What is it and how is it done?
What many patients call a "leg lift" is, medically, usually a thigh lift. After major weight loss or with age, the skin of the inner thighs loses its elasticity, leaving excess skin that rubs together when walking, can cause rashes and irritation, and makes choosing clothes harder. A thigh lift removes this excess skin and the fat beneath it and tightens the skin that remains.
The scar pattern is chosen according to where the sagging is and how much there is. If the sagging is limited to the upper thigh, skin is removed along the groin crease; the scar lies horizontally in the groin and is largely covered by underwear. If the sagging extends towards the knee, a vertical scar running down the inner thigh is needed; this scar is longer but gives more noticeable tightening along the whole thigh. After major weight loss, the two patterns are often combined. Laxity on the outer thighs and buttocks is usually addressed with a lower body lift that goes around the waist.
Liposuction is an important part of a thigh lift. In people with good skin elasticity, excess fat on the inner thighs can be treated with liposuction alone. If the skin is sagging, liposuction is used in the same operation as the lift to thin the tissue and refine the contour.
Because the groin is moist, prone to friction and constantly moving as you sit and stand, wound healing there needs particular care. In the first weeks it is important to take short, frequent walks, avoid spreading the legs wide, avoid low seats, keep the area clean and dry, and wear the compression garment consistently. Your weight should have been stable for at least a few months; if weight loss continues, the skin may sag again.
At his practice in Nişantaşı, Istanbul, Prof. Dr. İlker Yazıcı assesses where the excess skin is and how much there is, fat distribution, skin quality, any history of varicose veins or leg swelling, and clotting risk. The scar pattern and how far it will extend are shown on your leg at the examination. Operations take place in accredited partner hospitals.
What are the aims?
- To remove the sagging excess skin on the inner thighs.
- To reduce chafing, rashes and irritation between the thighs when walking.
- To slim the leg contour by reducing excess inner-thigh fat with liposuction where needed.
- To give the legs a more proportionate look in relation to the hips and torso.
- To help clothes fit the legs more comfortably.
Who is it suitable for?
- People with sagging skin on the inner thighs after major weight loss.
- Those with age-related skin laxity that has not improved with exercise.
- Those whose weight has been stable for at least a few months.
- Those who can accept a permanent scar in the groin crease and, if needed, along the inner thigh.
- Those whose general health is suitable for anaesthesia and surgery.
- Non-smokers, or smokers who can stop before and after surgery.
- Those who can follow the sitting and movement restrictions in the first weeks of recovery.
When is it postponed or not recommended?
- Those who are still losing weight or plan significant weight loss soon; the skin may sag again.
- Those whose problem is mainly excess fat and whose skin elasticity is good; liposuction without skin removal may be more suitable.
- Those with a previous deep vein thrombosis, a clotting disorder, marked varicose veins or lymphoedema in the legs; a detailed assessment is needed first, and surgery may not be advised.
- Those with uncontrolled diabetes or conditions that impair wound healing; these need to be corrected first.
Alternatives
- Inner thigh liposuction
- If skin elasticity is good and the problem is mainly fat, it may be enough on its own; it does not remove loose skin.
- Groin-crease-only lift
- If the sagging is limited to the upper thigh, the scar stays in the groin crease; it does not correct sagging that extends to the knee.
- Lower body lift
- If the laxity also involves the outer thighs, buttocks and abdomen, a more extensive operation that goes around the waist is considered.
- Exercise and weight control
- These improve muscle tone and may reduce body fat, but they do not tighten loose skin.
The process step by step
- 1
First contact
You can send photos of your legs taken from the front and side, together with your questions, by WhatsApp or e-mail, or call the practice. This information gives you a general idea of the options and helps plan the examination; the medical assessment and the decision take place at the examination in Nişantaşı.
- 2
Examination and planning
At the practice in Nişantaşı, Prof. Dr. İlker Yazıcı assesses excess skin, fat distribution and clotting risk; the scar pattern and whether liposuction is needed are decided together.
