Knee Lift Surgery

Most people haven't heard of the Knee Lift, and if they have it is probably because they remember Demi Moore getting one. Nonetheless, the Knee Lift can be a suitable solution for the common problem of saggy skin developing on the knees as we get older!

Knee Lift surgery is definitely one of the less well-known cosmetic procedures, yet why is that? It is certainly far from uncommon for women and men to develop sagging skin around the knees, and this is one of those problems that all the diet and exercise regimes in the world cannot fix.

One reason for this procedure being less popular than others is that with this particular area, some visible scarring is, unfortunately, inevitable. So far cosmetic surgeons have not devised a method to cut away skin without leaving a scar! And unlike many "lift" procedures, there is nowhere to conceal the scar.

While the small scar that will be left will most likely be aesthetically preferable to you when compared to the sagging of the skin, there will be no hiding that you have had a cosmetic procedure. So that is the simple choice that you are faced with if you are concerned about sagging skin on your knees and are considering a Knee Lift.

There are possible alternatives to correct the appearance of your knee, and we would suggest you discuss these with your cosmetic surgeon. Nonetheless, we are aware that there is a certain interest in the Knee Lift procedure, and that there is a limited amount of information about it, so we have done our best to find out as much as we can.

Knee Lift Surgery FAQs

Who is a Suitable Candidate for Knee Lift Surgery?

How is the Knee Lift Performed?

What Are the Risks of Knee Lift Surgery?

How Long Should it Take to Recover After Knee Lift Surgery?

What Does Knee Lift Surgery Cost?

Are There Any Alternatives to Knee Lift Surgery?

Who is a Suitable Candidate for Knee Lift Surgery?

Sagging skin on the knees is an inevitable part of the aging process, as skin looses its elasticity, and the body's natural collagen decreases. The knees also typically wrinkle, due to the effects of the sun, which will be more of a problem if you have spent much of your younger days on the beach.

Knee Lift surgery is a technique to improve the appearance of sagging skin, if it is concerning you. However, a suitable candidate for this kind of procedure needs to be aware that there will be scarring, and presuming you are planning on exposing your legs, (which we can only assume you will be , otherwise why worry about your knees in the first place?), then the evidence that you have had cosmetic surgery will be there for all the world to see!

Knee Lift surgery is very much a trade-off, in that you have to decide whether the current appearance of your knees upsets you enough that you are willing to put up with the scars.

How is the Knee Lift Performed?

Knee Lift surgery is not a complicated procedure, but the skill-level of your surgeon will determine how good the final results will look.

With the patient under local anesthetic, an incision is made just above the knee cap, where the skin starts to fold. Then, excess skin is cut away, and the incision is sutured back up. The procedure may or may not include some liposuction. Where this is the case, it would be using the latest Micro Liposuction techniques, which are ideal for small, localised fat deposits.

The whole procedure generally takes less than an hour.    

What Are the Risks of Knee Lift Surgery?

All surgery carries with it risks, and the patient should always find out as much as they can before deciding to get cosmetic surgery in particular.

Risks include possible infection, excessive bleeding and haematoma, adverse reactions to medication and anesthesia. All aesthetic procedures have the added risk of the results not being as good as the patient hoped. Risks specific to Knee Lift surgery are the potentially quite ugly scars.

As the knees do experience a lot of movement and tension, which is unavoidable, there is a very high chance of the scars being stretched-out; there is also a chance of developing hypertrophic scars, which are raised-up, and often of a different coloration to the surrounding area.

Because many patients find that they are disappointed with the results of their Knee Lift, due to the scarring, very few plastic surgeons will recommend this as a treatment, and may actually refuse to perform the procedure.

How Long Should it Take to Recover After Knee Lift Surgery?

Most Knee Lift patients have found that they are able to return to work within one or two weeks. During this period, wearing a compression garment will be necessary, and the patient will be prescribed pain killers.

Recovery from Knee Lift surgery should be more-or-less complete after a period of four weeks, provided there are no complications, and that the patient follows their surgeon's advice. By this time, bruising and swelling should have subsided, and normal activities will be able to fully resumed.

What Does Knee Lift Surgery Cost?

Demi Moore has been quoted as spending $9,000 on Knee Lift Surgery back in 2006, which is actually a fairly average market rate.

If you are willing to travel abroad for surgery, there is every chance that you will be able to find Knee Lift Surgery prices for as low as 1/5th of the cost in the US.

Are There Any Alternatives to Knee Lift Surgery?

While there are no real alternatives to the knee lifting procedure, the patient should be aware that some of the other aspects of their knees can be rejuvenated using non-surgical methods. Dermal fillers are one option, to improve the general appearance, and chemical peels and microdermabrasion are both effective ways to remove some of the wrinkles, by removing the top layers of skin.

Use of sunblock with an SPF of 25 can help protect the knees from further damage from exposure to the sun, which is the primary cause of aging of the skin.

Before arranging a Knee Lift, be sure to discuss your goals with your cosmetic surgeon, as it is possible he can see a more effective solution for your needs.