Some patients struggle with the appearance of their thighs, particularly after massive weight loss where they can be left with loose, sagging skin.
Thigh lift surgery is a procedure that reduces excess skin and fat from the thighs. It gives the thighs a better contour and reduces the sagging, excess skin. Dr Safvat often combines the thigh lift procedure with liposuction in the area to get rid of stubborn fat.
Thigh lift is done under general anaesthesia in a fully accredited Private hospital. Dr Safvat only works with highly trained anaesthetists accredited with the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists.
Depending on skin tone, and the area with the excess skin and fat, the incision can be just on the inner thighs (medial thigh lift) or in the groin crease (upper thigh lift) or a combination of the two. where the incisions usually extend from the groin through to above the knee. The incisions (either in the inner leg or the groin area) are designed to be concealed when the legs are together whilst standing. Dr Safvat will discuss with you what operation suits your thighs and how long the incision will need to be during your consultation.
A compression garment is worn post-operatively for 6 weeks. This is to prevent fluid collection and reduce swelling.
Gentle walking is encouraged after surgery, however the patient still needs to rest and take it easy for the first few weeks post operatively. 1-2 weeks off work is recommended (depending on the type of work you do).
Smoking has been shown to cause more complications after any surgery. Dr Safvat would insist that his patients stop smoking at least 3 weeks before their surgery.
Also, best results are achieved if patient’s weight are stable and they are near their ideal body weight. Thigh Lift is not a substitute for weight loss.
In some cases, thigh lift surgery has an item number and patients will receive a rebate from Medicare and their health fund. If the patient qualifies for the item number, the hospital costs are generally covered by their private health fund however, it does depend on the patient’s level and type of cover. There are stringent guidelines from Medicare as to whether a patient qualifies for Medicare item number or not. This will be discussed with you during your consultation with Dr Safvat.