Is it normal to have pain on the suture line along the infragluteal fold 6 months after thighplasty?

Hello, and thank you for your interesting question regarding persistent pain along the infragluteal fold after a bilateral anchor thighplasty. I appreciate your history and detailed description of your symptoms.

What you’re describing is most likely due to the permanent deep sutures used to anchor the thigh lift incision. During a crescent medial thigh lift (or variations like a spiral thigh lift or mini thigh lift), an incision is placed high in the groin crease and extends inferiorly and posteriorly to the infragluteal fold. A crescent-shaped area of skin and fat is removed to tighten and contour the inner thighs.

To prevent scar migration and maintain long-term results, most experienced plastic surgeons use permanent sutures to anchor the deep layers of tissue to the surrounding structures, including the pelvic bone and infragluteal fold. While these sutures provide crucial support, they can sometimes become palpable, tender, or irritating, especially in areas with thin tissue or high movement.

At six months post-op, some patients still experience nagging sensations or tenderness, especially with deep tissue massage, stretching, or prolonged sitting. However, intense, pinpoint pain with palpation over a specific area often suggests that one or more sutures may be causing irritation or inflammation.

If the discomfort persists beyond one year or significantly impacts your daily activities, it may be reasonable to consider suture removal. Typically, about 15 permanent sutures are placed per side, and removing one or two problematic sutures should not compromise the stability of your thigh lift results. Most of the time, these sutures can be removed under local anesthesia in your plastic surgeon’s office with minimal downtime.

Since physical therapy has identified the sutures as a source of pain, it would be beneficial to discuss with your plastic surgeon the possibility of removing or adjusting specific sutures. If your surgeon has not given you a clear answer, you may want to seek a second opinion from an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in thigh lifts.

In the meantime, gentle stretching, anti-inflammatory medications, and avoiding excessive pressure on the area may help alleviate discomfort. If the pain becomes progressively worse or you notice redness, swelling, or signs of infection, contact your surgeon immediately.

Good luck, and I hope this helps answer your question regarding persistent pain along the suture line after your anchor thighplasty.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

It's not typical to have intense pain six months after surgery. I encourage you to return to your surgeon for further discussion as she/he is most familiar with the details of your surgery and how you've been progressing through recovery.

Persistent pain along a suture line six months after thighplasty could be a cause for concern. It’s advisable to consult with your surgeon or a healthcare professional to assess and address any issues related to your specific situation. They can provide recommendations based on your medical history and examination.

This procedure definitely has the potential for leaving some discomfort after surgery. It’s important to anchor sutures to strong fascia to hold the tension, of the thigh lift. If the deep sutures are not anchored properly, other secondary undesirable sequelae can ensue.
If you’re having symptoms at six months, then most likely, you may have symptoms long-term but most likely they will slowly improve and patience usually, eventually get accustomed to the permanent changes that come from certain surgical procedures.
I don’t think there is a surgical treatment to improve your situation. The only exception is if there is a single suture that’s causing pain. Simply removing or redoing the deep sutures line is probably not going to help.
You can always get second opinions but the reality plastic surgeons don’t manage pain well.
Time typically makes things better.
Sorry you are having trouble after the procedure. Thigh lifts are a bit tricky for a number of reasons.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD