Body contouring surgery · Madrid
Thigh lift in Madrid, Spain
Reshaping the inner thigh is not simply a matter of removing fat: we need to assess how much excess skin will remain, in which direction, and where the scar can be best positioned.
In-person assessment with Dr. Jorge Aso. The technique, scar, and quote are defined after examining skin, fat, the direction of excess tissue, and your priorities.
A direct answer
What does a thigh lift actually correct?
A thigh lift—also called cruroplasty or thigh dermolipectomy—removes excess skin and reshapes the inner thighs. In approximately 95% of our cases, we combine it with liposuction to treat fat and mobilize the skin while better preserving the internal venous and lymphatic architecture.
It does not restore “muscle tone” or erase all stretch marks or cellulite. Its actual aim is to correct laxity that liposuction alone cannot resolve and achieve a more proportionate contour.
Real case
Published result
Thigh reshaping after weight loss
The case shows how surgery can improve folds and contour when there is excess skin. The photograph is illustrative: each scar and result depend on anatomy.
View both views of the case →
The most important decision
Liposuction, BodyTite, or a thigh lift?
These are three different tools. The choice depends on the fat to be removed and, above all, the amount and quality of skin that will remain.
Liposuction
This may be enough when localized fat is the main concern and the skin retains good contraction potential.
Without skin removal
BodyTite
An intermediate option if we expect limited residual laxity. It may help contraction, but does not replace removal of clear excess skin.
For selected cases
Thigh lift
This is the option when there are already folds, hanging skin, or laxity that would worsen if fat were removed without removing skin.
Actual correction of excess skin
How we decide
There is no single measurement
Clinical experience brings several signs together. When a patient comes because she suspects excess skin, that perception almost always corresponds to actual excess, which we then confirm by examination.
- Skin quality: stretch marks, thickness, elasticity, and existing folds.
- Body history: age and substantial or massive weight loss.
- Examination: skin pinch, fat distribution, and directions of laxity.
- Goals: the amount of change sought and the scar the patient accepts.
A good candidate
Stable weight and realistic expectations
The procedure often suits people with excess inner-thigh skin after weight loss or loss of elasticity, who understand that an improved shape means exchanging laxity for a scar.
When to postpone or rule out surgery
- BMI above 30.
- Weight not stable for at least three months.
- Active smoking: we require one smoke-free month before and after surgery.
- Significant venous insufficiency or lymphedema that has not been optimized.
- A history of thrombosis without specific assessment.
Our technique
Extensive liposuction, precise skin removal
In approximately 95% of cases, we start with liposuction using MicroAire or microcannulas. This is particularly extensive on the inner thigh, usually with more moderate treatment of the rest of the thigh and outer-thigh fat deposits.
Planning while standing
We separately mark fat areas, the skin that can be removed, and the planned scar position.
Liposuction
This reduces volume and mobilizes tissues while better preserving internal tissue bridges than extensive sharp dissection.
Skin removal
We remove only the skin that the technique and circulation allow to be closed reasonably.
Stabilization
In the horizontal pattern, we anchor tissues to firm layers in the groin to improve support.
“Liposuction is not an optional add-on: it forms part of modern lift planning and allows us to treat the contour while better preserving the internal venous and lymphatic architecture.” — Dr. Jorge Aso
Three patterns, three indications
Where is the thigh lift scar?
Position is not chosen by preference alone, but by the direction of excess skin. In our current practice, approximately 50% are horizontal, 40% vertical, and 10% combined T-patterns.
This mainly corrects vertical excess in the upper third. The scar is planned in the groin crease.
This corrects transverse excess along the thigh. When anatomy allows, we position it slightly farther back to better hide it from the front.
This treats significant excess in both directions, especially after massive weight loss. We are conservative with this option because of its greater complication burden.
Experience and clinical judgment
More than 100 thigh lifts performed
Experience is especially important in thigh surgery because the result does not depend on creating a standard scar. Contraction must be anticipated, the direction of skin removal selected, and final scar positions discussed realistically.
Dr. Jorge Aso currently performs more than ten procedures a year and combines skin surgery with MicroAire liposuction or microcannulas in approximately 95% of cases.
Safety and our own data
Mainly local, treatable complications
In our approximate historical series of more than 100 thigh lifts, we have not observed serious complications. The following figures are retrospective clinical estimates, not a prospective study or an individual guarantee.
Wound dehiscence
Partial wound separation. Approximately 70% of these cases required re-suturing.
Seroma
All were resolved with ultrasound-guided aspiration, without surgery, a drain, or recurrence.
Infection
An estimate observed in our own historical series.
Limited necrosis
A localized area that healed by secondary intention.
Hematoma and lymphedema
Not observed so far; this does not mean future risk is zero.
We do not add these percentages together as an overall rate because they may overlap and the historical denominator is approximate. At consultation, we also explain thrombosis, changes in sensation, abnormal scarring, asymmetry, irregularities, downward scar movement, and possible revision surgery.
Surgery and hospital
A protocol adapted to the actual extent of surgery
The lift is performed at Hospital Universitario HLA Moncloa, usually under general anesthesia. This is a hospital with advanced facilities, an intensive care unit accredited for Spanish MIR specialist training, on-call internal medicine doctors, and a blood bank. Duration usually varies from one to three hours according to the amount of fat and skin. The usual protocol includes an overnight stay; only small horizontal skin removals with little liposuction may be day surgery if recovery permits.
We always use mechanical compression; pneumatic compression and heparin are individualized according to procedure extent, thromboembolic risk, and ability to walk. We try to avoid drains in most cases, without promising they will never be necessary.
