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Thigh lift surgery, sometimes also referred to as a 'fanny tuck,'
is probably the most drastic cosmetic surgery that a plastic
surgeon does. As you have already learned from these pages,
plastic surgeons cannot perform invasive surgery without leaving
scars; we just attempt to minimize the scars that we leave. But
the thigh lift operation leaves the most onerous, most lengthy,
and generally most visible (when unclothed) scars. The scars
commonly start high on the hip in the back, curve down and around
the inside of the thigh, then up the groin crease to about the hip
bone on the front. Obviously, one must have a serious need to even
consider this operation.
Thigh lift is the least-commonly-performed aesthetic procedure in
our practice, and probably in the United States. I believe there
are two
reasons for this. First, the scars are so significant that many patients
are dissuaded from the operation. Second, the number of people who
are really in need of this drastic measure is fairly small. So who
is a candidate for the procedure?
In our experience, two categories of patients should consider
having thigh lift surgery. Patients who have had massive weight
loss, and whose thighs are now larger in circumference a few
inches BELOW the crease underneath the buttock would benefit from
having this done. In these people the skin is frequently thin and
stretched out, with less subcutaneous fat high on the thigh than a
few inches below. The operation is designed to cut away the thin
skin and scant fat area and pull up the lower fat and skin, sewing
it to the area above where the skin and fat thickness match up
better. The second category of candidates would be those who have
already had suction lipectomy and whose results were not adequate,
possibly because of inadequate skin contracture following fat
removal.
As already mentioned, this operation is the most extensive of
aesthetic procedures. The time in the operating room is generally
six hours or more. General anesthesia is required, and at least
one overnight stay for recovery. Two to four drains are necessary
and may need to be left in for 3-4 days or more. In most cases
patients are not able to bend at the hips enough to sit upright
for several days to a week. An average time required off from work
would be 4-6 weeks.
Is this operation ever covered by insurance? In very rare cases,
such as following massive weight loss (after gastric bypass
procedures, etc.) some patients have been able to secure insurance
coverage, if they were having hygiene problems, with skin
infection in the redundant folds. Such instances are rare,
unfortunately, and usually require more than one letter of
predetermination with pictures, review by an insurance company
committee, and one or two months' patience.
In addition to the scars, which are NOT complications but an
expected part of the surgery, problems can occur, such as
excessive blood loss, build-up of a pocket of blood under the
skin, infection, problems with wound healing, numbness in the skin
of the thighs, and possibly additional surgery.
Nevertheless, for those patients whose need is great enough, this
operation may be the only way they can don a bathing suit or even
wear reasonably revealing sportswear. Since every situation is
different, only a personal evaluation will allow us to assess your
suitability as a candidate for the procedure.
To schedule an appointment to discuss this procedure with Dr.
Johnson, click here.
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