Bad Thigh Lift Results. Are Revisions Ever Done for Unhappy Patients?

Thank you for your question regarding if thigh revisions are ever done for unhappy patients. Revisions are up to your plastic surgeon. The need for revision should be discussed before any procedures are originally performed. Some plastic surgeons are willing to do revisions for free. Other plastic surgeons will charge you some or all of the fees incurred. You must realize that revisions are also costly for the plastic surgeon. Costs for plastic surgeons include the supplies needed like a local anesthetic, needles, syringes, bandages, sutures, and drains. Also, the cost for the time is expensive. Also, there may be a need to rent a surgery center or an operating room at a hospital. These can quickly become very costly. In my opinion, I would discuss my concern with your plastic surgeon and see if you and your plastic surgeon are willing to meet in the middle somewhere. I hope I've answered your questions if revisions are ever done for thigh lift patients. Good Luck.

The answer depends on the understanding between you and your surgeon.  It is common to require revision procedures after skin excision for weight loss procedures.  There is also always a tradeoff between contour and scarring in body contouring surgery.  Discuss your concerns and expectations with your surgeon.  

                  Thigh
lift surgery often involves a series of tradeoffs between thigh contour and the
scarring associated with thigh lift surgery.  In other words, removal and tightening of thigh skin is
always associated with scarring, which in some cases may be visible.  For this reason, it’s not unusual for
patients to seek revisional surgery following this procedure. 

                  The
type of revisional surgery is totally dependent upon the residual
deformity.  In most cases, the
procedure involves excision of widened scars and
re-closure of the wound.  In other
cases, more aggressive procedures may be necessary.  In these cases, major flap elevation may be necessary with
mobilization of significant amounts of tissue.

                  If
you’re not happy with the results of your previous procedure consultation with
your plastic surgeon is appropriate. 
This surgeon should be able to form a treatment plan that minimizes your
scarring.  It’s important to
realize that some scarring will always be present and this is one of the
tradeoffs that’s necessary to improve thigh contour.  

I am sorry to hear that you are not happy with your results. It is not uncommon that a small revision is required on patients that require significant body contouring. Each physician has there own policy. In my practice I tell patients that if the revision is reasonable, that I have no problem doing it without a surgeons's fee if it is in the first year. I often can do revision, including dog ears, in the office under local anesthesia. Since this is done in the office there is no cost to the patient. Some revisions are more extensive and require going to the operating room. For these cases I personally do not charge them, but there will be a facility and anesthesia fee that they will be required to pay.

I'm sorry to hear that you are not completely satisfied with your results.  In my own practice, I perform procedures such as dog ear revisions in the office with pain medicine and local anesthesia.  This is comfortable for patients and avoids the surgical facility fees associated with revisions in an operating room.  When the rare return to the operating room is necessary, this is a difficult situation.  I do not charge a professional fee.  Nevertheless, an anesthesia provider, nurse, and scrub technician are often required.  Unfortunately, these practioners require compensation.  Thus, it is ideal to avoid a return.  When it is necessary, each surgeon varies with their policy.  Occasionally, insurance will pay for anesthesia.  If you are considering a procedure in the future, be sure to discuss this possibility with your physician.