Why Thigh Lift Recovery is much Easier Today?
Written by Mark Domanski, M.D.
When I started my plastic surgery practice 10 years ago, I was told that recovery from a thigh lift was like the recovery from two abdominoplasties! How times have changed! Today, a thigh lift is a much easier procedure for both the surgeon, and the patient. Here is why.
7 Improvements in Thigh Lift Procedure Since 10 Years Ago
- Liposuction-skin-shear technique
This technique preserves veins and lymphatics. Veins and lymphatics are responsible for moving blood and fluid from the legs back toward the heart. By preserving them, recovery should be safer and easier.
- Short usage of drains
I still use drains for my thigh lifts, but my goal is to remove them at the first postoperative appointment. I believe the lymphatic sparing aspect of the new technique is why we do not need drains for weeks anymore.
- One-way sutures
These sutures do not depend on knots. No knots mean faster suturing time and less operative time. Shorter surgery = faster recovery.
- Long-acting numbing medications
I routinely use a long-acting numbing medication in my procedures. This has dramatically decreased pain and pain medication usage in my patients.
- Hydration
Modern anesthesia protocols allow some patients to continue to drink water up to 3 hours before surgery (confirm with your doctor). You wouldn’t start a 5-k dehydrated – you shouldn’t start surgery dehydrated either.
- Normothermia
Mother told us to put on a coat or else we might catch a cold. As it turns out, keeping a patient warm in the operating room decreases infections. Today we pay more attention to maintaining a patient’s body temperature during surgery.
- Temporary closure before skin removal
The Liposuction-skin-shear technique allows the fat to be removed before skin removal is done. This means that the skin can be inverted and a temporary closure performed to confirm that the thigh will not be too tight or too loose. This takes the guess work out of skin removal.
Summary
In summary, today’s thigh lift is a much easier procedure to undergo, with faster recovery and more predictable results than in years past.
Sincerely,
