Do you remember what you looked like before time and gravity took over?
Millions of men and women diet and exercise on a regular basis. Unfortunately,
many of them end up disappointed by the loose, sagging skin remaining on their
thighs caused by a significant weight loss.
Others find that no matter how hard they work out, they can't reverse what
time and gravity have done to their buttocks.
The hips, thighs and buttocks are prone to excessive fat accumulation. They
often contain deposits of fat that do not respond to diet and exercise.
Thigh, Hip and Buttock Lift
Thigh, hip and buttock lift surgery is performed to tighten the skin of the
outer and inner thighs, hips and buttocks. These procedures improve the firmness of skin and underlying tissues. For those
with tight, unstretched skin, liposuction alone is the treatment of choice.
If the skin is overly stretched, loose and flaccid, liposuction will be combined
with excisional surgery to remove the excess skin along with the fat.
Who are the best candidates for these procedures?
Men and women with loose skin in the outer and inner thighs and with sagging
buttocks are the best candidates for thigh and buttock lifts.
The procedures
Depending on the extent of your surgery, the procedure can take from 30 minutes
to several hours. Liposuction can be performed under local anesthesia, which
numbs the area, combined with a sedative to make you drowsy, or your surgeon
may use an epidural block instead. For more extensive liposuction, a general
anesthesia may be used.
Liposuction
Liposuction is the most common cosmetic surgical procedure performed today.
Liposuction surgery is performed to actually remove unwanted, localized deposits
of fat cells from the body. The procedure is meant for body contouring, not
for treatment of obesity. A suction tube is inserted through a tiny incision
placed in an inconspicuous location on the skin. With a high-pressure vacuum,
fat cells are extracted through this tube. The result is a resculpting of bulging
areas into more attractive contours. Once removed, the fat cells are gone forever.
Excisional Surgery
Excisional surgery is combined with liposuction when the patient has excessive
folds of skin. An incision is made and concealed in the groin area and under
the buttocks. The skin is tightened, redraped and the excess skin is removed.
Sutures are used to close the incision.
What will my recovery be like?
You will go home after the procedure and rest for at least 24 hours, after
which you may gradually increase your activity as tolerated. Some discomfort
and pain is to be expected, but it can be controlled with medication. The bandage
over the incision site will be removed the day after surgery and you will be
able to shower. Generally, it is necessary to wear a light compression garment
two to three weeks after your surgery. All sutures are internal and absorbable.
After 2 or 3 days you may resume most non-strenuous activities. Walking and
other non-strenuous activities including work may be resumed after a week or
two. Sports and other strenuous activities are prohibited for at least two months.
How will my skin look after surgery?
During the first 10 to 14 days, you will be bruised from your upper thigh
down. Scars will be red for the first few months, but they will gradually fade.
Patients who have had liposuction will have more swelling than those who only
had a lift performed. The use of smaller cannulas during your liposuction allows
the fibrous connections between your skin and body to remain. These connections
will contract over time, after which the excessive skin folds will be gone.
This information is intended to supplement, not replace, a consultation with a board certified physician. To
find out if you could be a candidate for one of these procedures
or to learn more information about these procedures, we invite you
to contact one of our doctors for a private consultation.
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