A thigh lift, or thighplasty, is plastic surgery that removes loose, excess skin from the thighs and tightens the tissue underneath. Many patients choose it after major weight loss, when stretched skin cannot shrink back on its own.
You worked hard to lose the weight. Now loose skin on your inner thighs rubs when you walk and chafes in the Florida heat. It bunches under shorts and swimwear. No amount of exercise will tighten skin that has stretched this far.
At Naples Aesthetic Institute, Dr. Kiran Gill and Dr. Daniella Anderson perform thigh lift surgery for patients in Naples and Fort Myers, FL. They plan each thigh lift around your anatomy and your goals. Every plan balances two priorities: natural-looking legs and a scar that is as discreet as possible.
What Is a Thigh Lift?
Why Does Weight Loss Leave Loose Skin on My Thighs?
How Is a Thigh Lift Done?
Am I a Good Candidate for a Thigh Lift?
What Is Thigh Lift Recovery Like?
Can I Combine a Thigh Lift With Other Procedures?
Why Choose Naples Aesthetic Institute for Your Thigh Lift?
Thigh Lift FAQs
What Do Thigh Lift Patients Say?
Schedule Your Thigh Lift Consultation
What Is a Thigh Lift?
Thighplasty is the medical name for a thigh lift. During surgery, your surgeon removes a measured strip of excess skin. Then they lift and secure the remaining tissue so the thigh has a smoother shape.
A thigh lift can smooth your thighs, help clothes fit better, and relieve chafing between skin folds. For many patients, the comfort gains matter as much as the look.
A thigh lift is not a weight loss procedure. It treats loose skin, not extra fat, so it will not slim the thighs on its own. When stubborn fat is part of the picture, we often pair the lift with liposuction.
Why Does Weight Loss Leave Loose Skin on My Thighs?
Your thighs naturally carry fullness. When that volume disappears, the skin that stretched to hold it often stays behind, especially along the inner thighs.
GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic® and Wegovy® are helping more people lose significant weight. As a result, demand for a thigh lift after weight loss is climbing. Thigh lifts rose 20 percent in 2025, one of the fastest-growing lift procedures in the country.
Fast weight loss can also take muscle with it. In one large review, about a quarter of weight lost on GLP-1 medications came from muscle and other lean tissue. Less muscle means less shape under your skin.
That is why we encourage strength training well before surgery. Resistance exercise may help protect muscle while you lose weight on a GLP-1. That gives you a stronger foundation for your results.
Loose thigh skin rarely appears alone. Many patients also notice changes in the abdomen, arms, or breasts, which we address through body contouring after weight loss.
How Is a Thigh Lift Done?
There are several thigh lift techniques, and each uses a different incision. Your surgeon recommends one based on where your loose skin sits and how much there is.
- Mini thigh lift: The incision sits in the groin crease, where underwear covers it. It is best for small amounts of loose skin at the top of the inner thigh.
- Short-scar inner thigh lift: A vertical incision runs about halfway down the inner thigh. It treats moderate looseness that a groin incision alone cannot reach.
- Full-length inner thigh lift (medial thigh lift): The incision extends down the inner thigh toward the knee. It removes the most skin and often fits patients who have lost a large amount of weight.
- Outer thigh lift: We usually treat loose skin on the outer thighs with a lower body lift. This surgery circles the waist and also lifts the hips and buttocks.
Many thigh lifts also include liposuction to smooth stubborn fat. Sometimes the safest plan stages liposuction and the lift as two separate surgeries.
Am I a Good Candidate for a Thigh Lift?
You may be a good candidate for a thigh lift if you:
- Are at or near your goal weight and have stayed stable for six months or longer
- Have loose, hanging skin on your inner or outer thighs that diet and exercise have not improved
- Are a nonsmoker, or are willing to quit before and after surgery
- Are in good overall health
- Accept that a thigh lift trades loose skin for a permanent scar
If you take a GLP-1 medication, you must stop it at least two weeks before surgery. Staying on it can raise your risk under anesthesia. Many surgeons prefer to wait longer, until your weight has fully settled.
A thigh lift may not be right for you yet if you are still losing weight or have leg swelling. If your looseness is mild, the scar may not be worth it. In that case, we may suggest Renuvion® skin tightening instead. Dr. Gill and Dr. Anderson will tell you directly which path fits you best.
What Is Thigh Lift Recovery Like?
A thigh lift can give you lasting relief from loose skin, and the recovery takes real planning. We want you to know what to expect before you schedule.
After an inner thigh lift, plan on six to eight weeks before most discomfort fades and brisk walking feels normal. A full-length lift has the longest recovery.
For the first two to three weeks, keep your legs raised whenever you rest. Elevation is one of the best ways to limit swelling.
Small openings along the incision are the most common issue after a thigh lift. These wound healing problems are usually minor and tend to heal with dressings, not more surgery. Longer incisions can also bring leg swelling that takes more time to resolve. Our team checks your incisions closely at every follow-up visit.
