Frequently Asked Questions After Thigh Lift Surgery
How much will it hurt?
All patients experience some pain after surgery. Most often this can
be controlled with prescription pain pills. Some patients take only
plain acetaminophen (i.e. Tylenol) for pain. Generally, patients begin
switching to acetaminophen three to five days after their thigh lift.
Do I have to stay in bed after
my surgery?
No. Gently get out of bed as soon as possible after your surgery. An
adult must help you get out of bed the first few times because of possible
fainting. Begin to walk as much as possible as soon as you can after
surgery. Always get out of bed to go to the bathroom. Do take it easy
the first few days. Do not exert yourself in any strenuous activity.
A balance of rest and reduced activity will speed up your recovery.
Will I need to have a drain?
A drain is a tube placed beneath the skin to remove fluid that can
collect after surgery. Thigh lift surgery is prone to collections of
this fluid. Drains are placed to remove this fluid for seven to ten
days. They are removed during one of your aftercare visits.
Will there be any bandages or
dressings?
Foam padding will be placed on all the areas treated with liposuction.
This is then covered with an elastic garment. The combination reduces
swelling and bruising dramatically. You will remove the foam padding
in two days. The elastic garment is then put back on after you have
had a shower. You will wear some form of elastic garment covering all
the treated areas for two weeks. It may be necessary to keep a light
dressing around the drains until they are removed.
When can I shower after a thigh
lift?
Once any adherent foam padding has been removed in two days, you may
shower. You may use the antibacterial soap that you used before your
surgery. Do not take a bath or swim for one week. After your shower,
replace the elastic garment.
When do I come back to the office
for aftercare?
I will want to make a housecall one or two days after your thigh lift.
After this, I want to see you at one week, six weeks, six months, and
one year. The reason for this extended care is because it takes six
months to one year for complete healing to occur. There are no charges
for these office visits. You are welcome to be seen in my office anytime
you have questions or concerns about your surgery.
Will there be any stitches to
take out?
No. I only use stitches that will be absorbed or wash out. I do this
to eliminate the discomfort of suture removal after surgery.
When can I have a massage?
Body massage is very effective in relaxation. However, it cannot be
done while there is bruising of the skin due to the risk of long term
or permanent brown-gray staining of the skin. All therapeutic massage
treatments must be discontinued until any bruising has completely resolved.
How long must I be off work?
How long you are off work depends on your occupation. If you do clerical
work (i.e. stockbroker, teacher, or programmer), you can return to work
when you feel up to it. This usually takes about a week. If you do manual
labor (i.e. entertainer, truck driver, or trainer), you must be off
work for three weeks. Regardless of your employment, do not lift anything
weighing more than five pounds for three weeks.
When can I work out after surgery?
Generally, you can go back to working out two to three weeks after
thigh lift surgery. This depends on how you feel. Do not lift anything
that weighs more than five pounds and avoid contact sports for six weeks.
Workouts must stop if you experience any discomfort in your abdomen
or thighs. A balance of rest and reduced activity will speed up your
recovery.
When can I suntan after surgery?
Sun tanning damages your skin. It leads to wrinkling, discoloration,
and superficial growths. It can also lead to serious skin cancer. For
these reasons, I recommend that you use sun block with an SPF number
of 15 or greater at all times. A physical broad-spectrum sun block works
best. If you are exposed to the sun, I recommend that you protect treated
areas for six weeks with clothing such as pants or pareo. You must be
careful to protect any scars from sun exposure with clothing, tape,
or sun block for six months. Better yet, stay in the shade where it's
cooler!
How long will the results last?
The results are usually very long lasting (i.e. five to ten years).
Weight gain, aging, pregnancy, and sun damage will reduce the longevity
of the results. To maintain the best result, it is important that you
actually weigh less after surgery.
|
