5.0(14)
Op. Dr. Murat Yaman
Plastic & Aesthetic SurgeryVerified
- 11+years exp.
- 5,000+surgeries
- 6Treatments
Turkish · English
From€2,890
Free quote
60 seconds · no obligationView Profile
Body Contouring
Thighplasty
A guide to a thigh lift in Turkey: which type fits loose skin on the inner or outer thighs, approximate cost compared with the UK, the US and Germany, thigh lift or liposuction, how the operation is done, where the scars lie, recovery, flying home and the risks reported in published studies.
A written plan with the surgeon's name and the full price — usually within 24 hours.
- Category
- Body Contouring
- Hospitals
- 2
- Verified
- 4
- Price from
- Price on request
Verified surgeons for Thigh Lift
4 doctors Compare doctors, ratings and prices — ask any of them for a free quote.
Prof. Dr. Ayhan Numanoğlu
Plastic & Aesthetic SurgeryVerified
- 56+years exp.
English · Turkish
FromPrice on request
Free quote
60 seconds · no obligationView Profile
Dr. Erdem Tezel
Plastic & Aesthetic SurgeryVerified
- 37+years exp.
English · Turkish
FromPrice on request
Free quote
60 seconds · no obligationView Profile
Prof. Dr. Özhan Çelebiler
Plastic & Aesthetic SurgeryVerified
- 44+years exp.
FromPrice on request
Free quote
60 seconds · no obligationView Profile
Thighplasty in Turkey: who it is for
A thigh lift — thighplasty — removes loose, hanging skin and some fat from the thighs and tightens what remains. It is not a weight-loss operation and not a way to remove a lot of fat. Most patients who ask for a thigh lift in Turkey have lost a large amount of weight, through diet or after bariatric surgery, and are left with skin that folds, chafes and makes clothes and exercise uncomfortable. A smaller group are people whose skin on the inner thighs has loosened with age.
The thigh lift belongs to the group of body-contouring operations. For the general guide to travelling to Turkey for body surgery — choosing a hospital, packages, payment and the trip — see the tummy tuck in Turkey guide; this page covers only what is specific to the thighs. If your problem is fat rather than loose skin, liposuction (from €1,500) is usually the right operation.
The honest trade-off is the scar: every thigh lift exchanges loose skin for a long scar. A good consultation shows you exactly where it will lie before you decide.
Types of thighplasty: inner, vertical and outer thigh lift
Which thighplasty you need depends on where the skin is loose and how much there is. The surgeon decides from photos of your legs from the front, the back and the side while you stand, and confirms the plan at the examination in Turkey.
| Type | Who it is for | Where the scar lies |
|---|---|---|
| Inner thigh lift (groin crease) | Mild looseness in the upper third of the inner thigh, often age-related | In the groin crease, largely hidden by underwear |
| Vertical (extended) inner thigh lift | Loose skin along the whole inner thigh, typically after major weight loss | Groin crease plus a vertical line down the inner thigh, sometimes to the knee |
| Outer thigh lift | Loose skin on the outer thighs and hips | Around the hips, under the bikini line; usually part of a lower body lift |
| Thigh lift with liposuction | Loose skin together with fat that has not gone with diet | As above; liposuction is done first or in the same session |
The inner thigh lift is the most requested type. A groin-crease lift alone gives a small, well-hidden scar but only tightens the upper part of the thigh; when skin hangs all the way down to the knee, only the vertical technique removes it, and the price for that is a visible scar on the inner leg. Be cautious if you are promised a vertical result with a crease-only scar.
How much does a thigh lift cost in Turkey?
None of the hospitals on our site has published a fixed thigh lift price yet, because the operation varies more than most: a crease-only lift and a vertical lift with liposuction are very different amounts of work. The figures below are approximate, confirmed in a written quote after the surgeon has seen your photos.
| Country | Approximate price of an inner thigh lift | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | about €3,000–€5,000 | Hospital package for international patients: surgeon, anaesthesia, hospital stay, tests, compression garments, transfers; hotel nights often included |
| United Kingdom | about £6,000–£9,000 | Private hospital; consultations and follow-up sometimes extra |
| United States | about $8,000–$14,000 | Surgeon's fee alone averages around $6,000 in American Society of Plastic Surgeons statistics; anaesthesia and facility fees are billed on top |
| Germany | about €5,000–€9,000 | Surgeon, anaesthesia and hospital stay |
What makes the thigh lift cost in Turkey higher or lower:
- Extent: a crease-only lift is shorter and cheaper than a vertical lift down to the knee.
