Thigh Lift (Thighplasty): techniques, recovery, risks and cost

Key takeaways

• A thigh lift removes loose skin and fat from the thighs; ASPS says when skin is elastic, liposuction alone may be enough.^[1]
• Complications are common after inner thigh lifts; across 19 studies, adding liposuction was linked with 36.75% vs 70.68% overall complications.^[9]
• Thigh lifts rose 20% to 11,866 in 2025, and 80% of ASPS surgeons reported GLP-1-related thigh lift consults.^[14]
• The 2024 ASPS surgeon's fee range was $7,000 to $12,000, before anesthesia and facility fees.^[15]

In short: A thigh lift (thighplasty) is surgery that removes excess skin and fat from the inner or outer thighs to smooth and reshape the upper legs. It is used mostly after significant weight loss, when skin no longer springs back. Incisions run in the groin and, for larger lifts, down the inner thigh or around the hip, and wound problems are common in this area. Thigh lifts rose 20% in the U.S. in 2025; the 2024 ASPS surgeon’s fee range was $7,000 to $12,000. As ASPS puts it, lifts are “contouring tools, not weight loss procedures”.

Here you will find who a thigh lift is generally for, the inner and outer techniques and their scars, the operation, recovery, complication rates (including how adding liposuction changed them across 19 studies), costs from ASPS, insurance rules and alternatives. It is general information; InstaTuck does not sell or arrange surgery. Read widely, see a board-certified plastic surgeon and get a full evaluation before any decision.

What a thigh lift does, and what it does not

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) says a thigh lift reshapes the thighs by reducing excess skin and fat, for smoother skin and better-proportioned contours of the thighs and lower body. It adds that thigh lifts are not intended strictly to remove fat: when skin is elastic and can conform to a new shape, liposuction alone can remove fat deposits, and when skin elasticity is poor a thigh lift combined with liposuction may be recommended. In an ASPS article, a member surgeon summed it up: some patients need liposuction, some a surgical lift, and some benefit from both.

Who it is generally for

ASPS describes thigh lift candidates as people whose weight is relatively stable, with excess soft tissue along the inner (medial) or outer (lateral) thigh, who are healthy without conditions that impair healing or raise surgical risk, who do not smoke, who have realistic goals and who are committed to healthy eating and fitness. ASPS member surgeons quoted in an ASPS article say the operation is most often requested after significant weight loss, for reasons ranging from how clothes or swimsuits fit to difficulty exercising. With GLP-1 medicines, more people are reaching that point: 80% of ASPS surgeons reported GLP-1-related thigh lift consultations in 2025. Keep in mind that a stable weight comes first; our loose skin after weight loss guide covers timing, and keeping weight off covers how to hold it.

Techniques and scars

Technique	Incision (ASPS)	What it addresses
Minimal-incision inner thigh lift	In the groin only	Smaller amount of loose skin high on the inner thigh
Inner (medial) thigh lift, groin pattern	In the groin, extending down and wrapping around the back of the thigh	Loose skin of the upper inner thigh
Inner thigh lift, vertical pattern	From the groin down toward the knee along the inseam	Loose skin along the whole inner thigh, common after major weight loss
Outer (lateral) thigh lift	From the groin around the hip and across the back	Outer thigh; often part of a lower body lift

ASPS says advanced techniques usually let incisions sit where most clothing and swimsuits hide them, but incisions may be extensive, and ASPS member surgeons say scars will be visible in most patients. Under intravenous sedation or general anesthesia, the surgeon removes skin and fat, places deep sutures in the underlying tissue to support the new contour and closes the skin with sutures, skin adhesive tapes or clips. The tighter contour is visible almost immediately, though swelling and bruising hide it at first.

Recovery

ASPS advises seeking medical attention immediately for shortness of breath, chest pain or unusual heartbeats after a thigh lift, which can signal a blood clot. Ask your surgeon the ASPS recovery questions about medicines, dressings, drains, stitches, bathing, return to activity and follow-up.

Risks and complication rates

ASPS lists the risks: anesthesia risks, asymmetry, bleeding, deep vein thrombosis and heart and lung complications, fat necrosis, fluid collection (seroma), infection, major wound separation, numbness or other sensation changes, persistent pain, poor wound healing, revision surgery, recurrent loose skin, discoloration or swelling, skin loss, sutures that surface through the skin, and unfavorable scarring.

Complications are common with inner thigh lifts. A 2025 systematic review of 19 studies covering 1,113 patients who had liposuction-assisted medial thighplasty reported an overall complication rate of 36.75% in that group, compared with 70.68% in the comparison group without liposuction. Infections (1.77% vs 9.02%), hematomas (1.30% vs 6.77%) and seromas (8.95% vs 24.81%) were all lower with liposuction. The authors called for more standardized research, and one author disclosed consulting for a device company. Most of these complications are wound problems that heal with care, but they can prolong recovery.

