Thigh Lift Surgery Preparation
Preparing for your thigh lift surgery isn’t difficult, but it does require quite a few small steps along the way. These steps are important to helping both your surgery and recovery go as well as possible. Failure to adequately prepare for your surgery increases the risk of complications and could even delay it—your plastic surgeon may need lab work results or medical clearances to safely proceed. Getting them in early is much less stressful than scrambling to get everything done at the last minute.
Understand that it takes some time to prepare physically and mentally for surgery, and both facets matter. You may also need time to make lifestyle adjustments that take effect slowly. If you smoke, for example, quitting improves your circulation and thereby healing ability. But this doesn’t happen overnight or even in a few days. It can take weeks, making it vital that you plan ahead. This checklist will help guide you through preparation so you don’t miss anything.
Pre-Consultation Preparation
Ideally, you will start preparing for your thigh lift even before you schedule a consultation with a plastic surgeon. The more you understand about a thigh lift, the better able you will be to ask good questions during your consultation. To that end, make sure you:
- Research thigh lifts and understand what they involve, including incision types and benefits.
- Learn about expected results, recovery times, and post-surgical care.
- Research several plastic surgeons and find one with a good reputation and positive reviews.
- Verify that the surgeon you’re considering has experience performing thigh lifts.
- Schedule a consultation to discuss candidacy, expected outcomes, and any concerns.
Steps to Prepare Leading Up to Thigh Lift Surgery
As you prepare for your thigh lift, you need to know both what to do and when to do it. This timeline can help you with that, but it may not be exact in every way. Your surgeon’s pre-op instructions may differ slightly from what you see here. If so, go with what your surgeon tells you.
Four to Six Weeks Before Surgery
- Complete any required blood tests or pre-op evaluations.
- Get medical clearance if you have any pre-existing conditions or if your surgeon asks you to.
- Discontinue blood-thinning medications like aspirin, ibuprofen, and certain supplements (such as vitamin E and fish oil) as directed by your surgeon.
- Stop smoking to improve circulation and healing.
- Reduce alcohol intake to prevent complications with anesthesia and swelling.
- Maintain a stable weight; weight fluctuations can affect thigh lift results.
Two to Three Weeks Before Surgery
- Set up a comfortable recovery space with essentials like pillows, entertainment, and easy access to restrooms.
- Ensure your bed or recliner allows for leg elevation to reduce swelling.
- Stock up on essential recovery supplies, including gauze, antiseptic wipes, mild soap, ice packs, and over-the-counter pain medication.
- Make sure you have plenty of loose pants like pajama bottoms or sweatpants.
- Obtain a compression garment or verify that your surgeon will provide one (we recommend having two so you have one to wear on laundry day).
- Arrange for a family member or friend to assist for the first 48–72 hours after surgery.
- If you have young children or pets, arrange for extra help with daily care tasks.
One Week Before Surgery
- Double-check your surgery time and location.
- Arrange transportation, as you will not be able to drive yourself home.
- Prepare easy-to-digest, nutrient-rich meals to avoid cooking during the initial recovery phase.
- Focus on lean proteins, leafy greens, and hydrating foods to aid healing.
- Practice sleeping on your back with legs slightly elevated to get used to the position before surgery.
The Day Before Surgery
- Wash with a surgeon-approved antibacterial soap to reduce infection risk.
- Do not apply lotions, perfumes, or deodorants.
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated before fasting begins.
- If going under general anesthesia, stop eating at least eight to 12 hours before surgery.
- Get a full night’s sleep to ensure your body is well-rested.
What to Bring on the Day of Thigh Lift Surgery
You don’t need to bring much with you on surgery day, but you may need to grab a few things. Gathering these items the night before your surgery and putting them next to the door can save you a lot of time and potential stress the day of your surgery. It’s essential that you bring valid identification and any required medical paperwork.
We also ask that you wear oversized, loose-fitting clothing that won’t put any pressure on your thighs. Slip-on shoes are also helpful because bending over after a thigh lift can be uncomfortable. If your surgeon isn’t providing one, you’ll need to bring in a compression garment so that you can wear it home.
Mental and Emotional Preparation
Physical preparation is vital before thigh lift surgery, but so is mental readiness. It’s important that you have realistic expectations. Your legs will be swollen after surgery, so don’t expect to see your final results right away. Although your doctor will prescribe pain medication, you need to understand that you will experience some discomfort after surgery.
After your surgery you will need to avoid sitting for long periods of time. You will only need to do this during the early phase of healing, but know going in that this can feel inconvenient, especially when your thighs are sore. You won’t want to move far, but you will need to get up periodically.
Mental preparation is essentially understanding and accepting that there will be certain limitations and inconveniences for a time after surgery. Remember that healing takes time, and prepare to have patience as you navigate the process. Your body knows how to take care of itself, so trust the healing process as it unfolds.
Recap & Next Steps
To help your thigh lift surgery and recovery go as smoothly as possible, it’s vital that you follow all of your pre-op instructions, prepare a recovery space, and arrange for help and care in the days following your procedure. Good lifestyle choices like taking in proper nutrition and staying hydrated before surgery help to optimize your recovery after. So does avoiding alcohol and cigarettes.
If you have more questions about preparing for a thigh lift or about the procedure in general, we encourage you to schedule a free virtual consultation with us. This allows you to get personalized answers to your questions and prepare a pre-op plan specifically for you.