- 3
Preparation for surgery
Blood tests and an anaesthesia assessment are carried out. Smoking is stopped at least 4 weeks beforehand, your medications are adjusted with the doctor's approval, and a compression garment is prepared.
- 4
Day of surgery
Surgery takes place under general anaesthesia in an accredited partner hospital. Excess skin is removed, with liposuction if needed, and the deep tissues are anchored to the firm connective tissue in the groin so that the scar does not migrate downwards.
- 5
Early check-ups
You usually stay in hospital for one night and start walking early. Dressings and wounds are checked within the first two weeks.
- 6
Long-term follow-up
Check-ups usually take place at 3 and 6 months and at one year, when the maturing of the scars and the settling of the leg contour are monitored.
Recovery timeline
Days 1–3
Short walks begin on the day of surgery or the next day. The legs feel tight, swollen and bruised and are kept slightly raised when lying down. Sitting is limited to short periods.
Week 1
Short, frequent walks continue at home. Spreading the legs wide, squatting and sitting on low seats are not advised; the groin is kept clean and dry.
Weeks 2–3
Wounds are checked. Sitting becomes gradually more comfortable, and returning to desk work is usually possible during this period.
Weeks 4–6
The compression garment is still worn. Standing for long periods, heavy lifting and exercise are still limited.
After week 6
After a check-up, walking pace is increased and exercise is resumed gradually.
Months 3–6
Swelling decreases considerably; mild swelling in the lower leg and ankle may persist for a while longer.
Months 12–18
The scars mature and lighten; the result is usually assessed at this point.
Risks and possible complications
Every surgical procedure carries risks. Your personal risk is assessed in detail at the consultation.
- Wound separation or delayed healing in the groin, which is more common because the area is moist and mobile; it usually heals with dressings.
- Infection; keeping the groin clean is important, and infection is usually treated with antibiotics.
- Fluid collection (seroma) or blood collection (haematoma), drained when needed.
- Prolonged swelling of the leg and ankle because lymph flow is affected; rarely, permanent lymphoedema can develop.
- The scar migrating downwards, widening or thickening; the groin scar can become more visible over time.
- Pulling or changes in shape of the tissues near the genital area; skin tension is adjusted carefully to reduce this risk.
- Numbness or altered sensation on the inner thigh, which often lessens over months.
- Blood clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis) and clots that travel to the lungs; early walking, compression and, where needed, medication are used to prevent them.
- Asymmetry between the legs, remaining laxity or contour irregularities; a minor correction is sometimes needed.
What determines the cost?
The fee for a thigh lift depends on the amount of excess skin and the scar pattern chosen. A lift in the groin crease only, a vertical lift along the inner thigh, or a combination of both require different operating times. Added liposuction, anaesthesia time, the number of nights in hospital and post-operative items such as the compression garment also affect the fee.
A thigh lift can be planned in the same session as another procedure, such as an arm lift or tummy tuck, or in stages, which changes the total time and fee. For this reason, the fee is not set without an examination. After the consultation with Prof. Dr. İlker Yazıcı, you receive a written quote that itemises the planned procedures and states what is included.
If you are coming to Istanbul
Patients coming from abroad are usually advised to plan on staying in Istanbul for 7–10 days after a thigh lift, during which the groin wounds are checked and the first dressing changes take place; because the journey home involves sitting for a long time, it is planned with the surgeon's approval. The practice is authorised by the Turkish Ministry of Health for international health tourism (certificate no. ST-2365); help with accommodation near the clinic and airport transfer can be arranged through authorised partners. Back home, you stay in touch with the practice by sending photos and messages; if something needs to be examined, a check-up in Istanbul or a visit to a local doctor is arranged. Return visits are usually advised at 3 and 12 months.
Frequently asked questions
Is a thigh lift painful?
A thigh lift is performed under general anaesthesia, so you feel no pain during the procedure. In the first days after surgery, the groin and inner thighs feel tight and tender, with a pulling sensation when you sit down or stand up; for most patients this discomfort is controlled with pain relief. If liposuction was also performed, bruising and tenderness cover a wider area. The discomfort usually eases considerably within the first two weeks.
