Thigh lifts are on the rise
Here’s what plastic surgeons want you to know about this procedure that’s growing in popularity

It doesn't have the cache of other plastic surgery procedures like deep plane facelifts, and its downtime makes it one of the more taxing cosmetic operations – but its results can be life-changing for the right patients. This is not the introduction you expect when reading about a plastic surgery procedure that's gaining in popularity, but we're not talking about the average procedure here. Thighplasty – or a thigh lift, as it's more commonly known – experienced a 3 percent increase in popularity last year, according to the 2024 ASPS Plastic Surgery Statistics Report.

Based on the stats, thigh lifts are among the fastest-growing body contouring surgeries, and body contouring procedures in general are becoming more popular. The reason why has everything to do with three little letters and one number – GLP-1. As more of the population loses significant weight using drugs like GLP-1s, more people are looking to fine-tune their results, and that can mean removing excess skin that's left behind following weight loss.

"The goals of thighplasty are smoother thigh contours, reduction of skin sagging, improved fit of clothing, and relief of chafing or irritation from skinfolds," said Lara Devgan, MD.

All the benefits of a thigh lift can offer a tremendous improvement in quality of life that you just can't get any other way.

"There's no real replacement for surgery when you have stretched-out, loose skin," said J. Peter Rubin, MD.

Now, plastic surgeons are seeing much higher patient volume due to GLP-1s, according to Dr. Rubin. Yet, there is one thing any patient considering a thigh lift should know.

"These body contouring operations are real operations; they're not just little nip-tucks," said Dr. Rubin.

You need to go into a thigh lift with a clear idea of the procedure and all that it entails, including its not-insignificant scars and recovery period. Yet, the payoff can be substantial.

"Most people who have lost substantial amounts of weight think it's well worth it," said Marc Mofid, MD.

Loose, sagging skin on the thighs may not just be an aesthetic concern, but also a physical one. One that can cause discomfort.

"A lot of patients will talk about how their inner thighs have extra skin and will rub together, and [a thigh lift] really does make a difference for those patients," said Dr. Rubin.

Here's how plastic surgeons – who give their patients a clear idea of a thigh lift, its benefits and its drawbacks – answer some of the most common questions patients have about this growing (and often misunderstood) procedure.

What is a thigh lift?

The main goal of any thigh lift is to remove excess skin in the area, most commonly following significant weight loss. The thighs are "an area that normally carries fullness or excess fat," said Dr. Devgan. "And as someone becomes thinner, over time you're likely to see laxity of skin and soft tissue."

But not all thigh lifts are the same.

"A thigh lift comes in several different forms," said Dr. Rubin.

Each has its own recovery time and scars (more on both soon), and the appropriate procedure for each patient depends on the location and degree of loose skin.

"One should think of the outer thighs differently from the inner thighs," said Dr. Rubin.

The outer thighs are "best treated with a lower body lift, which gives a little bit of a lift in the inner thighs, but not a lot," according to Dr. Rubin. A lift for the outer thighs might be combined with a tummy tuck (these could be spaced out as two different operations) for "what we call an 'around the world' or '360 body lift.'"

For the inner thighs, there are three types of lifts, each named for the type of scar it leaves. None are invisible, but the most inconspicuous is horizontal and hidden in the groin crease. This type of lift can "tuck up some skin," said Dr. Rubin, but "it is not a very powerful operation. It is best for only very minor skin excess."

Another method of thigh lift requires a vertical scar down the inner thigh.

"There's a short-scar version that comes about halfway down the thigh," said Dr. Rubin. "And then there's a version where the scar comes all the way down the thigh."

Many plastic surgeons combine a thigh lift "with energy devices for skin tightening," added Dr. Rubin. "Those have a variable effect, [meaning] some patients will get better results than others."

Skin-tightening devices are not a replacement for surgery if you're goal is to remove loose skin from the thighs.

Why do surgeons classify thigh lifts in terms of the scars they leave?

There will be a scar whenever skin is cut and stitched back together. This is a trade-off that patients have to decide if they are okay with up front. That means "having a really good shared decision-making discussion about relative priorities – talking about the scars, and willingness to accept the scars in exchange for removal of excess skin," said Dr. Rubin. "We really emphasize this concept."

Visuals can help.

"We show patients a lot of before and after photos," said Dr. Mofid. "We want them to know what they're getting into. This is not for the faint of heart."

If a patient decides the trade-off is right for them, the plastic surgeon must balance a delicate compromise.

"You don't want to offer a more extensively scarring procedure than is absolutely needed," said Dr. Mofid, but you also "don't want to do a short-scar technique for a patient who has substantial laxity."

He follows the "measure twice, cut once" rule and takes care to only remove what's necessary.

"If you remove more tissue than is needed, a patient will have a wound that could take months to heal," said Dr. Mofid.

Who is a candidate for a thigh lift?

