The crural lift is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fatty tissue from the inner thighs, so that the skin in this area is tightened. The crural lift is not a surgical treatment for overweight.
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Obese individuals who intend to lose weight should postpone any kind of body contouring surgery until they are able to maintain their weight loss. The crural lift can be combined with other forms of body contouring surgery including liposuction, or it can be performed at the same time as other elective surgeries.
Alternative forms of treatment consist of not treating areas of sagging skin and fat accumulation. Liposuction may be a surgical alternative to a crural lift if there is good elastic skin tone and localized inner thigh fat deposits in a normal weight individual. Diet and exercise may be beneficial for an overall reduction of excess body fat.
Every surgical procedure involves risk, and it is important that you understand the risks associated with a crural lift. An individual's decision to undergo a surgical procedure is based on a comparison of risk versus potential benefit. Although most patients do not experience the following complications, you should discuss each of them with your plastic surgeon to make sure you understand all the possible consequences of a crural lift. Bleeding: It is possible, although uncommon, to experience a bleeding episode during or after surgery. If postoperative bleeding occurs, you may require emergency treatment to drain the accumulated blood, or blood transfusion. You should not take aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs for 10 days prior to surgery, as this may increase the risk of bleeding.
Infection is uncommon after this type of surgery. If it does occur, treatment including antibiotics or additional surgery may be necessary. Changes in skin sensation: Decreased (or loss) of skin sensation in the inner thigh area may not fully recover after crural lift.
Skin irregularities and depressions may occur after a crural lift. Visible and palpable puckering of the skin may also occur. Skin scarring: Excessive scarring is uncommon. In rare cases abnormal scarring may occur. Scars may be unsightly or of a different color than the surrounding skin. Additional treatments may be needed to treat abnormal scarring, including surgery.
Both local and general anesthesia involve risk. There is the possibility of complications, injury, and even death from either form of anesthesia or sedation. Asymmetry: An appearance of total symmetry may not be achieved with the crural lift. Factors such as elastic skin tone, fatty deposits, bony prominences, and muscle tone may contribute to normal asymmetry of body features.
Wound opening or delayed healing is possible. Some areas of the groin may not heal normally, and may take a long time to heal because of poorly ventilated and rubbing areas. This may require frequent dressing changes, or subsequent surgery to remove unhealed tissue. Smokers are at increased risk for skin loss and healing complications.
In rare cases, local allergies to adhesive tape, suture material or topical preparations have been observed. Systemic reactions, which are more serious, may be caused by medications used during surgery or by prescription drugs. Allergic reactions may require additional treatment.
Pulmonary complications secondary to blood clots (pulmonary embolism) or partial collapse of the lungs may occur after general anesthesia. If any of these complications occur, you may require hospitalization and further treatment. Pulmonary embolism can be life-threatening or fatal in some circumstances. Seroma: Fluid collections between the skin and muscles are uncommon. When this problem occurs, additional procedures may be required to drain the fluid.
Subsequent alterations in thigh contour may occur as a result of aging, weight loss or gain, pregnancy, or other circumstances unrelated to the crural lift. Pain: Chronic pain due to nerve entrapment in scar tissue after a crural lift is very rare.
You may disagree with the results of surgery. Additional surgery is rarely necessary to improve the results.