When can I sit down and go back to work after a thigh lift?
In the first days after a thigh lift, sitting is limited to short periods, on a chair that is not too low and without spreading your legs wide. Short, frequent walks begin on the day of surgery or the next day. Sitting usually becomes comfortable within 2–3 weeks, and returning to desk work is usually possible around then. For jobs that involve standing for long periods, and for exercise, waiting about 6 weeks is usual.
Where is the scar after a thigh lift?
The position of the thigh lift scar depends on how far the sagging extends. If it is limited to the upper thigh, the scar lies horizontally in the groin crease and is largely covered by underwear. If it extends towards the knee, a vertical scar running down the inner thigh is needed; this is hardly visible with the legs together but may be noticed in short clothing. Scars usually lighten and flatten over 12–18 months, but they are permanent.
Is liposuction enough for my thighs, or do I need a thigh lift?
If skin elasticity on the inner thighs is good and the problem is mainly excess fat, liposuction alone may be enough, as the skin adapts to the new volume. If the skin is loose and sagging, removing fat alone can make the sagging worse; the excess skin then has to be removed, which means a thigh lift. After major weight loss, most people have both methods in the same operation. Which suits you is decided at the examination, based on skin quality.
Who is a thigh lift suitable for, and is there an age limit?
A thigh lift suits people with sagging skin on the inner thighs after major weight loss or with age, whose weight has been stable for at least a few months and whose general health allows surgery. After bariatric surgery, weight loss usually takes 12–18 months to settle. There is no fixed age limit; clotting risk, vein health and conditions that affect wound healing are what decide. Suitability is assessed at the examination with Prof. Dr. İlker Yazıcı.
Can a thigh lift be combined with other operations?
A thigh lift is often performed in the same operation as liposuction of the inner thighs. After major weight loss, it can also be combined with an arm lift or tummy tuck. However, because risks such as clots and wound-healing problems rise as operating time increases, extensive plans are often carried out in stages. Which procedures can be done together is decided at the examination, taking general health and total operating time into account.
Are thigh lift results permanent, and when will I see them?
The excess skin removed in a thigh lift does not come back, and the leg contour lasts a long time as long as your weight stays stable. Ageing and gravity continue to affect the skin over time, and significant weight changes can also alter the result. Swelling decreases considerably within 3–6 months, although mild ankle swelling may persist a little longer. As the scars mature, the result is usually assessed within 12–18 months.
Do smoking and my medications affect a thigh lift?
Smoking and other nicotine products reduce blood flow and increase the risk of wound separation and infection after a thigh lift, particularly in the groin. For this reason, no nicotine should be used for at least 4 weeks before surgery and throughout recovery. The contraceptive pill and hormone treatments can affect clotting risk, and blood thinners and some herbal supplements can affect bleeding risk. The doctor decides which medication to stop and when; do not stop your medications on your own.
What does the cost of a thigh lift depend on?
The cost of a thigh lift depends on the amount of excess skin, whether a groin-crease lift or a vertical lift along the thigh is performed, whether liposuction is added and the length of surgery. Anaesthesia, the number of nights in hospital and items such as the compression garment are also taken into account. Combining it with another procedure changes the total. After the examination, you receive a written quote that itemises the planned procedures and states what is included.
I am coming from abroad. How many days should I stay in Istanbul for a thigh lift?
Patients coming from abroad are usually advised to plan on staying in Istanbul for 7–10 days after a thigh lift. During this time the groin wounds are checked and healing is monitored. The journey home, which involves sitting for a long time, is planned with the surgeon's approval; taking breaks for short walks and wearing the compression garment are advised. Return visits are usually advised at 3 and 12 months; in between, you stay in touch with the practice by sending photos and messages.
Last updated: · Responsible for content: Prof. Dr. İlker Yazıcı · info@ilkeryazici.com