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A Thigh Lift Can Dramatically Change The Contour of Your Lower Body
Even the best diet and exercise efforts can’t address sagging skin. For those troubled by excess skin on their lower body, a thigh lift can offer a smoother, tighter, and more proportional appearance.
In Fort Wayne, Indiana thigh lift surgery reduces excess soft tissue along the inner and outer thigh. When paired with liposuction to remove excess fat, a thigh lift can dramatically change the contour of your lower body.
If you are a healthy non-smoker whose weight is relatively stable, and you are committed to maintaining a healthy diet and exercise, you could be a good candidate for a thigh lift.
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Before Your Procedure
Knowing what to do and what to expect before your surgery will make for the best possible outcome. If you’re a smoker, you will be asked to stop smoking well before surgery. You may need to get lab testing or a medical evaluation, to take certain medications or adjust your current medications. You will need to avoid aspirin and certain anti-inflammatory drugs before surgery because they can cause increased bleeding. Dr. Lee will provide additional preoperative instructions.
Your surgery will be performed at the fully accredited Southwest Surgical Suites. Be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery and to stay with you at least the first night following surgery. You likely will receive general anesthesia. Dr. Lee will recommend the right anesthesia for you.
Dr. Brian Lee
MD, FACS
Double Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Brian Lee has been in practice for over 2 decades, serving the Fort Wayne community for all their aesthetic and cosmetic needs. He is proud to work alongside his talented team and looks forward to seeing new and returning patients in his office.
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Your Procedure
Thigh lift techniques vary based on individual needs. In the most common technique, incisions are started in the groin and wrap around the back of the thigh. The underlying tissue is reshaped, and the skin is redraped and trimmed. Incisions are made along natural body contours, and they can generally be hidden by most clothing and swimwear. Incisions are closed in layers—support sutures in the underlying tissues create your new contour, and then surface sutures close your skin incisions. For this reason, drains are inserted into your incisions. You will measure the fluid each day to help determine when they can be removed—typically within two to three weeks. You will return to the office for this process as well as the removal of your sutures.
After Your Procedure
When your surgery is complete, you’ll be taken into a recovery area where you will be closely monitored. You may be wrapped in compression garments to reduce swelling and smooth and support your thigh tissue, or these may be added later. You’ll receive detailed instructions for your post-surgical care, including drains if they’ve been used. In most cases, you’ll go home in just a few hours.
You will need a caregiver to drive you home and to stay with you for the first 24 hours to watch for signs of complications. You will be encouraged to walk beginning the day after your surgery, though you may notice some temporary numbness in your thighs. This is perfectly normal and should not be worrisome unless the numbness persists. You’ll return to our office for weekly visits where Dr. Lee can monitor your drains and sutures and assess your progress. Your incisions may not completely heal for a month or longer, and a small scar will remain. You likely will have to wear a compression garment for the first month. Most who undergo a thigh lift can resume normal activities after four to six weeks.
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Understanding the Risks
Dr. Lee is a board-certified plastic surgeon with decades of experience. However, that does not mean that any surgery comes with risk. The possible risks specific to a thigh lift include:
- Unattractive scarring
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Fluid accumulation
- Poor wound healing
- Skin loss
- Blood clots
- Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
- Anesthesia risks
- Skin discoloration and/or swelling
- Fatty tissue found deep in the skin might die (fat necrosis)
- Major wound separation
- Asymmetry
- Pain, which may persist
- Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
- Recurrent looseness of skin
- Sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin, become visible or produce irritation and require removal.
- Possibility of revisional surgery
- Seromas (collections of fluid below the skin)Delayed healing from small separations in the incision closure in areas of high tension and stretch.
Dr. Lee will discuss these risks with you during your consultation. Please be sure to ask him about any questions or concerns that you might have.
I had a tummy tuck and breast augmentation with Dr. Lee and I am grateful to him and his staff for everything they did for me. Dr. Lee answered all my questions thoroughly, and was extremely patient and helpful on the day of surgery. Dr. Lee is amazing, and I’m happy with my results and would recommend Aspire Plastic Surgery to anyone.
