Thigh Lift in Puebla

What is a thigh lift?

A thigh lift is the surgery that removes excess skin —and, where present, fat— from the inner thigh, to firm up a contour the skin can no longer hold on its own. It is different from liposuction: liposuction removes fat, but if the skin has lost its elasticity, removing fat leaves it hanging even more. A thigh lift treats precisely that skin problem.

The most common reason to have it is major weight loss —through sustained diet and exercise or after bariatric surgery— which leaves the thighs with surplus skin that chafes when walking, gets irritated and responds to nothing. It is also indicated for the sagging that comes with age and the natural loss of elasticity.

It helps to understand from the start what it solves and what it does not. It firms the inner thigh and removes hanging skin; it does not slim you down, it is no substitute for the scale or the gym, and it does not erase cellulite. And it leaves a scar that is placed out of sight but that exists: the decision here is made knowing that.

Techniques used by Dr. Arístides Arellano

There is no single thigh lift. The technique is chosen according to where the excess skin sits and how much there is: laxity confined to the upper third of the thigh is not the same as skin that hangs from the groin to the knee. The consultation defines which one fits your case:

• Medial thigh lift (groin incision) — the incision is hidden in the groin crease, where the thigh meets the pelvis. It is indicated when the excess skin is moderate and concentrated in the upper inner thigh. It leaves the most discreet scar.
• Vertical thigh lift (longitudinal incision) — when the surplus skin is abundant and reaches near the knee, the groin incision is not enough. A scar running down the inner thigh is added. It is the typical technique after major weight loss, and the one that corrects the most skin.
• Thigh lift combined with liposuction — when there is localised fat as well as skin, skin resection is combined with liposuction to refine the contour in the same operation.
• Surgery alongside another procedure — after major weight loss, surplus skin is rarely confined to one place. A thigh lift can be planned together with a tummy tuck or liposuction of neighbouring areas, within a staged plan.

How is it performed?

A thigh lift is performed in an operating theatre, under general or regional anaesthesia, and is usually a day case or a single overnight stay depending on its extent. The surgeon marks the skin with the patient standing, before she is put to sleep, because gravity shows exactly how much skin is in excess; once she is lying down that reference is lost.

During surgery the planned segment of skin (and fat, if combined with liposuction) is removed, and the contour is refined. The closure is the delicate part of this particular surgery: the inner thigh is an area of constant movement and tension, so the suture is done in deep layers so that the pull does not fall on the scar —much of the final scar quality depends on that closure—. It usually takes two to three hours.

Fine drains are frequently placed for the first few days and a compression garment is prescribed. Afterwards the patient goes to recovery; most return home the same day or the following morning.

All surgery carries risk and requires a prior medical assessment. Results may vary according to each patient, their anatomy and their individual healing process.

Who is a good candidate?

The best candidate is someone with hanging skin on the inner thigh that does not improve with exercise, at a stable weight and in good general health. These points help tell whether it is your moment:

• Stabilised weight. If you are still losing weight, the right thing is to wait until you reach your stable weight: operating sooner would mean surplus skin returning. Ideally it is done several months after reaching your target weight.
• The problem is skin, not fat. If what you have is mainly fatty volume with good skin, the answer may be liposuction rather than a thigh lift.
• You accept the scar. It is the non-negotiable condition of this surgery. The scar is placed out of sight, but it is permanent; anyone who does not accept it is not a candidate.
• You do not smoke, or can stop before and after. Tobacco compromises healing of the thigh skin and raises the risk of wound complications.
• Stable general health. Diabetes, clotting problems or other conditions must be controlled and are assessed before scheduling.
• Realistic expectations. You want a firmer thigh without hanging skin, not a magazine leg or the removal of cellulite.

Recommended post-surgical treatments

Recovery from a thigh lift is actively managed, because the inner thigh is an area of tension and demanding healing. A compression garment, meticulous wound care, lymphatic-swelling control and scar massage or management once the closure allows it are all prescribed; doing this well improves both comfort and the final look of the scar. See the full guide: Post-surgical recovery and care.

Before and after

Most patients want to see before-and-after photographs before deciding. Out of respect for each person’s privacy, Dr. Arístides Arellano shows real cases —always with documented consent— during your in-person consultation, where you can review results from patients with a starting point similar to yours. Results may vary from patient to patient.

Approximate price

The reference price starts at approximately $80,000 MXN, depending on the complexity of the case and the indicated technique. The price is all-inclusive: it covers use of the operating theatre and facilities, pre-operative laboratory work and the post-surgical recovery treatments. It is not the surgeon’s fee alone. Approximate price — the definitive cost is set at your private consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano.

About Dr. Arístides Arellano

Dr. Arístides Arellano is a plastic surgeon holding a specialty licence: he practises under a Mexican medical licence (D.G.P. 1125959) and a specialty licence in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (0002008), both issued by the Directorate General of Professions (DGP), which reissued his certificate of professional standing in 2025. His career began before Mexico’s present-day specialty-board system existed: he belongs to the founding generation of plastic surgery in Puebla, the second generation of a surgical tradition started in 1971 by Dr. Francisco Arellano Ocampo. Trust is verified, not promised: both licences are public and anyone can look them up in the DGP’s National Registry of Professionals.

Related patient guide

Choosing whom you trust with your body matters more than any technique. Before deciding, read our patient guide: how to choose a plastic surgeon in Puebla. And if the surplus skin is not only on the thigh, review the staged plan after major weight loss or pregnancy.

Trust is verified, not promised. All 210 scanned documents —degree, licences, diplomas, publications and certificates, from 1977 to 2025— are open in Dr. Arístides Arellano’s credential archive, alongside an explanation of the difference between a specialty licence and a board certification.

Recovery · step by step

• First daysRelative rest with the leg elevated to bring down swelling. Fine drains may stay in for a few days. You walk little and carefully, avoiding spreading the legs or straining the inner thigh.
• Compression garmentWorn day and night for several weeks. It supports the tissues, controls swelling and helps the skin settle onto its new contour.
• Weeks 1 to 3Discomfort and tightness on walking and sitting, easing progressively. Many patients return to desk activity in one to two weeks, depending on the technique and their job.
• Weeks 4 to 6Gradual return to normal activity. Leg exercise and intense effort are reintroduced when the surgeon authorises it, not before, so as not to strain the closure.
• Following monthsSwelling finishes settling and the contour defines itself. The scar goes through a reddened phase and matures and fades over 12 to 18 months. Results may vary from patient to patient.

Frequently asked questions

Every figure published on this site is approximate and is not a quote. Any procedure or treatment first requires a private assessment consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano —$800 MXN, charged separately— and it is at that consultation that the definitive cost of your case is determined.

Educational content; it does not replace a medical consultation. Results may vary from person to person.