Cruroplasty involves a resection of skin and fat in the inner thigh area. With excess and weight loss, the area of the body, which is generally flabbier in itself than other areas, has an increase in the amount of low-toned skin and greater elasticity.
It is also an area that tends to accumulate a lot of fat, which produces great discomfort in patients who suffer from it, excessive friction that produces strong irritation, abrasions (scratches), odors, fungal infections and wear and tear of the pants by excessive friction of the thighs.
In this cosmetic surgery, depending on the amount of skin to be resected, we design a cut that could be confined to the inguinal region (if there is so much excess skin). If there is a lot of skin and fat, a combined procedure is performed with liposuction and resection of the excess skin, locating the groin design at the inner aspect of the knee.
Although the cut is significant, the results are very encouraging, as they have eliminated all the discomforts described above and offer the patient a better quality of life. In general, this procedure is performed under subarachnoid (in the back) anesthesia, requires prior preparation with a series of laboratory tests, a cardiovascular evaluation, a preanesthetic evaluation and if all goes well, proceed to surgery.
A thigh lift (or thigh dermolipectomy) consists of removing excess skin from the inner thighs. This excess, often unsightly, can cause discomfort when wearing clothes.
Several types of thigh lift treatments are available. There are methods that fully meet your needs:
vertical scar lifting is performed when there is excess skin, mainly on the width of the thighs. It causes a scar along the inner thigh, even beyond the knee in some cases
The horizontal scar lift is designed to correct excess skin along the entire length of the thigh. The improvement is more moderate, but the scar is more discreet, located in the fold of the groin. To ensure that the pulled skin stays in place, it is pushed deep into the thigh ligament. This connection leads to depressions that resemble cellulite, which disappears spontaneously after a few weeks
the T-scar is a combination of the two previous techniques and is performed to correct excess skin both along the inner thigh and around the thigh
Cruroplasty: guidelines for the procedure
Depending on the case, the procedure is performed either under assisted local anesthesia on an outpatient basis or during a 24 to 72 hour hospitalization under general anesthesia. The duration of the procedure varies between 2 and 3.5 hours depending on the amount of work to be done. In most cases, liposuction is performed to remove excess fat from the entire circumference of the thigh. No drain is inserted.
Cruroplasty: postoperative effects
Pain is variable, generally mild and mainly due to the liposuction. The dressings are semi-permeable, so showers are allowed. Complete healing is obtained in 2 to 3 weeks. Special dressings should be applied to the scars, even after healing, for 2-3 months to improve their appearance.
Sometimes a daily anticoagulant treatment may be prescribed for 8-10 days to reduce the risk of complications. Wearing a compression garment (panty) 24 hours a day for 1 month is recommended. The patient can return to work between 1 and 4 weeks after the procedure, depending on his or her job. The resumption of sports activity varies from 4 to 6 weeks.
Cruroplasty: result
The final result is obtained after 6 to 12 months, mainly because of the time needed for healing. The scars are long but discreet because of their quality and clarity once healed. They are well placed and invisible both in the front and in the back when standing with the feet in a walking position (the most frequent position).
Cruroplasty: risk of complications
As with any surgical procedure, complications can occur. But the likelihood of these complications is reduced in the hands of a qualified plastic surgeon and in the presence of a competent anesthesiologist. The patient’s compliance with the instructions given by the surgeon is also essential:
Stop smoking 1 month before and after the procedure (reduction of all risks)
Stop taking the pill two months before and after the operation (reduction of the risk of phlebitis and pulmonary embolism)
Do not take aspirin for 10 days before and after the procedure (reduced risk of hematoma)
If applicable, reach the target weight determined by your surgeon before the procedure (reduce the risk of phlebitis and pulmonary embolism and the risk of a poor aesthetic result)
Rare complications that may occur include, but are not limited to, the risk of hematoma, infection, scarring, and thromboembolic complications (phlebitis).In the event of a complication, appropriate measures will be taken.
Cruroplasty and health insurance coverage
Since cruroplasty is a procedure considered for cosmetic purposes only, no coverage is provided by health insurance.
In some cases (excess skin after significant weight loss or after bariatric surgery), partial reimbursement of the cost of the procedure may be considered after prior agreement. In this case, the medical advisor of your health insurance company will have to examine you.
In case of prior agreement, you will be responsible for the additional fees of the surgeon and the anaesthetist which will be reimbursed in whole or in part by your health insurance.
