�

Breast Implant Revision

Breast Reconstruction

Breast Enhancement

Breast Lift

Breast Reduction

�

Thigh Liposculpture

�Thigh liposuction information and procedures. View patient before and after photos, and schedule a consultation with a plastic surgeon

Liposuction is a technique for reshaping the body by permanently removing localized fat deposits. Liposuction is popular with both men and women, and is the most commonly performed of all plastic surgeries in the United States.

Fatty deposits on the inner and outer thighs are especially resistant to diet and exercise. Many patients become discouraged at having lost unwanted pounds without seeing a significant change in the lower body. The overall proportions of the body may be unbalanced. In these cases, liposuction can successfully trim the excess fat in the thighs to achieve a more attractive balance and symmetry to the body. In fact, this is the most common area of the body for liposuction.

If you?re considering thigh liposuction, the following information will provide you with a good introduction to the procedure. For more detailed information about how this procedure may help you, we recommend that you consult a plastic surgeon who has completed a residency program that includes instruction in this procedure.

�

What are some of the most common benefits of this procedure?

What will happen at the initial consultation?

How is thigh liposuction performed?

How long does the procedure take?

Will I need to stay in a hospital?

How much pain is there?

What can I expect afterward?

What is the recovery period like?

What is the long-term outcome like for most people?

How long do the results last?

Ideal candidate:

Other important information:

Risks and limitations:

Costs:

Choosing a doctor:

Questions to ask your doctor:

Be sure to:

How do I finance this procedure?

�

Thigh Liposculpture Photo Gallery

�

Email This To Friend

�

What are some of the most common benefits of this procedure?

A newly trim lower body can provide a psychological lift and an extra incentive to exercise regularly to maintain fitness. Many patients express relief at not being bothered by chafing in the thigh area, and they also find that clothes tend to fit them better.

What will happen at the initial consultation?

During the consultation, you and your surgeon will discuss the changes that you would like to make in your appearance. He/she will explain the different options available to you, the procedure itself, its risks and limitations, and the costs.

Your surgeon will begin with a physical examination to evaluate your overall weight, your skin and muscle tone, and the fat deposits in various parts of your body. He/she will also take a complete medical history, including any medications that you are currently taking. A careful history of your weight, diet and exercise is important as well. Be prepared to answer the following questions:

What did you weigh at your maximum? Your minimum since high school? With pregnancy? How many times have you cycled up and down? What has been your trend in the last year? How stable is your weight now? Does your weight respond to emotional stress by going up or down?

How often do you exercise? How long have you been exercising? Do you actually enjoy your exercise or do you just do it to improve your looks? Do you participate in team sports? Were you athletic while in school? Have you sought the services of a personal trainer?

How often do you eat sweets, go out to dinner, drink alcohol, eat junk food? Have you tried one of the popular diets, Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, Atkins, Zone, Pritikin or the Ornish diet? How successful have you been on various diets?

Keep in mind that the higher your goals, the more you will have to do to achieve those goals. If you are just concerned about removing fat, liposuction alone will achieve that goal. But if you want an athletic, sculpted look, and you want to look great in a bikini, you may need to incorporate extensive exercise into your plan.

Be sure to ask all the questions you have about the procedure, and ask to see before and after photos of the doctor?s recent liposuction surgeries. Also ask for, and follow up on, patient references. Learning everything you can about your options, risks and benefits is the key to making an informed decision. See Questions to ask your doctor below.

How is thigh liposuction performed?

Before surgery, the surgeon will mark the precise areas of the body where the fat is to be removed. An intravenous (IV) line will be inserted in a vein in your arm to make sure the fluid level in your body remains in balance. If you are not undergoing general anesthesia, you may be given a sedative for relaxation.

During the procedure, the surgeon makes a tiny incision in the skin, typically in or near the buttock crease or at the site of a previous scar, and inserts a thin tube called a cannula into the fatty area. The cannula is used to break up the fat deposits and sculpt the area to the desired proportions. The unwanted fat is removed with a high pressure vacuum, leaving the skin, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels intact.

In the super-wet technique, a saline solution containing a local anesthetic and adrenaline is injected into the area to be treated, which makes the fat deposits easier to break up and extract. This extra fluid also minimizes trauma to the surrounding tissue, reducing swelling and post-operative pain. The administration of adrenaline also decreases bleeding during surgery, further reducing risks.