- Anesthesia
- GeneralThe usual option; small cases may differ.
- Duration
- 1–3 hoursDepends on fat and the extent of excess skin, not just the scar.
- Hospital stay
- 1 nightSame-day discharge only for selected small skin removals.
- Compression garment
- 15–30 daysAdjusted to each patient’s recovery.
- Drains
- Not routineWe try to avoid them in most cases.
Indicative recovery
When can I walk, work, and exercise?
Timing depends on the pattern and amount of liposuction. Recovery from a small groin skin removal is not the same as from an extensive vertical or T-pattern lift.
- Same dayWalking
Short, frequent walks. Walking gradually returns to normal during the first week.
- Day 3–4Showering
If the wounds are closed and clinical recovery permits.
- Day 7–21Return to office work
7–10 days after small horizontal procedures; 10–15 in typical cases; 2–3 weeks after extensive vertical or T-patterns.
- Day 10–14Driving
Without sedating medication, and able to get in and out and perform an emergency maneuver without pain.
- 1 monthGentle exercise
Gradual, low-impact exercise, subject to follow-up clearance.
- 3 monthsImpact and intensive leg exercise
Running, jumping, and intensive lower-body training.
Indicative pricing
How much does a thigh lift cost in Madrid?
The current range is usually €5,000 to €9,000. The quote depends on technique, the pattern and extent of skin removal, the amount of fat to be removed by liposuction, operating time, and hospital stay.
We do not use “from €5,000” as a promotional headline because a small horizontal lift and a T-pattern after massive weight loss are not the same operation.
Common questions
Questions about thigh lift surgery and cruroplasty
How do I choose a thigh lift surgeon?
There is no official medical ranking. Look for a specialist in Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery with Spanish MIR training, demonstrable body contouring experience, a suitable hospital, real cases, and an honest explanation of scars and limitations. Dr. Jorge Aso has performed more than 100 thigh lifts and currently performs over ten a year.
Are a thigh lift and cruroplasty the same thing?
Yes. Cruroplasty, thigh dermolipectomy, and thigh lift describe surgery that removes excess skin and reshapes the thigh. It can include liposuction, as in approximately 95% of our cases.
Is the scar hidden in the groin?
Only when excess skin is concentrated in the upper third and can be corrected with a horizontal pattern. Even with deep anchoring, this scar may move downward and become visible beneath some clothing. If excess skin extends along the thigh, a vertical inner-thigh scar may be necessary.
Can I have a scar-free thigh lift?
Not when there is clear excess skin: removing skin requires a scar. Liposuction or BodyTite may avoid a dermolipectomy in selected patients with good skin or limited laxity, but do not replace a lift when laxity is significant.
Which scar is better: horizontal or vertical?
They are not competing options. A horizontal scar corrects vertical excess in the upper third; a vertical scar corrects transverse excess distributed along the thigh. The best one correctly treats the direction of laxity with the most proportionate scar possible.
When is a T-shaped scar needed?
When there is substantial excess skin in both directions, especially after massive weight loss. This accounts for around 10% of cases in our practice, and we use it cautiously because of its greater complication burden.
Is it always combined with liposuction?
Not always, but in approximately 95% of our practice. We perform extensive liposuction on the inner thigh, often with more moderate treatment of the rest of the thigh and outer-thigh fat deposits.
How long does recovery take?
A small horizontal lift may allow office work in 7–10 days; a typical case in 10–15; and an extensive vertical or T-pattern may require 2–3 weeks. Driving usually resumes at 10–14 days, gentle exercise at one month, and impact exercise at three months.
Are drains used?
We try to avoid them in most cases, but do not guarantee their absence. Specific circumstances during or after surgery may make them advisable.
How much does the operation cost?
The current indicative range is €5,000 to €9,000, depending on technique, scar extent, amount of liposuction, duration, and hospital stay. The final quote is provided after assessment.
Sources and transparency
Alongside the clinic’s own experience, this page draws on American Society of Plastic Surgeons information and published series on thigh lift outcomes, selection, and complications. Our own data are explicitly identified and not presented as a comparative trial.
Medical authorship
Specialist in Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery (Spanish MIR training)
Medical registration no. 2828/61062 · Madrid
About Thigh Lift in Madrid: clinical information, safety and expectations. Based on the original Spanish content.
Translation does not constitute a new medical review. This information does not replace an individual medical assessment.
View profile, training and credentialsMedical sources and editorial standards Selected references for this page 4 references
References support the general medical information. Suitability, alternatives, and risks are discussed individually during consultation.
- Thigh lift safety and risks American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- Preoperative Risk Factors and Complication Rates of Thighplasty: Analysis of 1,493 Patients. Aesthetic Surgery Journal / PubMed
- Management of the Postbariatric Medial Thigh Deformity Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery / PubMed
- Semaglutide and Postoperative Outcomes in Nondiabetic Patients Following Body Contouring Surgery Aesthetic Surgery Journal / PubMed
Medical assessment
Tell us what you would like to improve
The team will review your request and help arrange a consultation with Dr. Aso. Choose “Another treatment” in the form and mention a thigh lift in your message.
Planning your visit from abroad. A thigh lift in Spain should be planned around the extent of surgery and your individual care needs, not a fixed holiday length. Contact our Madrid clinic in English before booking travel to discuss the initial assessment, mobility and wound-care arrangements, local postoperative reviews and follow-up after your return. Read our international patient guide.
Selected interviews, mentions and third-party articles. Coverage is in Spanish.