A thigh lift is the removal of sections of excess skin and fat giving a firmer and toner look. The surgery is often performed in conjunction with liposuction to remove the fat, and the thigh lift is performed to tighten the excess or sagging skin.
This excess skin is often the result of weight gain making the skin stretch slowly over time, then often following a quick a loss in weight, there might not be sufficient skin elasticity in the thighs leading to the saggy excess skin.
This excess skin is often the result of weight gain making the skin stretch slowly over time, then often following a quick a loss in weight, there might not be sufficient skin elasticity in the thighs leading to the saggy excess skin.
The Thigh Lift surgery will be performed at our Dubai Healthcare City surgery clinic.
The Thigh Lift procedure is carried out under intravenous sedation so there will be no pain and you will sleep through the operation.
The procedure will take between 2 – 3 hours.
During your initial consultation, your surgeon will evaluate your general health and any pre-existing conditions or risk factors. Be sure to inform your surgeon if you smoke and if you are taking any medications (vitamins, asprin, or any medicines). During this time, your surgeon will discuss the arm lift procedure with you going through the risk and benefits of the procedure.
Two weeks before the surgery, you should not take any medications containing aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), since these products affect the blood clotting mechanism and therefore may lead to excessive bleeding during and after surgery, hence resulting in increased bruising. Taking high doses of vitamin E preparations, eating large amounts of garlic and consuming alcohol can also produce the same result and should be avoided. If pain medication is necessary, we recommend you take ibuprofen/paracetamol.
It is in your own best interests to quit smoking, at least two weeks before and until 2 weeks after surgery. It is well known that smoking causes narrowing of the blood vessels, which leads to a decreased blood supply to the skin, thus slowing and interfering with the healing process.
This procedure is performed either general anaesthesia or under sedation. Sedation is a state in which you will be unaware of what is going on and pain-free, however, this is not a general anaesthetic so you will not be “put to sleep”. If you are having the procedure under sedation, you must arrange for someone to come and collect you and stay with you overnight.
The thigh lift is performed under sedation and takes around 2 – 3 hours. The site of the incision can vary so it is important to consult your surgeon during the consultation as this can vary and the length of the scar may depend on each patient’s condition and situation which will be discussed during your consultation. Our surgeons will remove sections of excess skin and fat and tightening the remaining skin to create a firmer and tighter look.
It may be possible that you may also require liposuction. If this is the case, this will be performed three-months prior to the thigh surgery.
After your procedure, you will stay at our day hospital for 2 – 4 hours post-surgery. During this time the nurse will explain your post-operative instructions and the tablets which you will need to take (painkillers and antibiotics). You can expect swelling and bruises which can last for a few weeks. You are also likely to feel some discomfort and pain which can be controlled by some pain medication.
The post-operation instructions, provided by the surgeon and nursing staff, will be detailed to help you with your post-care. You are also required to return to the clinic for a follow-up with the surgeon and a dressing change.
When performed by a qualified surgeon, complications are infrequent and usually minor. Nevertheless, there is always a possibility of complications, including reaction to the anaesthesia, infection, haematoma (bleeding under the skin), bleeding – resulting in increased bruising, temporary swelling and a slight asymmetry in healing or scarring. You can reduce your risks by closely following your surgeon’s instructions both before and after surgery.
It may take a few weeks to feel normal following the procedure. It is expected that you may wish to take 1 week off work. It is important to exercise as this helps reduce swelling, tone the muscles and lower the chance of a blood clot. Vigorous exercise should be avoided until you can do it with relative ease, and we advise to wait at least a month after the operation. During the first three to six months, your scars may appear to worsen before the scars begin to flatten out and lighten in colour, and we advise to avoid direct sun exposure to the scars for a month or two.
If you have any further questions or queries about this procedure, please feel free to call and speak to either Dr Roberto Viel, Dr Maurizio Viel or any of our nurses. Please note that it is necessary to attend a consultation prior to your operation, this is also the case with existing patients, it may also be necessary to have repeat blood tests.
To book an appointment for Thigh Lift, please WhatsApp +971 52 915 1461.
