitigate the risk of severe inflammation, blood clots, and hemorrhaging.
Take Short Walks Around the Home
You can also help to ensure a smooth recovery by taking short walks around your home after your procedure. Getting very gentle exercise helps to support your circulatory system. This mitigates the risk of developing deep vein thrombosis and suffering from blood clots. Additionally, your circulatory system is responsible for delivering vital nutrients, oxygen, and growth factors that your skin needs to heal.
Don’t Submerge Your Incisions
During the first 48 hours following your procedure, you should keep your incision sites completely dry. After that, you may shower, but you may not bathe. You may resume bathing, swimming, and sitting in hot tubs once your incisions have healed.
How Long Will My Results Last?
If your weight remains relatively stable after surgery, you can generally expect your ideal results to last for five to 10 years. You don’t have to worry about excess skin if you don’t gain and lose a significant amount of weight. However, you may experience skin sagging regardless of weight fluctuations. This is due to a significant loss of elastin and other supportive structures as you age.
Schedule Your Initial Consultation Today
When determining who may qualify for a thigh lift, we consider a number of factors. Among these are whether an individual is a smoker, how healthy an individual is, and how likely it is that the potential candidate can maintain a relatively stable weight after surgery. To find out if a thigh lift is right for you, contact us today at eSSe Plastic Surgery in Fort Lauderdale, FL to schedule an initial evaluation.