Buttock/Thigh Lift (Thighplasty) Post-Operative

Instructions

• Have someone drive you home after surgery and help you at home for 1-2 days.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Follow a balanced diet.
• You may want to add more raw fruit to your diet and increase fluid intake in order to avoid constipation.
• Take pain medication as prescribed. Do not take aspirin or any products containing aspirin.
• Do not drink alcohol when taking pain medications.
• Alcohol causes fluid retention. Even when not taking pain medications, avoid alcohol for 3 weeks.
• If you are taking vitamins with iron, resume these as tolerated.
• Smoking delays healing and increases the risk of complications. Do not smoke.

Activities

• Start walking as soon as possible. This helps to reduce swelling and lowers the chance of blood clots.
• Do not drive if you are taking any pain medications.
• Do not drive until you have full range of motion with your arms.
• Do not lift anything greater than 5 lbs. for 6 weeks.
• Sexual activity may be resumed as comfort permits, usually 2-3 weeks.
• Avoid straining the thigh and buttock muscles. Restrict strenuous exercise and activities for 6 weeks.
• Return to work in 2-4 weeks.

Incision Care

• You may shower 48 hours after removal of the drainage tubes.
• Avoid exposing scars to sun for at least 12 months.
• If sun exposure is unavoidable, use a strong sunblock (SPF 30 or greater).
• Keep steri-strips on; replace them if they come off.
• Keep incisions clean and inspect daily for signs of infection.
• Do not soak in tub while sutures or drains are in place.
• Soft support underpants may be worn, and you may pad incision with dressings for comfort.
• Sleep with a pillow under your knees and with your head elevated on 2 pillows.

What To Expect

• You may experience temporary pain, soreness, numbness of thigh and buttock skin, or discomfort in the incision area.
• Maximum discomfort will occur during the first few postoperative days.
• You will have bruising and swelling of the lower back, thigh, and buttock area. The majority of bruising and swelling will subside in 6-8 weeks.
• You may feel tired for several weeks or months.

Appearance

• You should notice improvement in the contour and shape of the thigh and less sagging of the buttocks.
• You will walk slightly bent forward and gradually return to normal posture over next 3 weeks.
• Scars will be reddened for 6 months, after which they will fade and soften.
• The scar will extend from near one hipbone to the other, low on the abdomen.

Follow-Up Care

• Drains will be removed when they produce less than 30 ml of fluid for 24 hours.
• Surface stitches will be removed after 7-10 days.
• A support garment may replace dressing on incision.

When To Call

• If you have increased swelling or bruising.
• If swelling and redness persist after a few days.
• If you have increased redness along the incision.
• If you have severe or increased pain not relieved by medication.
• If you have any side effects to medications; such as, rash, nausea, headache, vomiting.
• If you have an oral temperature over 100.4 degrees.
• If you have any yellowish or greenish drainage from the incisions or notice a foul odor.
• If you have bleeding from the incisions that is difficult to control with light pressure.
• If you have loss of feeling or motion.

For medical questions, please call:

(734) 998-6022, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

After hours and on weekends, call Hospital Paging at (734) 936-6267 and ask for the Plastic Surgeon on call.