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Thigh Lift

Thigh lift surgery corrects sagging or loose skin in the inner and outer thighs, as well as removes excess fat deposits and improves thigh contours. Thigh lifts are not intended strictly for the removal of excess fat. Liposuction alone can remove excess fat deposits where skin has good elasticity and is able to naturally conform to new body contours. In cases where skin elasticity is poor, a combination of liposuction and thigh lift techniques may be recommended. Thigh lifts are commonly performed as part of a body lift. Dr. David Janssen and Dr. William Doubek are have been expertly re-shaping thighs for over 20 years. The Wisconsin plastic surgeons are helping women and men from places such as Green Bay, Appleton, Fond du Lac, and Sheboygan perfect their personal Renaissance. Contact Fox Valley Plastic Surgery at (920) 233-1540 to request your consultation in either the Oshkosh or Appleton office. The non-refundable $100 cosmetic consultation fee can be applied towards the cost of the procedure.

Pricing

A thigh lift is a cosmetic procedure, which is not paid for by insurance. In general, a thigh lift costs $9800. The price includes the surgeon’s fee, the facility fee at the Theda Care Surgery Center, and anesthesia. The pricing is subject to change, and will change if the surgery is done at another facility, and if there are unique circumstances surrounding the surgery, etc.

The use of Strataderm® immediately after wound closure and for several weeks afterwards, is highly recommended for optimal healing. Stratamed is the first film-forming silicone gel-based wound dressing approved for the use on open wounds and compromised skin. Depending on the length of the incision, a tube of Strataderm® costs $32-$54.

Usually there are multiple procedure discounts for cosmetic procedures: 15% off the surgeon’s fee for the 2nd cosmetic procedure, and 30% off the surgeon’s fee for the 3rd procedure. The operating room fee is discounted 50% for the 2nd+ procedure, while anesthesia is based solely on time. Although there are zero interest financing options available through Care Credit and Alphaeon Credit, payment by cash gives an additional 5% discount. There may be additional discounts, which are too varied to be mentioned here.

If you would like to find out more about a thigh lift, request a consultation online or call the office at (920) 233-1540 to set up your appointment. The non-refundable $100 cosmetic consultation fee can be applied towards the cost of the procedure.

Best Candidates

In general, thigh lift candidates are:

• People whose weight is relatively stable
• Individuals with excess soft tissue along the inner or medial thigh region and/or the outer thigh
• Healthy individuals without medical conditions that impair healing or increase risk of surgery
• Non-smokers Individuals with a positive outlook and realistic expectations

Procedure

Anesthesia is administered for the patient’s comfort during the surgical procedure. The options include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. The anesthesiologist will recommend the best option for the patient. Incision patterns vary based on the area or areas to be treated, degree of correction, and patient and surgeon preference. One common technique used for a thigh lift places incisions in the groin, extending downward and wrapping around the back of the thigh. The underlying tissue matrix is reshaped and tightened, and skin is reduced and re-draped resulting in more proportionate and smoother body contours. Some patients may qualify for a minimal incision medial thigh lift that involves an incision only in the groin area. The plastic surgeon will determine the appropriate incision pattern.

Medial thigh lift incision Improving the contours of the outer thigh may require an incision extending from the groin around the hip. Advanced techniques usually allow incisions to be placed in strategic locations where they can be hidden by most types of clothing and swimsuits. However, incisions may be extensive.

Outer thigh lift incision Deep support sutures within underlying tissues help to form the newly shaped contours. Sutures close the skin incisions.

The smoother and tighter contouring is apparent almost immediately, although initially obscured by swelling and bruising. However, it may take several months for the final results to fully develop. With these many options, it is best to discuss your thigh lift options with the experienced surgeons of Fox Valley Plastic Surgery. Contact Fox Valley Plastic Surgery today at (920) 233-1540 to schedule a consultation.  The non-refundable $100 cosmetic consultation fee can be applied towards the cost of the procedure.

Meet Our Surgeons

Dr. David Janssen and Dr. William Doubek combine experience, refined surgical techniques, and artistry to produce beautiful results for their plastic and reconstructive surgery patients.

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Preparing for Surgery

In preparing for thigh lift surgery, patients may be asked to:

• Get lab testing or a medical evaluation
• Take certain medications or adjust their current medications
• Stop smoking
• Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding

Preparing for surgery with a clear, complex-carb rich beverage will keep you strong and enhance your recovery. Drinking ClearFast PreOp prior to your medical procedure is a safe way to speed up recovery time, nourish your body, and reduce post-operative nausea and vomiting. It is available at Hometown Pharmacy on N. Sawyer Street, Oshkosh at $8 a bottle. The recommended dosage is one bottle the night before your surgery once you are in the fasting window, and a second bottle two hours before surgery. Consult with your anesthetist before taking the beverage. Afternoon surgery patients are encouraged to take this beverage.