The tumescent technique, in which even larger amounts of liquid solution are injected, has similar benefits.

A relatively new method, ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL), uses sound waves to liquefy the fat after the injection of fluids. Like the super-wet and tumescent techniques, UAL minimizes trauma, bruising and blood loss. UAL also minimizes trauma, causing less bruising and blood loss. It is particularly useful on difficult-to-treat fibrous areas of the body, such as the male chest, the upper abdomen, and the upper back.

An earlier method of liposuction, called dry liposuction because no liquefying agent was used, required general anesthesia. This technique is not in frequent use today.

Your surgeon will choose the best technique for you. His/her choice will be determined by a combination of factors, including the precise area to be treated, the amount of fat to be removed, his/her training and experience, and your preferences.

How long does the procedure take?

On average, the procedure takes 1-2 hours per area treated.

Will I need to stay in a hospital?

If you have no medical problems, and the amount of fat being removed is fairly small, the procedure can be performed on an outpatient basis, either in your doctor?s office or in an outpatient clinic. It may be performed under local anesthesia with light sedation, local anesthesia and deep sedation, or general anesthesia. The longer the procedure is expected to take, the more likely that general anesthesia will be recommended. You may be allowed to return home within a few hours of the surgery, and spend the night in the comfort of your own home. If you?re having a large amount of fat removed, concurrent procedures, or a lengthier procedure performed under general anesthesia, it may be necessary to spend the night in the hospital so your recovery process can be monitored by a medical staff.

How much pain is there?

If the procedure is done with a local anesthetic supplemented by a light sedative, the pain experienced is minimal, although you may feel pressure, movement, or a vibrating sensation. More sedation will further reduce sensations, and general anesthesia will eliminate all sensation.

What can I expect afterward?

For a day or two, you can expect to feel tired, as though your body has been through a workout ? and it has! Your legs will be stiff and store, and you may experience some pain, burning, swelling, bleeding or temporary numbness. Your doctor can prescribe medication to relieve this initial discomfort.

Sometimes a small drainage tube is inserted under the skin to drain excess fluid. Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection at the incision sites. Your stitches will be removed in a week to 10 days, unless they dissolve on their own.

You will be fitted with a tight compression garment to be worn for up to six weeks after your surgery. This specially designed garment will help reduce pain and swelling, and help your body settle into its new shape.

What is the recovery period like?

Most of the bruising and swelling should subside within three weeks. To speed the healing process and to reduce the likelihood of post-operative complications, your surgeon will probably tell you to begin light activity as soon as possible. You should be able to return to work within a few days if your work is fairly sedentary. You should avoid strenuous activities for several weeks as your body heals, but within 6 weeks you should be able to resume all normal activities.

It?s important to continue wearing the compression garment, which should be easily hidden under your clothing, until your doctor tells you that it is no longer necessary.

What is the long-term outcome like for most people?

You should see the visible results of your surgery within two or three weeks, but the full effects may not be evident for six months to a year. The more fat that you had removed, the longer it will take to achieve optimal results, because the skin has to adapt to a more radical change in shape.

Most people are pleased with the new contour of their thighs and often feel a boost in energy and self-confidence. Although liposuction cannot alter skin quality or muscle tone, and should not be a substitute for regular exercise and a balanced diet, your thighs will always be slimmer than they would be if you hadn?t had this procedure.

How long do the results last?

The fat cells are permanently removed by liposuction, so you will not regain weight in that area. It is important to note, however, that thigh liposuction does not guarantee that you won?t gain weight or accumulate fat deposits in other areas of your body.

Ideal candidate:

In general, the best candidates for thigh liposuction:

Have specific fat pockets that are resistant to diet and exercise
Have had no previous surgery in the area where liposuction is desired
Have firm, elastic skin
Do not have frequent fluctuations in weight
Desire reshaping and not weight loss
Do not have significant medical problems such as diabetes, heart or lung disease, or poor circulation
Are psychologically stable
Do not smoke
Are accepting of any limitations, as discussed with surgeon.
Are well informed about the procedure
Hold realistic expectations about the outcome

The above is only a partial list of the criteria that your surgeon will consider in determining whether or not this procedure is appropriate for you.

Other important information:

Since the normal aging process affects the firmness and elasticity of the skin, older patients may not achieve quite the same results as younger patients.

Thigh liposuction is often performed in conjunction with buttock liposuction.

