Bilateral thigh lift swelling. Should I expect this to go away? Dr seems to think this is lymphedema. (photos)

Question

Hi,I had a bilateral tigh lift on March 13. Abt 3 weeks ago I began to experience swelling in my right foot/ankle/calf. I have been fitted for compression tights and they have not worked. Legs are being elevated etc. We have ruled out clotting and vein damage. Is this normal? Should I expect this to go away? Dr seems to think this is lymphedema.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question regarding bilateral thigh lift swelling 3 months after undergoing a bilateral  thigh lift and 3 weeks after starting exercising.   Your history and pictures indicate that you indeed have swelling. The swelling can be due to multiple reasons including edema, lymphedema,  a blood clot or just too thigh compression.  Since you have ruled out clothing and “vein damage”, I believe that this is probably just edema. I believe continued compression, lymphatic massage, and leg elevation will decrease the swelling. However, I would suggest you seek a certified lymphatic massage specialist. Lymphatic massage specialist have undergone special training in how to perform lymphatic massage and it is quite different than normal massage. In my opinion, I believe this is late swelling from your thigh reduction or thigh lift procedure. I believe your thigh swelling has been aggravated by increased exercise. I do not take it as a permanent situation.  However, you need to treat it aggressively with lymphatic massage now. I hope that I have answered your question regarding bilateral thigh lift swelling 3 months after undergoing a bilateral  thigh lift and 3 weeks after starting exercising.  I specialize in thigh lifts.  I hope that I have answered your questions regarding the thigh reduction.  If you have any more questions regarding the thigh lift, thigh reduction, vertical thigh lift, medial thigh lift, spiral thigh lift, crescent thigh lift, or thigh lipo, please contact my office.   Please seek an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon with significant experience performing thigh lifts. Do your research.  Make sure your chosen plastic surgeon has performed at least 100 thigh lifts.  Make sure they have the before and after pictures to prove it.  Carefully examine their before and after pictures and check their reviews on RealSelf.   Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. (“Verified” Plastic Surgeon, Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, International College of Surgery, and American Board of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and RealSelf Hall of

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Hello. Great question. I am sorry for your post op difficulties. At 3 weeks you are still early in your recovery process. There is still a lot of swelling present. I will suggest waiting a few more weeks for all the swelling in to down. Keep following your surgeon's post op instructions.

Bilateral thigh lift swelling. Should I expect this to go away? Dr seems to think this is lymphedema. (photos)

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