Labial spreading after thigh lift??

Has anyone heard of or experienced this complication associated with a thigh lift? Is it something that resolves over time or can be corrected? What are the symptoms (is it obvious I guess I am asking that your labia are open, vaginal dryness, etc)? do you know immediately after surgery or does it take awhile for the spreading to happen? How do you tell the difference between what you used to have versus what you have after surgery (i.e is this the new normal)?

 

I came across some pictures that have made me very nervous. Thanks for any information you may have.

Cross posted to main board and sauceda group.

I read about this prior to my surgery. I asked my ps and he explained how it happens (cutting too close) and how he avoids it. I too was freaked out.

Since most of us doing thigh lifts have switched to predominately a vertical excision (up and down the middle thigh) of most of the tissue rather then more horizontal oriented one, I just don't see people have problems with that. The issue is that the classic thigh lift hidden in the groin supported all the weight of the lower thigh skin. To offset that, you have to hitch the skin to the firm tissue  on the pubic bone. If those sutures don't hold, you get a lot of pull down and out on the groin incision which displaces the labia laterally.

Dr. Oliver,

I was wondering if this condition can be remedied? Thanks.

The only photo I ever saw that I found disturbing, very disturbing, was a lady that hers was pulled up so high it looked like a coin slot.  Put a silver dollar in and a gumball would drop out.  Freaky and spooky looking!  ;)

Pretty sure we saw the same photo. Except a golf ball would drop out. I hope she got resolution.

As Dr Oliver notes, this problem can largely be avoided by selecting the proper operation, and then performing it well.  While nobody relishes the idea of more scarring, the idea of holding up the leg using just the groin incision is a flawed one.  

The leg needs to be narrowed.  So just as you would "take in" a pant leg, you must use a vertical incision of various lengths  to thin and shape the upper, inner thigh.

http://drlomonaco.com/houston/thigh-lift/

Thank you Dr. Lomonaco! So the solution would for labial spreading from a groin incision thigh lift would be a vertical thigh lift to reduce the pull? Thanks so much for your reply.

Good to see you again, Dr. L!

Would you please comment on the coin slot technique for lack of a more appropriate term?