- Liposuction: adding liposuction of the thighs, knees or hips adds operating time; see thigh liposuction.
- Combination: combining with an arm lift or a tummy tuck costs less than two separate trips, but each operation is still priced.
- Hospital nights: one night is standard; two are common after a vertical lift.
At the hospitals on our site you pay the hospital directly on arrival; there is no pre-payment, and the quote is free. The usual package contents and payment rules are described on the tummy tuck page.
Thigh lift vs liposuction: which one do you need?
This is the first question to settle, because the operations solve different problems.
| Question | Liposuction of the thighs | Thigh lift |
|---|---|---|
| What it removes | Fat | Loose skin (and some fat) |
| Suits | Firm, elastic skin with stubborn fat | Skin that hangs, folds or wrinkles when you stand |
| Scar | A few small puncture scars | A long scar in the groin and often down the inner thigh |
| Recovery | Back to desk work in about a week | About two to three weeks before desk work |
| Risk if chosen wrongly | On loose skin it can leave the skin looser and more wrinkled | On firm skin the scar is not worth the small gain |
A simple test: pinch the skin of your inner thigh. If it is mostly thin skin that you can lift away from the leg, a lift is needed; if it is thick and springs back, liposuction may be enough. Many patients after weight loss need both, which is why surgeons often combine them.
Thigh lift after weight loss: are you a good candidate?
You are usually a good candidate if your weight has been stable for at least six months, you are close to your goal weight (most surgeons prefer a BMI under about 30–32), you do not smoke or can stop for several weeks before and after surgery, and you accept a long scar in exchange for firmer thighs.
After bariatric surgery, most surgeons wait 12–18 months after the operation, until weight has settled. Patients who have lost a great deal of weight can be short of iron, protein and vitamins, which slows wound healing; a blood test before surgery is part of a careful plan. If you have loose skin in several areas, a post-bariatric plastic surgery plan decides which operation comes first.
Who should wait: anyone still losing weight or planning a pregnancy, people with uncontrolled diabetes, a history of blood clots or poor circulation in the legs, lymphoedema, and smokers who cannot stop.
How a thigh lift is performed
A thigh lift takes about two to three hours under general anaesthesia, longer when combined with liposuction or another operation.
- Marking: the surgeon marks the skin to be removed while you stand, because skin hangs differently when you lie down.
- Liposuction (if planned): fat under the skin to be removed is often suctioned first; this preserves lymph vessels and makes the lift easier.
- Removing skin: the excess skin is cut away along the markings — in the groin crease, along the inner thigh, or both.
- Anchoring and closure: in the groin the deep tissue is anchored to firm tissue near the pubic bone so that the scar does not slip down; the wound is closed in layers. Drains are sometimes placed for a day or two.
You stay one to two nights in hospital. A compression garment goes on in the operating theatre.
Thigh lift scars: where they lie and how they fade
Thigh lift scars are the main thing to weigh up. A groin-crease scar runs in the fold between thigh and pelvis and is usually covered by underwear or swimwear. A vertical scar runs down the inner thigh and is visible in shorts or swimwear when the legs are apart.
Scars are red and raised for the first months, then slowly flatten and fade over 12–18 months. The groin scar can be pulled down or widened by the weight of the legs and by movement, which is why anchoring and avoiding wide leg movements in the first weeks matter. Silicone gel or sheets, sun protection and not smoking help; some patients need a small scar revision later. Ask to see photos of healed scars, not only of the shape.
Your thigh lift in Turkey: the trip and recovery
Plan 7–10 days in Turkey: consultation and tests on day 1, surgery on day 2, one or two nights in hospital, then hotel recovery with a check-up before you fly. The general day-by-day trip is described in the tummy tuck guide; for the thighs, recovery runs like this:
- Week 1: walking short distances from the first day, to prevent clots. Sitting is uncomfortable; keep the legs together and avoid squatting or wide steps. Showering is usually allowed after 48 hours.
