Inner thighs that rub
Skin folds that chafe, catch, and make certain clothes and long walks unpleasant.
Thigh Lift
Removes loose skin from the inner thigh after significant weight loss.
From $8,000
- Licensed U.S. surgeons. Accredited facilities.
- A free consultation, with no obligation.
- Your price confirmed before you book.
Trusted by thousands nationwide
12
clinics across the U.S.
100,000+
procedures performed
11
licensed U.S. surgeons
What thigh lift is
Removes loose skin from the inner thigh after significant weight loss.
An incision in the groin crease, and for more extensive laxity down the inner thigh. Excess skin is removed and the remaining tissue secured to the deeper structures so it does not simply descend again.
How thigh lift works
- 01
Assess
Your surgeon works out whether the laxity is at the top of the thigh only, or runs the whole length.
- 02
Remove
The excess skin is excised, and liposuction is used first where volume also needs reducing.
- 03
Anchor
The remaining skin is secured to the fixed tissue at the groin so it holds rather than pulling downward.
Is thigh lift right for you?
Skin that chafes and hangs on the inner thigh, usually after major weight loss and often after several years of it not improving.
After major weight loss
The commonest reason. Skin that carried significant weight rarely retracts on its own.
Diet and training have stopped helping
Both work on fat. Neither works on skin.
Stable weight, good health
At a steady weight for six months and well enough for general anesthesia.
Thigh Lift vs Awake Liposuction
How thigh lift compares with awake liposuction.
| What it treats | Loose, sagging skin | Fat volume |
|---|---|---|
| Scar | In the groin crease, sometimes down the inner thigh | Small dots |
| Anesthesia | General | Local, and you are awake |
| Downtime | Two to three weeks | Days |
| Best for | Chafing, folds and skin that hangs | Heavy thighs with elastic skin |
Your treatment journey
Here is how it goes, step by step.
- 01
Free consultation
Sit down with your surgeon, go over your goals and your medical history, and confirm thigh lift is the right operation.
- 02
Your surgical plan
What is being done, where the incisions go, what it will cost, and what result is realistic for your anatomy.
- 03
Clearance and prep
Bloodwork and medical clearance, what to stop taking, and how to set your home up for the first week.
- 04
The day itself
You arrive, you are marked and prepped, and the operation is performed by a licensed U.S. surgeon in an accredited facility.
- 05
The first weeks
Follow-ups, drains or sutures out where relevant, and clear instructions you can actually follow.
- 06
The settled result
Swelling resolves over months, not days. The final result is judged at the end of that, not the week after surgery.
Recovery, stage by stage
Recovery is a sequence, not a date. This is the shape of it.
- 01
Days 1–3
Compression garment, limited walking, no sitting for long.
- 02
Week 1
Short walks. Sleeping position matters.
- 03
Weeks 2–6
Desk work from two to three weeks. No exercise.
- 04
Months 3–12
Scars mature. Swelling in the legs takes the longest of any area.
What results can you expect from thigh lift?
A thigh lift removes the skin that diet and training cannot reach. Swelling in the legs is stubborn and takes weeks to settle, so the shape you see at a month is not yet the shape you keep.
Thighs that do not chafe
Removing the fold removes the friction, which is the change most patients notice first.
A smoother line
The thigh follows a continuous line from groin to knee instead of breaking into folds.
Better in clothes
Trousers and shorts sit as they are supposed to.
Permanent at a steady weight
The removed skin does not return; significant weight gain will still change the shape.
Safety, and who is operating
Every procedure is performed by a licensed U.S. surgeon in an accredited facility. Goals is a management company; the medical practice and the surgeon responsible in your state are named in our terms.
Meet your surgeons
Dr. Sergey Voskin, MD
Dr. Alla Zemlyak, MD
Dr. Andrew Hsu, MD
Dr. Gregory Morrow, MD
Dr. Anthony Perkins, MD
Dr. Christopher Johnson, MD
Dr. Debra L. Stafford, MD
Dr. Erwin Douyon, MD
Dr. George Iskander, MD
Dr. Patrick Narh-Martey, MD
Dr. Phuong X. Nguyen, MD
Credentials differ by surgeon and are listed in full on each surgeon's page.
How much does thigh lift cost?
Thigh Lift starts at $8,000. Your price is confirmed at consultation and depends on what your case actually needs. A $500 deposit reserves your surgery date.
Flexible payments
Financing available, with monthly plans.
A $500 deposit
Reserves your date and comes off your balance.
Clear pricing
No hidden fees. Everything is detailed up front.
Prices shown are starting prices and depend on the number of areas treated. Final pricing is confirmed at your consultation. Cosmetic procedures are not covered by insurance.
Work it out
What it costs a month
Runs in your browser. Nothing is sent to us and nothing is saved.