- Written By Verified Patient
I really appreciated the concern and personal touch of receiving a post-op phone call by both the nurse and Dr. Lee. It is comforting to know that Dr. Lee is a very talented artist whose skills tie in with his work. I absolutely love and enjoy seeing Dr. Lee’s photography displayed on the walls and in the books in his office.
- Written by Judy
Dr. Lee is an absolute artist. Not only does he assure you through the process, he is very detail-oriented. If I can offer any advice to future patients of Dr. Lee, TRUST HIM! He had some ideas of his own, and I sort of let him take the reins, and boy, am I happy I did! WONDERFUL work! I feel perfect! Thoughtful, thorough, insightful, knowledgeable, detail-oriented, caring and experienced. I could go on for paragraphs. Who goes into surgery at ease, and comes out a bit swollen and somewhat swelled…YET SMILING and HAPPY? Dr. Lee’s patients. He even personally called that evening to check in. Absolutely hands down the best doctor I have ever had the experience of encountering—and I did my fair share of research!
- Written by Sarah B.F.
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Results of Your Procedure
You will see the results of your thigh lift almost immediately, and you will continue to see improvement for several months until you achieve your final outcome. Most who undergo a thigh lift experience a dramatic improvement in skin appearance and feel. And if you maintain a consistent weight and exercise regularly, those dramatic results will be long-lasting. The key to a truly successful thigh lift is maintaining an open line of communication with Dr. Lee. He and his team are eager to respond to your questions and can help provide skin care to maintain and enhance your results—they are your partners in achieving the results that you seek.
Sources: The American Society of Plastic Surgeons; The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
Frequently Asked Questions about Thigh Lift
When will I see the results of a thigh lift?
You may notice some initial results right after surgery, as excess skin and fat will no longer be there, but most of the results will be hidden due to the swelling and bruising that typically come with a thigh lift. Significant results will be visible in the weeks and months after your thigh lift.
How can I maintain my results?
To maintain your thigh lift results, you’ll want to stay a stable weight, practice a healthy lifestyle, stay hydrated, avoid smoking and excess alcohol intake, and attend all your follow-up appointments with Dr. Lee.
Will I be awake during my thigh lift?
No, you will not be awake during the thigh lift procedure. A thigh lift is typically done under general anesthesia to ensure you’re comfortable throughout the procedure.
What is the thigh lift recovery like?
To start your recovery process, you’ll notice swelling, bruising, and discomfort, but those will subside on their own within a week or so. You’ll want to limit strenuous activities and wear a compression garment to ease swelling and help with the healing process. We recommend that you start walking 2-3 days after surgery.
Who is a good candidate for a thigh lift?
Good candidates for a thigh lift are patients in good overall health with realistic expectations, nonsmokers, and those who are at or near their ideal weight.
Request a Consultation
If you are considering a thigh lift, you are encouraged to schedule a consultation at our Fort Wayne location. The first step is to meet with Dr. Lee. He will take the time to get to know you and talk about why you want to undergo a thigh lift procedure.
Be prepared to share your medical history, including previous surgeries, medical conditions, drug allergies, and current medications. Dr. Lee will conduct an exam to assess the elasticity of your skin, take measurements of your lower body, and take photos for your records.
It is important that you be as close to your ideal weight as possible before undergoing a thigh lift. If you lose weight after your procedure, your tightened skin will again be loose and sag. If you gain weight after your procedure, you will stretch your tightened skin or undo the results of your thigh lift.
You may need to lose weight before undergoing a thigh lift, as excessive heaviness in the lower body will slowly reverse the results of your lift. Dr. Lee may recommend liposuction with your thigh lift if you have excess fat in your lower body. As a certified surgeon, patients from the Angola, Warsaw, and Huntington areas can trust Dr. Lee’s experience.