You will receive thorough written instructions to recover from your procedure. The instructions will include ways to prevent infection and when to follow up with your surgeon.
After your surgery, your incisions will be covered with dressings, and your legs may be wrapped in elastic bandages or compression garments to minimize swelling. A small, thin tube may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain excess blood or fluid. The fluid is injected into your body during liposuction to decrease blood loss. You will be instructed how to change the dressings and when to return to our office to have your stitches removed.
We encourage you to walk during the first 48 hours. You will visit your surgeon 2 or 3 days after surgery so that your bandages can be removed. We will also examine your incisions at that time and make sure you are healing properly. You will have additional follow-up visits so that we can monitor your progress.
Expect to experience some bruising, swelling, and soreness for several days to a week after the procedure. You can take oral over-the-counter or prescription pain medications to manage your discomfort, if necessary.
If you have a job that does not require much activity, you should be able to return to work in 1 week. If your job requires prolonged periods of standing, walking, or heavy lifting, however, you may need to wait 3 to 6 weeks before returning to work. Squatting and climbing stairs can put pressure on or pull at your incisions, so please try to avoid these activities for at least a week. You should avoid vigorous activities, sports, or aerobic exercises for at least 6 weeks.
We take great care to reduce scarring. We apply scar cream and perform massage, and we also usually provide cortisone injections anywhere on the incisions where the skin might thicken. This prevents the scars from becoming raised and prominent.
The smoother, tighter contours from thigh lift surgery are immediately apparent after the procedure, but it can take up to 6 weeks for all bruising and swelling to resolve. The results are long lasting if you maintain a stable weight and stay fit. Over time, the natural effects of aging and gravity will cause your thighs to lose some firmness.