Thigh Lift: What You Need to Know

Pros

• The procedure can eliminate loose skin that lingers after you’ve lost a substantial amount of weight (either naturally or after weight-loss surgery). There really isn’t a comparable nonsurgical treatment that can tighten significantly sagging skin so effectively.  
• It brings your thighs into better proportion with the rest of your body and makes them look more toned and youthful. 
• It can eliminate rashes and other irritation that develops on loose skin.  
• It may also make cellulite less noticeable.  

Cons

• It’s major surgery, with the potential for complications and a lengthy recovery period.  
• You will have visible scars on your thighs, especially if an extensive amount of skin has been removed. These scars will fade over time, but if they still bother you, talk with your provider about scar treatments. 
• There’s a risk of asymmetry or complications, so some patients need additional surgeries. 
• A thigh lift can be a tricky procedure to perform well, according to doctors on RealSelf. It can be worth it to consult with at least two plastic surgeons who perform hundreds of surgical body-contouring procedures each year. Look carefully at their photo gallery of before-and-after photos, to help you decide which surgeon will be most likely to give you your desired result.

• Average Cost:
• $12,355

• Range:
• $4,800 - $28,000

The price you pay will depend on the extent of your surgery, the experience level of your plastic surgeon, and their practice location. 

Because a thigh lift is considered cosmetic surgery, it’s usually not covered by health insurance. However, some insurance providers do cover excess skin removal, particularly if you can provide documentation showing that it's medically necessary. For example, they may accept your claim if you can provide medical records of skin rashes that haven't gone away after being treated with topical medication for over three months. 

They may also take into account how the excess skin restricts your everyday activities, like exercise. Your provider's staff should be able to advise you on how to submit your claim.

You can finance your treatment with CareCredit.

See our complete guide to thigh lift costs

The thigh lift photos in our gallery have been shared by the surgeon who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.

People with significant excess skin or significant sagging from a loss of elasticity that can’t be remedied with exercise or nonsurgical solutions may be good candidates for a thigh lift. As with most cosmetic surgeries, a nonsmoker who’s near their ideal weight, follows a healthy lifestyle, and has realistic expectations about their procedure makes the best candidate. 

During your initial consultation, your plastic surgeon will explain the different types of thigh lift procedures and recommend the one that best aligns with your situation and aesthetic goals. You’ll disclose any medical conditions, allergies, previous surgeries, and supplements you’re taking, as these can affect your candidacy. 

If you’re allergic to anesthesia or have lymphedema or venous issues, including chronic venous insufficiency or deep vein thrombosis, the procedure is too risky for you.

Outside of visible scarring, a study from 2015 says that medical complications from thigh lifts are relatively frequent but not fatal. The most common are infection at the incision site, wound dehiscence (when the incision site opens), and seroma (fluid collection). 

Rare but serious complications include partial skin-tissue death and lymphatic fluid leakage.

Prior to your surgery, you’ll get a list of medications to avoid before and after surgery, as well as prescriptions to pick up. Your doctor will give you instructions on cleaning the incision sites and what supplies you’ll need. 

While you’re arranging for two weeks of recovery time, also ask a friend or family member if they can take you home from the surgery center and care for you for the first few days. 

"The surgery is in a difficult area in terms of being hot and sweaty, therefore promoting infection, and walking and toileting puts strain on the wound," explains Dr. Paul Tulley, a plastic surgeon in London. For the healing process to go smoothly, you'll need to take things especially easy during those first few days.

In almost all cases, a thigh lift is an outpatient procedure, performed under general anesthesia. If you’re having a thigh lift along with another body-contouring procedure, such as an arm lift or tummy tuck, you may need to stay overnight in the hospital. 

When you arrive, your vitals will be taken, you’ll be escorted to the operating room, and general anesthesia will be administered. 

After the anesthesia takes effect, your surgeon will make the incisions that correspond to your specific thigh concerns and surgical plan—along the length of your inner thigh, under your buttocks, or at the top of your leg. Then they’ll remove excess skin and fat before tightening and reshaping the remaining tissue. 

After lifting and smoothing the skin, your surgeon will close the incisions with deep sutures that support your tissue’s new position. They may place post-surgical drains, to prevent the accumulation of blood and fluid. Then you’ll be bandaged and placed in a compression garment, to help reduce swelling and discomfort.

The whole operation can take from two to six hours, depending on the skill of the surgeon and extent of the procedure. 

When the anesthesia wears off, you may experience some soreness. Your doctor will prescribe pain medication to help reduce your discomfort during the first few days of recovery.

You can expect to need about two weeks of recovery time after your thighplasty, but some situations require more downtime.

If you have an office job, you should be able to return to work after that initial two weeks, using a pillow on your chair. However, people with more active jobs will need to take more time to heal: Los Angeles-based plastic surgeon Dr. Kenneth Hughes notes that “the recovery time for a thigh lift should be at least six weeks before you can resume strenuous activity.” 

Your surgeon will be able to make a personalized recommendation for how much time you should take off, based on the specifics of your procedure and the type of work you do.

You may experience pain for the first 24 to 48 hours, so make sure you have pain medication lined up to stay ahead of the worst of it. You can also expect soreness, bruising and swelling for several weeks after that.

Patients typically wear a compression garment for the first three to four weeks. 

Body position during recovery is very important. To lessen tension on the incisions and prevent wound separation, sleep and rest with your legs slightly bent. Place a pillow under your knees to help make it more comfortable, and try to keep your legs elevated (a recliner will do the trick).

If you have drains, you’ll need to measure the amount of fluid collected each day and report those numbers to your surgeon. As healing progresses and drainage slows, they will remove the drains. 

You’ll be able to shower after the first several days and move around a bit, to increase circulation. In most cases, patients can go out in public in four to five days. 

As you become more active, you may notice some swelling in your ankles, but it should go down considerably by the end of the first month.

You’ll see an immediate improvement due to the removal of the excess skin, but it can take weeks or even months, in some cases, for all the swelling and bruising to resolve. You'll see your final results several months after your procedure, once all the swelling has gone down. 

Scars are permanent, though they will fade over time.

Thigh lift results can last a decade or more, if you maintain a stable weight, exercise regularly, and stick to a healthy diet. 

Avoiding sun exposure, smoking, and alcohol will also help preserve your skin’s remaining elasticity and slow down the sagging that naturally happens over time. Your skin will still age, but you won't have the same degree of sagging as you did before surgery.

You may also be able to extend the longevity of your results with nonsurgical skin tightening treatments.