You will see a smoother thigh shape as swelling settles. Your scars will keep softening and fading over the following months. Individual results vary.
Can I Combine a Thigh Lift With Other Procedures?
Yes, in many cases. After major weight loss, loose skin often shows up in several places at once. Many patients pair a thigh lift with a tummy tuck or an arm lift.
Some combinations are safe in a single surgery. Others are better split into stages so each area heals well. We plan the order around your safety and your priorities.
Completing your plan can pay off for years. One study followed more than 5,600 patients after weight loss surgery. Those who went on to body contouring kept their quality-of-life gains for up to 10 years.
Why Choose Naples Aesthetic Institute for Your Thigh Lift?
A thigh lift is a personal decision. Our boutique practice gives every patient time, privacy, and a team that listens without judgment.
Your surgeon meets with you, plans your thigh lift, and performs it personally in our state-registered surgical center. Our team stays with you from your first consultation through every follow-up visit.
Dr. Kiran Gill founded the practice and is a board-certified plastic surgeon with 18 years of post-medical degree experience. She is also a Castle Connolly Top Doctor for 2026. As one of the only female plastic surgeons in the Naples area, she understands why comfort and privacy matter for a procedure this personal.
Dr. Daniella Anderson is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon specializing in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery of the face, breast, and body. She served as Chief Resident during her plastic surgery residency, where her training included more than 7,700 surgical cases, with a strong focus on body contouring procedures.
“After major weight loss, my patients have already done the hardest part. My goal is to give them legs that reflect that work, with a natural shape they feel confident in.”
– Dr. Kiran Gill
Your investment depends on your technique, whether you add liposuction, and whether you combine other procedures. We share a personalized quote after your consultation, once your surgeon has created your plan.
Expect soreness, tightness, and a pulling feeling along your incisions. The first several days are usually the hardest. Prescription pain medication and plenty of rest help keep you comfortable.
Sitting puts pressure on fresh groin and inner thigh incisions. For the first few weeks, sit for short periods in a firm, supportive chair with your knees close together. Avoid low couches, straddling, and crossing your legs. Your surgeon will give you instructions specific to your technique.
Clothing choices and good scar care both help. Underwear and many swimsuits cover a scar in the groin crease. Vertical scars on the inner thigh are harder to hide. Longer shorts or swim bottoms can help while they fade. Keep your scars out of the sun, and follow the scar care plan your surgeon gives you.
A thigh lift smooths loose skin, but it does not remove the dimpled look of cellulite. If cellulite bothers you, ask about Avéli®, a minimally invasive cellulite treatment we offer.
Often, yes, once you have healed well. Plan the timing with both your surgeon and the doctor who prescribes your medication. Losing a lot of weight again soon after surgery can loosen skin and change your result.
The skin we remove does not grow back, so your results can last for many years. Keeping your weight stable is the best way to protect them. Aging and large weight changes can still affect your thighs over time.
What Do Thigh Lift Patients Say?
Schedule
Your Thigh Lift Consultation
You put in the work to lose the weight. If loose thigh skin is still holding you back, a consultation is your next step. Dr. Gill and Dr. Anderson welcome patients from Naples and Fort Myers, FL. They will examine your thighs and talk through your goals. Then they will let you know whether a thigh lift fits you now, or whether waiting will serve you better.
- Siegel E. Thigh lifts are on the rise. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. February 11, 2026. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/articles/thigh-lifts-are-on-the-rise
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Lift procedures led growth as demand for restoration drove plastic surgery in 2025, new ASPS report reveals. Press release. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/press-releases/lift-procedures-led-growth-as-demand-for-restoration-drove-plastic-surgery-in-2025-new-asps-report-reveals
- Karakasis P, Patoulias D, Fragakis N, Mantzoros CS. Effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and co-agonists on body composition: systematic review and network meta-analysis. Metabolism. 2025;164:156113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metabol.2024.156113
- Locatelli JC, Costa JG, Haynes A, et al. Incretin-based weight loss pharmacotherapy: can resistance exercise optimize changes in body composition? Diabetes Care. 2024;47(10):1718-1730. https://doi.org/10.2337/dci23-0100
- Gusenoff JA, Coon D, Nayar H, Kling RE, Rubin JP. Medial thigh lift in the massive weight loss population: outcomes and complications. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2015;135(1):98-106. https://doi.org/10.1097/PRS.0000000000000772
- Dalaei F, de Vries CEE, Poulsen L, et al. Body contouring surgery after bariatric surgery improves long-term health-related quality of life and satisfaction with appearance: an international longitudinal cohort study using the BODY-Q. Ann Surg. 2024;279(6):1008-1017. https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA.0000000000006244
The Doctors at Naples Aesthetic Institute have either authored or reviewed and approved this content.