Risks and limitations:

Although liposuction is the most commonly performed cosmetic plastic surgery procedure in the United States, and the majority of these operations are successful, there are risks and limitations to the procedure, as with any surgery.

After surgery, some patients experience dimpling, lumpiness, numbness, scarring, discoloration, or sagging skin in the treated area. Follow-up surgery may be needed to correct these problems.

UAL liposuction may cause friction burns to the skin or to the internal organs.

More serious complications include blood clots, infection, excessive fluid loss leading to shock, fluid build-up in the lungs, and drug overdose. A combination of the following factors is associated with an increased risk of serious complications:

The removal of large amounts of fat
More than one procedure being performed at the same time
The use of general anesthesia

In order to minimize these risks, it is important that you follow all of your surgeon?s instructions, both before and after surgery.

Costs:

The national average of 1999 surgeon fees for liposuction was $2322 (Source: The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery). Regional averages: New England states: $2663; middle Atlantic states: $2228; north central states: $2077; south central states: $2032; and mountain/Pacific states: $2518. These fees do not include anesthesia, operating room facility, hospital stay and other related expenses.

Use our payment calculator to see what your monthly payments might be if you financed this procedure.

Apply now

Choosing a doctor:

It is very important that you select a physician adequately trained and experienced in liposuction techniques. See our Physician Locator feature to find a surgeon in your area, including detailed profile information on many of the listed doctors. Also read How to Select a Plastic Surgeon for a more detailed discussion on choosing the right doctor.

Questions to ask your doctor:

Are the desired results I described realistic?
Where is the surgery performed? How long will the procedure take?
How much does it cost?
Are there other procedures that I should consider to enhance the affects of a thigh liposuction?
What kind of anesthesia is used?
How will you manage fluid balance during the procedure?
How will my recovery be monitored immediately after surgery?
What is your experience in performing this procedure? (How long has he/she performed this procedure, and how many he/she has performed in the past year?)
What percentage of patients have had significant complications? (The physician should disclose this information to you.)
Will you repeat or correct procedures if it does not meet agreed upon goals? And if the procedure must be repeated / corrected, will I be charged again? (The physician should provide you with his/her policy on this issue.)
May I see "before and after" photos of recent patients? The physician should provide many photos of recent patients.
May I have the names and contact information for several recent thigh liposuction patients? (Follow up to get first-hand information on the procedure and the surgeon.)
Could I observe the exact procedure I am considering before I decide to have the surgery? (Either on videotape or ask to view one in real life.)
What should I expect post-operatively, in terms of soreness, what to watch for, medication, bathing, and level of activity?
Who will be assisting during the surgery? What are their qualifications? (Does the plastic surgeon perform the entire surgery?)
Have you ever had your malpractice insurance coverage denied, revoked, suspended?
Do you offer patient financing?

Be sure to:

Tell your doctor about any allergies you have (to foods, drugs, environmental elements)
Tell your doctor if you have any serious medical condition(s).
Tell your doctor about all medications you are taking (both prescription and non-prescription)
Carefully follow any instructions your surgeon gives you regarding eating and drinking, smoking, and vitamins.
Avoid aspirin and aspirin-containing medicines for two weeks prior to surgery.
Arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery.

The information on this web site is only intended as an introduction to this procedure and should not be used to determine whether you will have the procedure performed nor as a guarantee of the result. The best method of determining your options is to consult qualified surgeons who are able to answer specific questions related to your situation.

How do I finance this procedure?

Did you know that 29% of all Americans have considered having an elective procedure? Of those, 60% would schedule a procedure immediately if financing was available. With iEnhance's patient financing options, money no longer has to be the barrier between you and your new image. By filling out our on-line application you can qualify for a loan in as little as 30 seconds.

Please review the following articles for more information on this procedure.

�


	Announcements:



	Articles:
	Why is Board Certification Important?

	Facts:
	In 1991, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued guidelines prohibiting the marketing of injectable liquid silicone for any cosmetic purpose.

	New iEnhance Doctors:
	Plastic Surgery
	Michael Reed, MD
	Dermatology
	Rhonda Rand, M.D.
	Cosmetic Dentistry
	Gretchen Henson, D.D.S.
	Vision
	Gupta, MD
	Facial Plastic Surgery
	Philip Miller, MD

	Polls:
	What is the main reason you would consider laser surgery? Spider Vein Removal Sun/Age Spot Removal Unwanted Hair Removal Erase Fine Lines and Wrinkles.