- Weeks 2–3: swelling of the legs and ankles is common. Desk work is usually possible after two to three weeks.
- Weeks 4–6: compression garment day and night for about six weeks; light exercise from about four weeks; no cycling, running or gym leg work until the surgeon allows it, usually after six weeks.
- Months 3–12: swelling settles, the scar matures and the final shape appears.
Small openings along the scar are common, especially in the groin crease where skin rubs and stays moist. They usually heal with dressings, but they need checking — keep the hospital's contact details and send photos if a wound opens.
Flying home after a thigh lift
Most surgeons allow flying after 7–10 days, once the wounds have been checked and drains removed. Leg surgery and a long flight both raise the risk of blood clots, so wear compression stockings or your garment on the flight, walk in the aisle, drink water, avoid alcohol and follow any instructions for blood-thinning injections. Book an aisle seat. Sudden calf pain or swelling, or shortness of breath, needs urgent medical care. See also flying after surgery.
Risks of a thigh lift: what studies show
A thigh lift has one of the higher rates of minor complications in body contouring, because the groin is a moist area under tension. Reviews of published series in plastic surgery journals report complications in roughly a third to a half of patients after medial thigh lifts in massive weight loss patients — most of them minor and treated without another operation. The main risks are:
- Wound separation: the most common problem, usually small openings that heal with dressings.
- Seroma: fluid collecting under the skin, drained with a needle.
- Swelling of the lower legs (lymphoedema): usually temporary; rarely persistent.
- Scar problems: wide or thick scars, a groin scar that slips down, or a visible change to the shape of the labia when the scar is pulled.
- Infection, blood clots and the general risks of anaesthesia.
Smoking, a high BMI and diabetes increase the risk of wound problems. You lower the risks by choosing a plastic surgeon who does post-weight-loss body contouring routinely, in a licensed hospital, and by staying the full recommended time. For checking a surgeon and hospital, see how to choose a safe surgeon in Turkey; normal travel insurance does not cover planned surgery — see insurance for cosmetic surgery abroad.
Thigh lift results
A good thigh lift gives smoother, firmer thighs that no longer rub, and clothes fit better. The result lasts as long as your weight stays stable, although skin continues to age. Judge it after about a year, when the swelling is gone and the scars have faded, and compare photos taken from the same angles.
Many patients plan several body operations; ask about combining a thigh lift with an arm lift or a body lift in one plan, or see the full body contouring range.
Hospitals with Plastic & Aesthetic Surgery in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
Approximately €3,000–€5,000 for an inner thigh lift as a hospital package for international patients, depending on the extent and whether liposuction is added. Your exact price is written on your quote after the surgeon has reviewed your photos.
A private thigh lift in the UK usually costs about £6,000–£9,000, more for an extended lift or in central London. Check whether consultations and aftercare are included.
An inner thigh lift through the groin crease tightens only the upper inner thigh and leaves a scar hidden in the fold. A vertical thigh lift removes loose skin along the whole inner thigh and adds a vertical scar down the inner leg.
Yes. Thighplasty is the medical name for a thigh lift — an operation that removes loose skin, and some fat, from the thighs.
They treat different problems. Liposuction removes fat and works when the skin is still elastic; a thigh lift removes loose, hanging skin. After major weight loss many patients need both, often in the same operation.
Most people return to desk work after two to three weeks, wear a compression garment for about six weeks and return to sport after about six weeks. The final result and mature scars take about a year.
A groin-crease scar is usually hidden by underwear. A vertical thigh lift leaves a scar down the inner thigh that shows in shorts or swimwear. Scars fade over 12–18 months but do not disappear.
Plan 7–10 days: consultation, surgery, one or two nights in hospital, hotel recovery and a wound check before you fly.
Most surgeons wait 12–18 months after bariatric surgery and want your weight stable for at least six months, close to your goal weight.
The first days are sore, especially when sitting and walking; prescribed painkillers control it. Tightness in the groin is the most common complaint in the first weeks.
Yes — often with liposuction, an arm lift or a tummy tuck. Combining saves a trip, but long operations raise the risks, so a surgeon may split the plan into two stages.
Patient stories