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Pursestring thigh lift: direct approach for a problematic deformity
Jesus A Garcia1, Daniel N Driscoll, Matthias B Donelan
1Division of Plastic Surgery, Shriners Burns Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Annals of Plastic Surgery
|August 25, 2006
Summary
Extreme thigh lipodystrophy, often in a "saddlebag" pattern, can be challenging. A novel pursestring thigh-lift technique combining suction lipectomy and direct excision offers improved contour with minimal scarring for select patients.
Area of Science:
- Plastic Surgery
- Body Contouring
- Aesthetic Surgery
Background:
- Extreme thigh lipodystrophy presents a unique challenge for conventional body contouring.
- Saddlebag fat distribution is notoriously difficult to address with standard surgical techniques.
Observation:
- A case study involving extreme thigh lipodystrophy with a saddlebag distribution was treated.
- The surgical approach combined suction lipectomy with direct excision of excess skin and fat.
Findings:
- Circular defects resulting from excision were effectively closed using pursestring sutures.
- This technique led to a significantly improved thigh contour.
- Minimal iatrogenic deformity and scarring were observed post-procedure.
Implications:
- The pursestring thigh-lift is a viable and effective option for select patients with extreme thigh lipodystrophy.
- This method offers superior esthetic outcomes compared to traditional body-lift approaches.
- Further research into patient selection criteria for this technique is warranted.
