Thank you for your question regarding what percent of thigh lift patients experience lymphatic leakage. Just to clarify, it is not a medical thigh lift. It is a medial thigh lift. During a medial thigh lift, thigh liposuction is performed from the groin to the knee, and then an incision is made from the groin to the knee. In my experience less than one perfect patient undergoing a medial thigh lift experience lymphatic leakage. Lymphatic leakage is also a vague term. There is swelling which is called edema. Edema is the medical term for fluid that escapes blood circulation through the capillaries. This is a normal response to surgery, especially thigh surgery. Edema is an expected temporary consequence of a thigh lift. Lymphatic leakage is the leakage of lymph through the lymphatic system. This is a rare occurrence during a thigh lift. In my experience over 22 years and hundreds of thigh lifts, I've never had a permanent case of lymphatic leakage or lymphedema. I hope this helps to reassure the very rare occurrence of lymphatic leakage after a medial thigh lift.
