Thigh Lift Surgery: Body Contouring for the Lower Body
The inner and outer thighs are common areas of concern for patients who have lost significant weight or who have experienced the effects of ageing and gravity on skin elasticity. Thigh lift surgery — thighplasty — removes excess skin and fat from the thigh area, improving contour, reducing skin irritation and enhancing confidence in clothing and swimwear.
Types of Thigh Lift
Inner (medial) thigh lift: The most commonly performed variant. An incision in the groin crease removes excess skin from the inner thigh. For more extensive cases, the incision extends down the inner thigh. Addresses skin laxity and excess tissue on the inner thigh that causes chafing and difficulty with clothing.
Outer (lateral) thigh lift: Addresses the outer thigh and buttock area. The incision runs along the belt line. Often combined with a buttock lift for patients with excess skin in the lower body following major weight loss.
Bilateral thigh lift: Addresses both inner and outer thighs in a single operation, commonly performed as part of a lower body lift following significant weight loss.
The Lower Body Lift
For patients who have lost large amounts of weight — particularly following bariatric surgery — a circumferential lower body lift (belt lipectomy) removes excess skin from the abdomen, back, buttocks and thighs in a single comprehensive procedure. This is a major operation requiring careful patient selection and experienced surgical planning. Turkey’s body contouring specialists perform lower body lifts for post-bariatric patients as part of comprehensive body transformation programmes.
Recovery
Thigh lift recovery varies by extent. Inner thigh lift patients typically return to desk work within two weeks. A full lower body lift requires three to four weeks of limited mobility and six to eight weeks before returning to normal activities. Compression garments are worn throughout the recovery period.
Costs
Inner thigh lift in Western Europe costs €5,000 to €10,000. In Turkey, €2,500 to €5,500 all-inclusive. Lower body lift costs €8,000 to €18,000 in Turkey versus €15,000 to €35,000 in Western Europe. Find verified plastic surgeons at drvisor.com.