• With liposuction
• Without liposuction

Any complication36.75%70.68%

Seroma8.95%24.81%

Infection1.77%9.02%

Hematoma1.30%6.77%

Inner thigh lift complications with and without liposuction

Item	With liposuction	Without liposuction
Any complication	36.75%	70.68%
Seroma	8.95%	24.81%
Infection	1.77%	9.02%
Hematoma	1.30%	6.77%

Pooled from studies of different designs; complication definitions vary. 1,113 patients in the liposuction group.

Source: Albanese R et al., Journal of Clinical Medicine 2025 (systematic review, 19 studies) (checked on October 6, 2026)

After bariatric surgery, body contouring as a whole has a higher complication rate than cosmetic surgery in general: a 2021 meta-analysis of 25 studies found an overall weighted rate of 31.5%, most often seroma, and a 37% higher risk when BMI was 30 or more before contouring, though most complications resolved on their own or with minimal intervention.

Cost

ASPS reported an average surgeon’s fee of $7,641 for a thigh lift in 2023 (up from $6,378 in 2022) and a range of $7,000 to $12,000 for 2024. ASPS says this is only part of the total; anesthesia, the facility, tests, garments and medicines are extra. A lift combined with liposuction or other areas costs more. See the costs hub.

$6,378 USD2022

$7,641 USD2023

ASPS average surgeon's fee for a thigh lift

Item	Value
2022	$6,378 USD
2023	$7,641 USD

For 2024 ASPS published a range instead: $7,000 to $12,000. Surgeon's fee only.

Source: ASPS 2023 Procedural Statistics Release, Average Surgeon/Physician Fees (checked on October 6, 2026)

Insurance

Thigh lifts for appearance are not covered. Some insurers may cover removal of excess thigh skin when it causes documented medical problems. Cigna’s redundant skin surgery policy (0470, effective September 15, 2026), where a plan includes the benefit, requires a functional deficit from severe deformity, photographs, interference with daily activities, persistent rashes, skin infection or ulcers despite at least three months of treatment, and a stable weight for at least six months (and at least 18 months after bariatric surgery, or a stable weight on or after GLP-1 treatment). Ask your plan in writing; our insurance hub explains how to request a pre-authorization.

Alternatives

• Liposuction when the issue is fat and the skin is elastic.
• Lower body lift when loose skin wraps around the hips, buttocks and outer thighs.
• Cryolipolysis, cleared for visible fat bulges of the thigh at a BMI of 30 or less, for a small bulge with good skin.
• Skin tightening for mild laxity only; the Ulthera clearance includes the knees.
• Leg-strengthening exercise such as squats and lunges builds muscle shape but does not remove loose skin; see strength training.

Choosing a surgeon

ASPS member surgeons stress finding a board-certified plastic surgeon with experience in this procedure and discussing exactly which technique will be used, since there are many ways to do a thigh lift. Ask where your scars will be, whether liposuction will be added, how they reduce wound separation and seroma, how many thigh lifts they perform each year, and what a revision costs. Our plastic surgeon guide shows how to check credentials, and the body contouring hub compares all options.

Who explores it

ASPS: people at a relatively stable weight with excess soft tissue of the inner or outer thigh, healthy, nonsmokers, with realistic goals and a commitment to healthy habits; most often after significant weight loss.

How it works

Removes excess skin and fat from the inner or outer thighs through groin, inner-thigh or hip incisions, with deep sutures supporting the new contour; often combined with liposuction (ASPS).

Typical results

Smoother, tighter thigh contour visible almost immediately once swelling settles; visible scars in most patients (ASPS).

Ranges from published studies; individual results vary.

Recovery

Drains possible; walk early; avoid bending, straining or lifting for days to weeks; some recover in 1 to 3 weeks, others longer, depending on technique (ASPS and ASPS member surgeons).

Risks

• Overall complications 36.75% with liposuction-assisted medial thighplasty vs 70.68% without (2025 review of 19 studies)
• Seroma, infection, hematoma and major wound separation (ASPS; review)
• Deep vein thrombosis and heart and lung complications (ASPS)
• Unfavorable scarring, asymmetry, recurrent loose skin, revision (ASPS)

Cost and insurance

Price	Amount	Basis	Checked on
Typical total (national data)	7,000-12,000 USD	surgeon's fee only, 2024 ASPS range	October 6, 2026
Typical total (national data)	7,641 USD	average surgeon's fee, 2023 ASPS	October 6, 2026

Prices change often and depend on pharmacy, plan and location. Insurance can change what you pay. Every price shows the date we checked it.

