Can surgical glue be used on a crescent thigh lift to assist with the sutures being closed and less risk of ripping open?

Question

I am scheduled for a crescent thigh lift march 22, 2018... I am extremely nervous in regards to what I am reading.. The scar that will or may rip open, scar may go down on my leg etc. I have had a tummy tuck and my skin healed very well and I scared very lite. But I hear the thighs are different. I am starting to second guess this because that is such a sensitive area and I dont want to have issues since I am going on Vacation May 7th ...

Ira H. Rex III, MD · Answer

Having the incision open after a thigh lift is a known complication, but it is extremely rare. When glue is placed on the incision, it is really being used more as a dressing, and adds very little strength to the closure.

T. Randall Blanchard, MD · Answer

The incisions for a medial thigh lift are prone to delayed healing for many reasons. Meticulous surgical closure with strong deep supporting sutures are imperative to assure a favorable outcome. Exact approximation of the dermis with an absorbable suture will hold the skin edges together until the skin is healed. Unfortunately, I don't believe  that skin glue will add much to the strength of the skin closure in the case of a properly performed medial thigh lift. Of course, it is worth running your question by your surgeon to get his opinion regarding your upcoming surgery.

Trent D. Douglas, MD, FACS · Answer

Thanks for your question.  Changing your body is both exciting and nerve wracking at the same time.  The incisions and scars for thigh lift are different from tummy tuck and breast scars.  Although it is true that the incisions are prone to a little more difficulty with healing, those issues are usually relatively minor and heal up with time and a little local wound care.  Many surgeons will cover the area with a tissue glue such as Dermabond to assist with the closure and seal this sensitive area up.  Make sure you choose a board-certified plastic surgeon experienced in body contouring and ask specific questions about the dressings and postoperative care regimen.  Best wishes on a speedy recovery and excellent result.

Tim Sayed, MD, MBA, FACS · Answer

Dermabond, Mastisol, Benzoin and other surgical glues are often used as adjunctive products to help aid in getting a smooth and quickly healed scar. They do not substitute for sutures in most situations and probably don't add a lot of load bearing capability to areas that are sewn under tension. Thigh and arm lifts are a bit notorious for scar widening (moreso than actual incision opening), as there is often circumferential tension from having reduced the caliber of the :"cylinder" of your arm or leg and some memory in the skin "wanting" to return to its original position with stretching. The most important factors to help try to control the scar width are using multiple layers of suture including to the deep fascial tissues, and avoiding overresecting skin.

Can surgical glue be used on a crescent thigh lift to assist with the sutures being closed and less risk of ripping open?

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