Thigh lift is an aesthetic medicine surgical procedure designed to beautify and restore a naturally beautiful thigh contour. Female patients in particular often suffer from fat deposits in the lateral (side) thigh area, also known as breeches. Together with the often sagging skin of the inner thighs, female patients are presented with a picture that does not meet their cosmetic needs. The result is often a lowered self-esteem, which can have an impact on social life. There are many causes of unaesthetic thigh contour:
- Age-related sagging of the skin and fatty tissue.
- Genetically determined tissue slackening – e.g. in connective tissue weakness.
- Constitutional, weakly developed thigh muscles.
- Strong weight loss
These causes usually can not be addressed by physical training or dietary changes, so surgery is the only promising alternative. The thigh lift in combination with liposuction is performed in:
Indications (areas of application)
- So-called riding pants
- Sagging skin and fatty tissue in the area of the thighs
Contraindications
Absolute contraindications
- Known allergies to anesthetics or local anesthetics of tumescent anesthesia (Tumescent anesthesia is a form of local anesthesia in which local anesthetics strongly diluted in saline solution are applied in large volumes as a reservoir into the subcutaneous fatty tissue. This is a method that is very often used in aesthetic surgery).
Relative contraindications
- Known tendency to convulsions (epilepsy)
- Taking anticoagulants (anticoagulant medications).
- Too high expectations of the patient for the outcome of the operation
- Severe heart disease
- Severe lung disease
- Severe liver damage
- Severe kidney damage
- Tendency to thrombosis (thrombophilia)
Before surgery
Before surgery, an intensive medical history discussion should be conducted that includes the patient’s medical history and motivation for the procedure. The procedure, any side effects, and the consequences of the surgery should be discussed in detail. Note: The requirements of the explanation are stricter than usual, since courts in the field of aesthetic surgery demand a “relentless” explanation. Furthermore, you should not take acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), sleeping pills or alcohol for a period of seven to ten days before the operation. Both acetylsalicylic acid and other painkillers delay blood clotting and can lead to unwanted bleeding.Smokers should severely limit their nicotine consumption as early as four weeks before the procedure so as not to jeopardize wound healing.
The surgical procedure
As mentioned above, the thigh lift is a surgical procedure. The beautification of the thigh contour is often combined with liposuction (liposuction), which mainly reduces the lateral fat deposits (breeches) and can extend from the middle of the inner thigh to the groin. The actual thigh lift takes place in the region of the inner thighs. Preoperatively, the surgeon draws the incision line on the standing patient. The scars later run parallel to the line of the pubic cleft on both sides, and upwards along the so-called sulcus inguinalis (furrow that runs diagonally from the pubic region towards the iliac crests). The scar course to the back disappears in the fold between the thigh and perineum. The excision of the excess skin and fat is spindle-shaped and adapted to the individual shape of the patient. The size of the incision depends on the amount of tissue to be removed. Removal of the skin and subsequent suturing puts the thigh tissue under tension and smoothes the contour. The surgery takes approximately 1-2 hours and is performed under general anesthesia while the patient’s legs are positioned in the frog position (legs spread apart and heels of the feet placed side by side).
After the operation
Regular wound checks of the often large scars are of great importance, as wound healing disorders are one of the frequent complications.Showering is possible after about 3 days, but sauna sessions and direct sunlight on the scars should be avoided for a longer period of time. The patient should refrain from sports activities for the first 2 weeks and then slowly start a restorative training. Compression therapy (with a compression girdle) is usually performed to provide stability and finishing touches to the desired thigh contour.
Possible complications
- Asymmetries
- Scars – e.g. keloids, excessive scarring.
- Sensory disturbances – due to injury to nerves.
- Wound infections
- Wound healing disorders