Appearance-only thigh lifts are not covered. Some insurers (e.g. Cigna policy 0470, effective 2026-09-15) may cover excess-skin removal with a documented functional deficit, refractory skin problems for 3+ months and a stable weight for 6+ months.

Insurance information checked on October 6, 2026.

Advantages and limitations

Advantages

• Removes loose thigh skin that exercise cannot tighten
• Can be combined with liposuction, which was linked to fewer complications
• Long-lasting at a stable weight

Limitations

• Wound complications are common, especially in the groin and inner thigh
• Extensive, usually visible scars
• Usually self-pay; anesthesia and facility fees are extra
• Not weight loss; further weight loss can bring back loose skin

Choosing a provider

Check board certification, where the procedure is done (accredited facility), how many of these procedures the provider performs, and what follow-up care is included. Find a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon for Body Contouring

Questions to ask a professional

• Do I need an inner, outer or full-length thigh lift, or liposuction alone?
• Where will my scars be and how visible will they be in a swimsuit?
• Will you add liposuction, and how do you reduce wound separation and seroma?
• How long until I can sit, walk normally and return to work?
• What is the all-inclusive cost, and could insurance cover any part?

Frequently asked questions

Is a thigh lift weight loss surgery?

No. ASPS calls lifts contouring tools, not weight loss procedures. A thigh lift removes loose skin and some fat after weight loss to reshape the thighs.

Inner or outer thigh lift: what is the difference?

An inner thigh lift uses incisions in the groin, sometimes extending down the inner thigh toward the knee. An outer thigh lift uses an incision from the groin around the hip and across the back, often as part of a lower body lift.

How long is thigh lift recovery?

ASPS member surgeons say some people recover within one to three weeks and others need more time, depending on the technique. Early walking, avoiding straining and protecting the incisions matter.

What are the risks of a thigh lift?

Wound problems such as seroma, infection, hematoma and wound separation are fairly common, along with scarring and blood-clot risk. Reviews report lower complication rates when liposuction is added.

Will I have scars?

Yes. Incisions can often be placed where clothing hides them, but ASPS says they may be extensive, and member surgeons say scars will be visible in most patients.

How much does a thigh lift cost?

ASPS reported a 2024 surgeon's fee range of $7,000 to $12,000 and a 2023 average of $7,641. Anesthesia, the facility and garments are extra.

Does insurance cover a thigh lift?

Not for appearance. Some plans may cover excess-skin removal when it causes documented functional problems and persistent skin infections despite three months of treatment, with a stable weight for six months or more.

Can exercise tighten loose thigh skin?

Leg exercises build muscle shape but do not remove stretched skin. For mild laxity, non-surgical skin tightening may give a modest change.

References

1. Thigh Lift (Thighplasty). American Society of Plastic Surgeons. (accessed October 6, 2026) Society statement
2. Thigh Lift Candidates. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. (accessed October 6, 2026) Society statement
3. Thigh Lift Procedure Steps. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. (accessed October 6, 2026) Society statement
4. Thigh Lift Recovery. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. (accessed October 6, 2026) Society statement
5. Thigh Lift Risks and Safety. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. (accessed October 6, 2026) Society statement
6. Thigh lift cost. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. (accessed October 6, 2026) Society statement
7. The thigh lift: Applications, recovery and results. American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 2024. (accessed October 6, 2026) Society statement
8. Body Contouring Recovery. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. (accessed October 6, 2026) Society statement
9. Albanese R, Blessent CGF, Tomaselli F, et al.. A comprehensive review of medial thighplasty: the role of liposuction in reducing complications and optimizing patient outcomes. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2025. doi:10.3390/jcm14072426 · PMID 40217874 (accessed October 6, 2026) Review
10. Marouf A, Mortada H. Complications of body contouring surgery in postbariatric patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2021. doi:10.1007/s00266-021-02315-2 · PMID 34018015 (accessed October 6, 2026) Meta-analysis
11. Medical Coverage Policy 0470: Redundant Skin Surgery (effective 2026-09-15). Cigna Healthcare. (accessed October 6, 2026) Other
12. 510(k) K233732: CoolSculpting Elite system (indications for use). U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2024. (accessed October 7, 2026) Government page
13. 510(k) K260618: Ulthera System, indications for use. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2026. (accessed October 6, 2026) Government page
14. 2025 ASPS Procedural Statistics Release. American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 2026. (accessed October 7, 2026) Society statement
15. 2024 ASPS Procedural Statistics Release (archived copy captured 2026-01-02). American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 2025. (accessed October 7, 2026) Society statement
16. 2023 ASPS Procedural Statistics Release (archived copy). American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 2024. (accessed October 7, 2026) Society statement

Facts checked on October 6, 2026

Educational information, not medical advice. Talk with a qualified healthcare professional about your own situation. In an emergency call 911.