Thigh Lift Surgery in Houston, TX

Weight loss can be a momentous event in a person’s life, but it can also create new challenges such as loose, sagging skin, and excessive wrinkling. For those facing these issues in their upper legs, a good solution could be a thigh lift, or thighplasty. Houston’s favorite board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Lapuerta, will perform your thigh lift surgery by removing excess fat and skin from the thighs, and lifting and reshaping them to create a smoother and tighter appearance.

Over the years, thigh lift surgery has become one of the most popular in the country. In fact, due to the success of bariatric surgeries, the number of thigh lift procedures has almost quadrupled since 2007. Many people consider this surgery after significant weight loss, which can leave sagging and lumpy skin behind. They may choose a thigh lift to tone up the area to wear bathing suits, shorts, and skirts without the pain of embarrassment. Tightening the skin on the thighs can also relieve you from irritation caused by the loose skin rubbing as you move.

If you are considering thigh lift surgery in Houston, we are here to help. Dr. Leo Lapuerta and his team are ready to answer all your questions and help you meet all of your aesthetic goals. Give us a call — but first, it might help to review some information about thigh lifts, and what the procedure is like at our facilities.

Thigh Lift Surgery Procedure

The exact procedure your surgeon performs will vary based on whether you want an inner or outer thigh lift surgery — or both. You can also combine the thigh lift with liposuction to remove excess fat deposits.

The incision can run from the groin to the top of the leg and downward to the back of the thigh. Another option is for the incision to start from the groin and run down to the knee along the inside of the leg.

When planning and performing the procedure, your surgeon will choose the least noticeable areas for incision to reduce the appearance of scarring. Following surgery, they will apply a dressing to the incision sites to prevent infection and speed healing.

The ideal candidate for thigh surgery will be someone who is in good health and at a healthy and stable weight. If you are trying to lose more weight, it may be best to wait until after you have achieved your weight loss goal for a thigh lift. You should have reasonable expectations about the results, knowing that not everyone looks the same after surgery. View before and after photos from patients who have undergone thigh lift procedures to get a sense of the variety of outcomes possible on different body types.

How Long Does a Thigh Lift Last?

A thigh lift is meant to be permanent. You can expect to see some loss of firmness as your body ages, which is normal. Most of the results from the procedure will still be noticeable as long as you maintain your weight. Significant weight gain or loss can drastically change the results. In this situation, you may choose to have another surgery.

Depending on your own body and goals, your surgery may be done on either the inner or outer thighs, or sometimes both. The surgical procedures for each are slightly different:

Inner Thigh Lift Surgery

While other thigh lift surgery focuses on the outer thighs, the inner thighs must be targeted specifically. They cannot be altered or lifted with a traditional outer thigh lift. It is often recommended after major weight loss because the loose skin can rub together and cause irritation. During inner thigh lifts, an incision is made near the top of the thigh (along the crease where the torso meets the leg) and runs down the inner thigh. Once the incision is made, a large section of tissue is removed from the top inner thigh area, and any excess skin will be excised away.

Liposuction may be used to sculpt the area into a more desirable contour. The soft tissue structures and muscles are pulled tight and secured. Inner thigh lifts result in a more toned and smooth skin surface. This technique is recommended by doctors when the patient has lost 100 pounds or more and has excess skin that runs down the leg to the knee.

Outer Thigh Lift Surgery

Patients who require an outer thigh lift will generally need to have the buttocks addressed as well. During this approach, the outer thighs are pulled up and tightened, then secured with sutures along the crease at the bottom of the buttocks. In addition to a tighter appearance, most patients see a drastic improvement in skin irregularities, such as dimples from cellulite.

What is a Mini Thigh Lift?

A mini thigh lift is a smaller version of the full inner thigh lift surgery. It is only performed on the inner thighs and is designed for people who have less loose skin. A mini thigh lift contours your inner thighs, removing excess skin for a more toned look.

The incision with a mini thigh lift is smaller than for a full procedure. You end up with a smaller scar and shorter recovery time.

Whether you are a candidate for a mini thigh lift will depend on the location of the excess skin and how much you have. Your doctor may recommend a mini thigh lift if you have minimal sagging skin and it is located on the inner thigh. You will meet with Dr. Lapuerta prior to your surgery, and he will discuss your goals and which procedure would work best for your needs. The mini thigh lift is similar to a regular thigh lift since general anesthesia is used and the procedure is performed in an accredited facility. Swelling and bruising will likely be less than with a full thigh lift because of the smaller incision site.

Combining a Thigh Lift with Other Procedures

Many times, a thigh lift isn’t performed alone. It can be combined with other body contouring procedures to help you get the results you want. One popular combination is a thigh lift and liposuction procedure, where alongside the lift, additional leg fat is remove to further slim the legs for a tighter silhouette.

The doctor may also recommend a thigh lift as part of a Mommy makeover. This group of procedures are designed to help women regain their pre-pregnancy appearance. Common procedures in a Mommy makeover include breast augmentation, breast lift, tummy tuck, butt lift, and thigh lift. Each person is unique and the recommended procedures are based on the individual’s goals. It’s best to have a conversation with your doctor about the right combination of procedures that will work for your unique desires and circumstances.

All thigh lift surgeries are performed under general anesthesia in an accredited surgical facility as an outpatient procedure. They typically take around 3-4 hours to complete. However, it could take longer if it is combined with another procedure.

Patients considering this procedure will need to be at or near their goal weight when they have their surgery performed at one of our facilities.

Patients love their results, which tend to feature a marked improvement in the contour of their thighs, as well as a smoother, firmer skin tone. That being said, as with any medical procedure, there are some post-op considerations to make when having a thigh lift.

Thigh Lift Recovery

Though it varies by patient, the recovery period for a thigh lift surgery tends to be 1-2 weeks. The surgeon may apply bandages to the thighs around the incisions. They may also insert tubes under the skin to help with drainage. You will be given information about any changes to the site or to your overall health that would be concerning during your recovery. You may also receive medications to help with the healing along with an appointment for a follow-up with the surgeon.

You will have some restrictions in place until the swelling goes down and the incisions begin to heal. The doctor will let you know when you may resume normal activities and more strenuous routines, such as exercise.

Thigh Lift Scars

Patients who have this procedure generally do have some scarring. It is rare to have a scarless thigh lift, but you can take steps to reduce the amount of scarring you have to deal with. Proper scar care is important post-thigh lift and will help them to fade over time.

The surgeon will provide information on what dressings to use along with topical products to help with the healing process. You should follow these recommendations completely to reduce the amount of scarring. As always, keeping the area clean and minimizing germs during your healing process will be of the utmost importance. Your doctor may also recommend keeping the area moist with certain creams or lotions to further aid in minimizing scars and expediting healing.

As with most of the plastic surgeries offered by Dr. Lapuerta, the price of your thigh lift will vary depending on the extent of the surgery and whether another procedure was performed alongside it. Generally, patients can expect to pay anywhere between $5,500-$10,000 for their thigh lift surgery.

If you’re looking for the top thigh lift surgery in Houston, you’re in the right place. Our own Dr. Leo Lapuerta has been performing plastic surgery to the residents of central Texas for over twenty years and has over 20,000 procedures under his belt.

If you’re ready to join his list of happy patients, set up your consultation — during this meeting, you will be able to meet your physician, address any questions or concerns you may have, and discuss thigh lifts in Houston and which type of surgery is best for you and your needs.

To start planning your procedure, contact us to schedule a consultation today.