Arm & Thigh Lift in East, North, West, South London

Procedures

Body » Arm and Thigh Lift

ARM LIFT (BRACHIOPLASTY) and THIGH LIFT

Why choose us for a Arm and Thigh Lift ?

You will be seen and operated on by a fully qualified BAAPS/ BAPRAS Consultant plastic surgeon.
Our prices are competitive and represent outstanding results.
We provide a personal and holistic service to our patients
We put your safety first!

As we age, the skin tends to lose its elasticity. Massive weight loss can also leave loose flabby skin around the arms and thighs. You may have been wearing long-sleeved tops and long skirts to hide these areas. Cosmetic Surgeons London can help boost your self confidence and allow you the liberty to wear the clothes you want. At Cosmetic Surgeons London, an arm lift or thigh lift can help restore these areas to give you a more youthful and firmer appearance. If you want to remove loose or sagging skin on your legs or upper arms, a thigh lift or arm lift could be the answer.

Is arm lift or thigh lift surgery for you?

I have loose and saggy skin under my arms
I have loose and saggy skin on my thighs

If this is you then you may be an ideal candidate.

What does the surgery involve?

Arm Lift
- An incision is made on the inner aspect of your arm from your armpit to your elbow depending on how much tissue excess you have
- The loose tissues are removed and everything is tightened.
Thigh Lift
- An incision is made on the inner aspect of your thigh and along your groin crease if necessary.
- The loose tissues are removed and everything is tightened.

You will have seen Mr Sojitra on more than one occasion to fully answer all your questions. It is important to avoid medications, if possible, such as aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) e.g Ibuprofen (Nurofen), Sodium Diclofenac (Voltarol) for 1 week before surgery. These tablets may increase bleeding during and after surgery. It is advisable to stop smoking and no nicotine products 4 weeks before and after surgery from both a wound healing and an anaesthetic perspective.

The operation

You will be admitted to hospital on the morning of surgery and Mr Sojitra along with his consultant anaesthetist will come and discuss the surgical plan again with you and make some marks on your skin with pen. The operation will take approximately 2-3 hours and you will wake up with dressings in place before being taken to the ward. In general, arm and thigh lift procedures are performed as an overnight stay procedure. You will need to have a friend or family member to drive you to and from the hospital and to look after you for the first few days following surgery. Drains are used and you will need to stay in hospital overnight.

Recovery

You will experience varying degrees of bruising, swelling, and some tenderness all of which improve by the day. Our consultant anaesthetist will prescribe you adequate medication to take home to alleviate any discomfort you may experience. You will be up and moving the day after surgery. It is important not to get the dressings wet after surgery and you will be advised on showering. Depending on your type of work, you may return to work between 14-21 days after your procedure. No heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for 6 weeks. It will take approximately 3 months before the swelling completely subsides and the final result seen. The scar will continue to improve for up to 18 months and you are encouraged to firmly massage the scar after 4 weeks. Your surgeon will see you 1 week after surgery at which point the dressings will be reduced and again at 2 weeks. At 2 weeks the stitches, which are dissolvable, will be trimmed flush with the skin so they cannot be seen. All dressings will be discarded at this stage. Your surgeon will closely follow your recovery to ensure you are able to resume normal exercising and activities. It is suggested you wear tight fitting garments for 6 weeks to minimise swelling.

Safety and potential complications?

Scars

Scarring on the whole is not problematic. A scar will always exist and will be hidden in the inside area of the arm and inner thigh and groin crease. These scars do have a tendency to stretch and move location as the tissues settle. Certain individuals e.g. afro-carribean races and red haired individuals are at a higher risk of forming excess scar tissue (keloid or hypertrophic scars). Should these scars develop excellent advice and treatment will be provided by your surgeon.

Infection

This is an uncommon event and occurs in perhaps less than 1% cases. Antibiotics are given during induction of the general anaesthetic.

Bleeding

Rarely, small blood vessels that have been cauterised during surgery open up afterward. This results in a collection of blood (haematoma) that needs to be removed. This involves a return to the operating theatre where the blood collection is washed out. There are no permanent side effects due to this occurrence should it occur.

Numbness and Paraesthesiae

Most patients experience some alteration in the sensation and "pins and needles" around the scar following surgery. The area may become over or under sensitive. In the majority of patients sensation becomes normal over time.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

Any general anaesthetic procedure is associated with a small risk of DVT which can potentially move to the lungs (Pulmonary Embolus). Here at Cosmetic Surgeons London we attempt to minimise this risk by the use of compression stockings before and after surgery, use of pneumatic compression devices during surgery and motivating the patient to mobilise as soon as possible after surgery.