An estimate, not a quote. It divides the starting price over the months you choose and assumes no interest. Goals works with several lenders and your rate, term and approval are settled with them — the financing page has the detail, and your price is confirmed at consultation.
Where we perform thigh lift
Frequently asked questions
Yes, and for several months. A thigh lift done during ongoing weight loss produces loose skin again.
In the groin crease for a shorter lift, extending down the inner thigh for a longer one. Which you need depends on how far the laxity extends.
The groin-crease scar usually hides in most underwear and swimwear. A vertical scar down the inner thigh does not, and it is only used when the extent of the skin genuinely requires it.
Not reliably. Cellulite is caused by tethering bands under the skin, which a lift does not release. Removing loose skin can make it look smoother, but that is a side effect and not the aim.
Walking straight away, gently. Real exercise at around six weeks, once the closure has settled.
Everything you need to know about thigh lift
The inner thigh is the hardest area on the body for skin to retract, because it has almost no underlying structure to retract against. After significant weight loss it is often the last complaint standing, and it is a practical complaint as much as a cosmetic one — skin that folds and rubs affects walking, exercise and what you can wear. This page explains what a thigh lift involves, including the part about the scar.
What a thigh lift is
A thigh lift removes excess skin and fat from the inner or outer thigh and closes the leg over a tighter contour. There are two main versions. A medial thigh lift with a scar confined to the groin crease suits laxity concentrated at the top of the thigh, and hides almost entirely in underwear. A vertical thigh lift adds an incision running down the inner thigh, and is necessary when skin hangs along the full length of the leg — the horizontal scar alone cannot reach that far, and a surgeon who promises it can is setting you up for disappointment. Liposuction is very often combined with either version to reduce volume before the skin is closed.
Why skin does not retract here
Skin retracts against something: muscle, fascia, bone. The inner thigh has soft tissue on both sides and gravity pulling down the whole time, which is why it behaves worse than almost anywhere else. Age and weight change both take elasticity out of the dermis, and once it is gone there is no cream, machine or exercise that restores it. This is the reason skin-tightening devices routinely disappoint in this area while performing acceptably on the abdomen or arms. If the skin will not spring back when you pinch it, only excision will change it.
Who makes a good candidate
Good candidates have loose inner thigh skin, a stable weight for at least six months, no untreated circulatory problems, and realistic expectations about the scar. Post-bariatric patients are the largest group and generally the most satisfied, because they are trading a genuine daily problem. Patients with heavy but elastic thighs are usually better served by awake liposuction alone, which is a far smaller undertaking. Smoking must stop well in advance: the groin is a demanding place to heal, and nicotine makes it worse.
How the operation is done
Under general anesthesia in an accredited facility, taking two to four hours depending on the extent. Markings are made standing. Liposuction usually comes first, thinning the thigh and freeing the skin from the deeper layer. The marked skin is then removed, and — this is the technical point that determines the result — the remaining skin is anchored to Colles' fascia, the fixed tissue at the groin, so that the closure is supported from above rather than hanging on the skin edges. Without that anchoring, the scar migrates downward and the labia or scrotum can be pulled with it. Drains are common. You wake in compression garments.
Recovery, honestly
The first week is uncomfortable and mobility is limited: short walks are encouraged from day one to protect against clots, but sitting is awkward and stairs are worse. Drains, where used, come out within the first week or two. Most people are back to desk work at two weeks. Swelling in the legs is stubborn — compression garments are worn for six weeks and are not optional if you want a smooth result. Exercise resumes at six weeks. The groin is a high-tension, high-moisture area, so small wound-healing problems along the incision are relatively common, usually managed with dressings rather than further surgery. Scars mature over twelve to eighteen months.
What it does and does not fix
A thigh lift fixes hanging skin and the problems that come with it. It does not create a gap between the thighs — that is skeletal anatomy and no operation changes it. It does not reliably improve cellulite, which is caused by fibrous bands tethering the skin and is a separate problem with separate treatments. And it does not protect you from future weight gain. Being clear about these three things at the consultation is what separates a satisfied patient from a disappointed one, and any surgeon promising otherwise is worth walking away from.
Cost, safety and choosing a surgeon
A thigh lift at Goals starts at $8,000, confirmed at consultation, with a $500 deposit to reserve your date. It is often combined with other post-weight-loss contouring in a single anesthetic. Risks include wound separation at the groin, seroma, lymphatic swelling, scar migration where the closure was not properly anchored, asymmetry and numbness. Ask your surgeon specifically whether they anchor to Colles' fascia and how they decide between the short-scar and vertical approaches, and ask to see one-year photographs of patients with your degree of laxity.
Ready to take the next step?
A consultation for thigh lift is free and carries no obligation. A surgeon will tell you what is realistic for you.
Prefer to talk now? (833) 462-5769