Smokers are always at high risk for health troubles, but particularly so during and after surgery. Smokers face longer healing times, blood clots, wounds that break open, and greater risk of infection. For these reasons, FVPS requires that smoking cease one month before and one month after for thigh lift surgeries, which are adversely effected by the decrease in blood flow caused by nicotine. Read our comprehensive explanation of how smoking impacts healing.

FVPS will notify patients if they are affected by this policy. At the pre-operative appointment which normally occurs two days before surgery, patients must take a cotinine test, which detects the presence of nicotine. Test results are immediately available with this quick blood test. If the test is positive, then surgery will be cancelled and the patient will be charged a cancellation fee in accordance with our Financial Policy, which is included in patient paperwork. Smokers, who cannot quit smoking, should not schedule a surgery.

Recovery

It will be difficult to walk after surgery. It is advisable to get a walker before surgery to assist in walking. A raised toilet seat is helpful in the first few days because sitting expands the thighs, which can be very painful. After surgery, patients may feel sleepy for the next 24 hours due to the medication that was administered during the operation. It is important that patients not drive, operate machinery, or use power tools in this same time span. Also patients should not drink any alcoholic beverages, make any important decisions, or smoke after surgery.

During recovery from thigh lift surgery, dressing or bandages may be applied to the incisions, and the patient may be wrapped in an elastic bandage or a compression garment to minimize swelling and to support the new contours as it heals. Small, thin tubes may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain excess fluid or blood that may collect.

For some patients this can be a painful surgery from which to recover. There is swelling, pulsating and throbbing. The swelling will go down the entire leg, so elevation is very important. Staying hydrated helps reduce swelling. However, there is a balance that needs to be maintained between the need to walk and the need to elevate. The thighs can rub and stick to each other because of the compression garments. Patients will be given specific instructions that may include how to care for the surgical site and drains, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the potential for infection, specific concerns to look for, and when to follow up with the plastic surgeon. It is important that the surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, swelling, abrasion, or motion during the time of healing. Clothing choices are very restricted during the initial recovery until the incisions close. The thighs need to be cushioned well when the patient is resting and elevating them.

The first two weeks are critical after a thigh lift. Removal of tissue from the inner thigh or medial thigh requires 3-4 weeks of healing. It is not uncommon to have small separations in the incision, requiring additional healing time. Most do not require surgical closure as a second follow up operation. Larger thigh reductions may require 4-6 weeks of recovery. The longer the incision, the longer the time required to allow them to heal.

Patients should generally take off at least one month from work. Following a thigh lift, skin quality is dramatically improved both in appearance and feel. Some visible scars will remain, but the overall results are long lasting, provided that the patient maintains a stable weight and general fitness. As the body ages, it is natural to lose some firmness. However, most of the initial improvement should be relatively permanent. Although good results are expected from the procedure, there is no guarantee. In some situations, it may not be possible to achieve optimal results with a single surgical procedure and another surgery may be necessary. Get your questions answered at a personal consultation. Contact Fox Valley Plastic Surgery today at (920) 233-1540 to request a consultation.  The non-refundable $100 cosmetic consultation fee can be applied towards the cost of the procedure.

Potential Risks

Patients will be told of the risks of the surgery, and will sign consent forms to ensure that they fully understand the procedure. Thigh lift surgery risks include:

• Anesthesia risks
• Poor wound healing
• Bleeding Infection
• Fluid accumulation
• Major wound separation
• Asymmetry
• Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
• Fatty tissue found deep in the skin might die (fat necrosis)
• Persistent pain
• Skin discoloration and/or swelling
• Skin loss
• Sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin, become visible or produce irritation that require removal
• Unfavorable scarring
• Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
• Recurrent looseness of skin
• Possibility of revision surgery

Consultation

During a thigh lift surgery consultation, patients should be prepared to discuss:

• Their surgical goals
• Medical conditions, drug allergies and medical treatments
• Current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drug use
• Previous surgeries

The plastic surgeon will also:

• Evaluate the patient’s general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors
• Take photographs
• Discuss the patient’s options
• Discuss likely outcomes of thigh lift surgery and any risks or potential complications

Explore whether or not a thigh light procedure is right for you by calling (920) 233-1540. Our board certified Wisconsin plastic surgeons are helping women from all over the upper Midwest to perfect their personal Renaissance. Request your consultation today.