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Thigh Lift (Thighplasty) - contouring after the weight has gone.

Removal of loose skin and reshaping of the inner or outer thigh after major weight loss or ageing. A consultant plastic surgeon, an honest scar conversation up front, and staged planning where a full body-contouring pathway is needed.

See indicative pricing
A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What a private thigh lift costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our partner cosmetic plastic surgery units.

In short

£6,500–£12,000, home one or two nights.

Procedure Indicative range
Medial (inner) thigh lift £6,500–£9,500
Vertical medial thigh lift £8,000–£11,000
Outer (lateral) thigh lift £7,500–£10,500
Circumferential (spiral) thighplasty £9,500–£12,000
Thigh liposuction only £3,500–£5,500
Post-bariatric body-contouring plan (single consult) £300–£500

Prices vary by the extent of the lift (inner only, outer only, or full circumferential), the amount of liposuction included, the hospital, and the surgeon. Circumferential and combined procedures sit at the top of the range.

The problem

The right operation, the right scar, the right time.

Thighplasty is where cosmetic marketing over-promises and skin realities under-deliver. We set the scar and the outcome you can expect before you consent, not after.

  • Skin, fat or both?

    Loose skin alone needs excision. Localised fat alone needs liposuction. Most people need a considered mix.

  • Weight-stable for six months

    Contouring after weight loss works best when your weight has been stable for at least six months - we say so if it is not.

  • Scars follow the excision

    A medial thigh lift leaves a groin scar. A vertical lift leaves a scar down the inner thigh. We show you where before you decide.

When it helps

When a thigh lift is the right step.

The situations we see most, plus the red flag that means weight or medical optimisation first, not a routine booking.

  • Loose skin after major weight loss

    A skin envelope that will not shrink further - bariatric surgery, medical weight loss or lifestyle-driven loss.

  • Chafing, rash and hygiene issues

    Recurrent intertrigo, thigh chafing and skin infection where the loose skin folds - a functional as well as cosmetic problem.

  • Body-contouring after the abdomen

    A logical next step after abdominoplasty when the thighs still show a marked skin excess.

  • Age-related inner-thigh laxity

    Loss of tone in the inner thigh with no weight change - a considered medial lift or liposuction can help.

  • Localised fat plus mild skin excess

    A combined liposuction and short-scar lift where the skin issue is limited.

  • Thigh disproportion after bariatric surgery

    A disproportion between torso and thigh that clothes and diet cannot balance.

  • Loose scar after previous surgery

    A stretched or migrated scar from a previous thighplasty that a revision can improve.

  • Red flag: weight still fluctuating

    If your weight is still moving month to month, or your BMI is above the surgeon’s upper limit, contouring waits - we say so.

Procedure options

The extent of the lift follows the anatomy.

What each option involves - medial, vertical, spiral or outer thigh - and where liposuction fits in.

  • Medial (inner) thigh lift - short scar

    A groin-crease scar only. Best for mild-to-moderate inner-thigh laxity with limited vertical excess.

  • Vertical medial thigh lift

    A groin scar plus a vertical scar down the inner thigh. The workhorse for post-weight-loss patients with a large skin envelope.

  • Outer (lateral) thigh lift

    A scar extending from a lower-body lift around the outer thigh. Often combined with a buttock lift.

  • Circumferential (spiral) thighplasty

    A wrap-around excision that treats inner and outer thigh in one procedure. The most extensive lift, with a longer recovery.

  • Thigh liposuction alone

    For younger patients with good skin quality and localised fat only - no excision, no visible scar.

  • Liposuction with thighplasty

    Combined to debulk the flap before excision, improving contour and reducing dead space.

  • Staged body-contouring

    Where multiple areas need contouring - abdomen, arms, breast - we stage in a considered order rather than all at once.

  • Non-surgical alternatives

    Skin-tightening devices give small improvements only. Where a real skin envelope exists, no device replaces excision.

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards - honestly.

Thigh lift is a well-established cosmetic operation. The things worth planning are the scar position, the amount of skin excised, and - for post-weight-loss cases - the sequence with any breast, abdomen or arm contouring.