Someone who has lost significant weight and, as a result, has excess skin in the thighs that they would like removed might be a candidate for a thigh lift. A plastic surgeon will want to know more about a patient's unique weight loss journey to better determine whether they are well-suited for the procedure.

"A patient should be as close to their goal weight as possible, and weight stable for at least three months," said Dr. Rubin.

If a patient is taking a GLP-1, they need to stop using the medication for at least two weeks before surgery, otherwise "it can pose a risk during anesthesia," said Dr. Rubin.

That's a hard-and-fast safety rule, but some thigh lift patients have been off GLP-1s for much longer than two weeks. Dr. Mofid's average thigh lift patient, for example, waits about 14 to 18 months after discontinuing GLP-1s before surgery.

"I want to make sure that they're not continuing to lose weight," said Dr. Mofid, adding the ideal candidate has a BMI "somewhere between 25 and 30."

This has to do with the way incisions heal. For patients who are at a BMI of 35 or higher, there's a greater risk that the incision will split, noted Dr. Mofid, and "you don't want to be dealing with wound problems in the groin." It's a relatively hard area to keep clean, which increases the risk of infection, he explained.

Dr. Devgan noted that many patients who opt for a thigh lift have already had other plastic surgery procedures.

"Weight loss affects the body in many different locations," said Dr. Devgan. "You see it in the face with laxity in the neck and jowl area. You see it in the breasts with [sagging] and volume loss. You see it in the abdomen, with excess abdominal skin. And you see it in the arms and the thighs."

So, patients might decide to address laxity elsewhere – typically, with a facelift or breast lift – before looking into procedures for the extremities, like the thighs, "but plastic surgery is amazing because it's such a bespoke and customizable field," said Dr. Devgan. "It really depends a lot on a person's goals."

What can you expect after surgery?

The recovery is no walk in the park.

"Of all the massive weight loss procedures that I perform," said Dr. Mofid, the recovery after an inner thigh lift "is the one that takes the longest. It's typically six to eight weeks before most of the discomfort is gone and [patients] feel comfortable with standard walking or brisk walking activities [again]."

Recovery is usually a little shorter for a lower body lift on the outer thighs, at three to four weeks.

The thigh lift with the most intense recovery is a full-length vertical thigh lift.

"Patients are surprised to hear that it is one of the more difficult recoveries [in plastic surgery], and I'm very upfront with patients about that," said Dr. Rubin. For two to three weeks following their operation, "patients really need to be very strict about keeping their legs elevated. That's very important."

Potential side effects of any thigh lift can include bleeding, infection "and – very importantly – for patients who have preexisting leg swelling for any reason, that may get worse with a thighplasty," said Dr. Rubin. "It's not very common, but chronic leg swelling can happen."

To help prevent infection, Dr. Mofid's patients do not wear compression garments after surgery.

"Just getting into and out of the garment, you can imagine you're going to wind up tearing your incisions apart," said Dr. Mofid.

Do thigh lifts also help slim the thighs?

The short answer is no. A thigh lift is "not intended to be a fat removal procedure," said Dr. Devgan. "I think that can be a common misconception."

It is truly about removing lax or excess skin from the thighs.

The slightly longer answer is that targeted liposuction in the thighs can sometimes be part of a thigh lift.

"Over the last two decades, we've really refined techniques in thighplasty, including the use of liposuction," said Dr. Rubin.

However, it's more about removing fat to deliver a smoother contour for the right patient, not for added weight loss benefits. If liposuction is involved, it might be a two-stage procedure, noted Dr. Mofid, who always performs liposuction first, separately from a thigh lift, because he doesn't want to risk compromising the tissues in the area during surgery.

Some patients might ask about a thigh lift to address minor laxity – say, after having kids – but "in my experience, the scar is simply not worth it," said Dr. Mofid. "Some people come in and say, 'I've lost 20 pounds.' Those are not good candidates."

How can you find a plastic surgeon for thighplasty?

A good start is to look for a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in the procedure. Dr. Mofid estimated that he does one inner thigh lift a month, and Dr. Rubin explained that body contouring procedures like thigh lifts are a core part of his practice. This is what you want to hear.

"You wouldn't entrust a surgeon who did a rhinoplasty (nose reshaping) two years ago to do a rhinoplasty," said Dr. Mofid. "This is another one of those procedures where you have to ask your surgeon how much experience they have."

Many surgeons who specialize in body contouring will state that on their website, said Dr. Rubin, "and it's always fine for patients to ask the doctor, 'Tell me a little bit about your experience with this procedure, and how much of a focus it is in your practice?' I can't emphasize enough the importance of finding a plastic surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery."

You can check a plastic surgeon's credentials on the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) website, and you can look them up on the ASPS site's Find a Surgeon tool. As Dr. Rubin explained, "to be a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, one must be board certified."

To find a qualified plastic surgeon for any cosmetic or reconstructive procedure, consult a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. All ASPS members are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, have completed an accredited plastic surgery training program, practice in accredited facilities and follow strict standards of safety and ethics. Find an ASPS member in your area.