Robert Frank MD Plastic Surgery helps patients who have redundant or poor-quality skin improve the contour of their body. With a thigh lift, patients from Munster, Hobart, Crown Point, and Frankfort can have a slimmer and tighter silhouette*, and the procedure can be combined with other cosmetic surgeries as needed.
When people lose a significant amount of weight—either through diet and exercise or bariatric surgery—they are sometimes left with excess skin around their upper legs. Even liposuction, which focuses on reducing pockets of fat, can leave behind unwanted skin. Dr. Frank’s surgery helps to correct this concern.
Dr. Frank’s Approach to Thigh Lift Surgery
One of the reasons that patients choose our practice is that Dr. Frank takes the time to answer questions and to educate them on what to expect, guiding their decision until they are ready to move forward.
Thigh lift patients attend an initial consultation with Dr. Frank near Munster, Hobart, Crown Point, and Frankfort to learn about the procedure and its potential benefits. At the end of the consultation, they receive a comprehensive quote so that there are no hidden costs. In a second, follow-up visit, patients complete consent forms, pre-operative testing, and surgical scheduling.
Thigh lift surgery takes place in a JCAHO accredited surgical facility to ensure high-quality of care. In the procedure:
- Patients receive general anesthesia so they are comfortable.
- Dr. Frank makes a vertical incision to reduce excess skin. Years of professional practice have taught him that the vertical approach tends to have fewer complications and a less noticeable scar.
- Dr. Frank may conduct other procedures the patient wants to have during the same surgical session, such as an arm lift or breast surgery. This allows for a single recuperation for multiple procedures.
Recovery from Thigh Lift
Patients can return home to Munster, Hobart, Crown Point, and Frankfort following the procedure. Typically:
- Patients will be out from work for a couple of weeks.*
- Dr. Frank advises those in his care that they will likely have significant swelling, will need to take pain medication, and should wear compression garments to improve recovery.*
- Our practice encourages thigh lift patients to avoid exerting themselves other than getting up and walking around when recovery allows. This helps prevent swelling and blood clots.*
- Dr. Frank holds weekly visits with patients until they have recovered from surgery.
Many patients recognize a huge improvement in their body contour within a month of thigh lift surgery, and most will see their final results in about six months.*
Dr. Frank’s Advice on Recovery
We all have our own ideas of how long recovery should take. Unfortunately, this means many patients try to rush their recovery and go back to normal activities. This trend is especially true among young mothers who want to spend every moment with their children. They may attempt to play with or pick up their children before their bodies are ready to handle that strain.
Dr. Frank sees rushed recoveries in several ways, with one of the most common being pain. Patients who try to be too active too early in the recovery process often find themselves running through their pain medication too soon and have to ask for an early refill. Rather than increase the amount of medication you take, you will feel better sooner and end the period wherein you need the medication faster if you allow your body to rest. Do not force your body to undergo more physical strain than it is ready to handle. It is okay to take 30-minute breaks on the couch.
Another way Dr. Frank sees patients push themselves too hard is an increased risk of both swelling and dangerous hematomas.
For example, after liposuction, your body needs time to move fluid out of your skin. Patients who have had liposuction will have skin that feels firmer than untreated areas because of this fluid buildup. Getting that fluid out of your skin is one of your recovery goals during the weeks after surgery. But if you activate your muscles near the treated area, that activity draws fluid into the area, which increases swelling and often pain. In the case of a tummy tuck, too much activity early in your recovery can increase blood pressure, which then causes more oozing into the space created during surgery. While a little fluid is normal, it’s easy to overwhelm your body’s ability to absorb this fluid. A hematoma is the result.
To minimize these concerns, Dr. Frank encourages all patients to clear their schedules of everything except the most essential duties for the two weeks after surgery. You should minimize the amount of childcare, job responsibilities, meetings, social activities, and home chores in which you partake so your body can rest. You will feel better and recover faster if you plan ahead so that your body, not your calendar, determines when you are ready for your physical activities.
To find out more about improving your body contour with a thigh lift, schedule an initial consultation with Robert Frank, MD Plastic Surgery. We serve patients from Munster, Hobart, Crown Point, and Frankfort. Schedule your appointment online or call our office at (219) 513-2011.
*Individual results may vary