  • GA in a proper theatre, with a plastic-anaesthetist

    Every thighplasty is under general anaesthetic. One or two nights on the ward with DVT prophylaxis is standard.

  • Wound healing and dehiscence

    The groin is a high-tension area - small wound breakdowns and delayed healing at the deepest point are relatively common and settle with dressings.

  • Seroma and haematoma

    Seroma (fluid collection) is the most common issue after thigh lift. Drains and compression reduce it; a small aspiration in clinic may be needed.

  • DVT and PE

    DVT prophylaxis (stockings, heparin, early mobilisation) is standard. Same-day call for calf pain or breathlessness.

  • Scars settle over 12–18 months

    Scars are initially raised and pink. Most soften and pale over 12–18 months. A small number remain hypertrophic and may benefit from scar revision or steroid injection.

  • Numbness at the wound edges

    A patch of numbness at the medial thigh is common and usually settles over 6–12 months.

  • Asymmetry and revision

    A small revision at 12 months for scar migration or minor asymmetry is not unusual - we set that expectation before consent.

  • Weight change after surgery

    Significant weight gain or loss after surgery undoes the result. Weight stability is part of the plan, not an afterthought.

  • Red flags after surgery

    Fever, spreading redness, sudden swelling of one thigh, calf pain or shortness of breath needs the same-day team or A&E.

Reading your operation note

Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever thighplasty pattern was used, the note the plastic surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.

A UK consultant plastic surgeon reviewing a patient’s thighplasty operation notes

A quiet reminder

Surgical language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.

If you would like us to talk you through the operation note and the scar plan before your review, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Indication, pattern and markings

    Why the operation was done, the specific thighplasty pattern used, and the pre-operative markings.

  2. 02 Technique

    Excision, liposuction and closure

    Weight of tissue excised, volume of liposuction, closure in layers and the drains placed.

  3. 03 Findings

    Symmetry and flap perfusion

    What was seen at closure - symmetry check, flap colour and any adjustment made.

  4. 04 Impression

    Scar plan and follow-up

    Read this first: the compression garment plan, scar management and the 6-week, 3-month and 12-month reviews.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Thighplasty is a cosmetic operation and is not routinely covered by UK private medical insurance. Post-bariatric contouring is occasionally considered - we set the position out honestly and confirm any cover before booking.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about thigh lift.

Quick answers on scars, weight stability, cost and recovery.

  • How visible will the scar be?

    A medial thigh lift leaves a scar tucked in the groin crease that sits under most shorts and swimwear. A vertical medial lift adds a scar down the inner thigh which is visible in shorts. A circumferential lift adds an outer scar that follows a lower-body-lift line. Scars settle over 12–18 months but do not disappear - we show you where before you decide.

  • Do I need to be at my target weight before surgery?

    Yes - thighplasty works best when your weight has been stable for at least six months. Losing significant weight after surgery leaves loose skin again; gaining weight stretches the scar and undoes the shape. If your weight is still moving, we say so and delay booking.

  • Can I combine a thigh lift with abdominoplasty or a body lift?

    Yes, though we stage carefully. A lower-body lift plus outer thigh lift is often combined. Adding a medial thighplasty at the same sitting adds a long operating time and is only offered where anaesthetic safety, DVT risk and expected blood loss all allow it.

  • How much does a private thigh lift cost in the UK?

    Roughly £6,500–£9,500 for a medial (inner) thigh lift, £8,000–£11,000 for a vertical medial lift, £7,500–£10,500 for an outer lift, and £9,500–£12,000 for a circumferential lift. Thigh liposuction alone is £3,500–£5,500.

  • How long is recovery?

    Most people are back to desk work in 2–3 weeks and back to gym and full activity by 6–8 weeks. Compression garments are worn day and night for the first six weeks. Sitting is comfortable within a few days but long periods of standing feel heavy for the first fortnight.

  • Will insurance cover it?

    Thigh lift is a cosmetic operation and is not covered by UK private medical insurance in most cases. Some insurers occasionally consider post-bariatric contouring where there is a documented functional problem - recurrent infection, ulceration or severe intertrigo. We set out the honest position, and finance options for self-pay, before booking.

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