Thigh Lift (Thighplasty)

A thigh lift, also called thighplasty or cruroplasty, is an operation that removes loose skin and excess fat from the thighs and tightens what remains. It treats skin that has lost its elasticity — something liposuction, exercise and diet cannot correct. Most thigh lifts treat the inner thigh; the outer thigh is usually lifted as part of a lower body lift.

Pinch the tissue of your inner thigh. If it is thick and firm and springs back, it is mostly fat and liposuction may be enough. If it is thin, soft and crepey, and lifting it upwards with your hand produces the shape you want, the problem is skin — and only a thigh lift removes skin. Many patients after weight loss have both, and the two are planned together.

An inner (medial) thigh lift removes loose skin from the inside of the thigh. In the crescent or groin-crease version, a band of skin is removed through an incision in the fold where the thigh meets the groin, lifting the upper inner thigh. It suits patients whose looseness is concentrated in the upper third of the inner thigh.

When loose skin runs along the whole inner thigh towards the knee — usually after major weight loss — the groin incision alone cannot reach it. An extended inner thigh lift adds a vertical incision along the inner thigh, removing skin across the width of the thigh rather than only lifting it. The scar is longer and more visible, and in exchange the inner thigh line becomes genuinely straighter.

Loose skin on the outside of the thigh, over the hip and towards the buttock, is lifted from above, through the waist and hip line, as part of a lower body lift — a 360 tummy tuck or body lift. The outer thigh follows the lift upwards. An isolated incision on the outer thigh is rarely the right choice.

In a crescent inner thigh lift, the scar sits in the groin crease and is usually hidden by underwear and most swimwear. In an extended thigh lift, there is also a vertical scar along the inner thigh, towards or to the knee, visible in shorts or swimwear. Dr. Paulo Michels marks the line on you, standing and sitting, before you decide.

For mild looseness with good skin, VASER liposuction combined with internal skin tightening — Renuvion (J-Plasma) or BodyTite — can improve the inner thigh through small entry points. These technologies help skin contract; they do not remove a fold of hanging skin. When skin excess is significant, a thigh lift is the operation that corrects it.

A good candidate has loose thigh skin that bothers them, a weight that has been stable for several months, good general health, no active smoking and realistic expectations about the scar. Typical candidates are people after major weight loss — including weight loss with Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro, or after bariatric surgery — and people whose thigh skin has loosened with age.

Yes, once your weight has been stable for several months. GLP-1 medicines such as semaglutide and tirzepatide are usually paused about two weeks before surgery, as directed by the anaesthesia team, because they slow stomach emptying. Never stop or change the medicine on your own; clear instructions are given in coordination with the doctor who prescribes it.

The operation is performed under general anaesthesia at Elyzee Hospital. With you standing, the skin to be removed and the scar lines are marked. Liposuction is usually performed first to reduce fat and allow skin removal with less disruption of the deeper tissue; the lift is then anchored to the firm deep tissue of the groin to reduce scar migration, the excess skin is removed and the wound is closed in layers.

The groin is a moist area that moves with every step and every time you sit, so incisions there are under more tension and friction than most. Small areas of wound separation are among the more common issues after a thigh lift; they usually heal with dressings, but they take time. Careful anchoring, conservative skin removal, hygiene and limited stretching in the first weeks all reduce the risk.

Besides the general risks of surgery — bleeding, infection, fluid collection, delayed healing, blood clots and anaesthetic risk — the specific risks include wound separation in the groin, downward migration or widening of the scar, distortion of the outer genital area if the scar pulls down, numbness of the inner thigh, and prolonged swelling of the lower legs, because lymphatic channels pass through the groin. These are discussed openly at the consultation.

Most patients describe tightness and discomfort rather than severe pain, especially when sitting and walking. Pain control is planned with the anaesthesiologist, including nerve blocks where appropriate, and continues with oral painkillers at home.

Most patients need around two to three weeks before returning to work, and exercise is generally advised after about six to eight weeks. Walking short distances starts early to protect circulation. A compression garment is worn for about six weeks, and Manual Lymphatic Drainage helps the swelling settle.

You can sit from the start, but sitting deep in low chairs, crossing your legs and long car journeys feel tight for a few weeks and stretch the groin incision. Higher chairs, short sitting periods and getting up to walk regularly are advised during the early recovery.

Yes, swelling of the lower legs and ankles is expected in the first weeks, because fluid travels downwards with gravity. Elevating the legs when resting, wearing compression as instructed and Manual Lymphatic Drainage help it settle.

Often, especially after major weight loss. The thighs can be treated together with or after a 360 tummy tuck or body lift, which also improves the outer thigh. Arms and thighs together make early movement harder, so the plan is frequently staged; what can safely be combined depends on your health and the total operating time.

The skin removed does not come back, so the improvement is long-lasting as long as your weight stays stable. Some relaxation of the remaining skin occurs over the first months and with ageing, and significant weight gain can stretch the thighs again.

Lipedema is a disease of the fat tissue and is usually treated first with lymph-sparing liposuction. In some patients, loose skin remains after the fat has been removed, and a thigh lift may be considered later as a second stage. The order and timing are decided individually.

The cost depends on whether you need liposuction with skin tightening, a crescent or extended thigh lift, and whether it is combined with a body lift or other procedures. Fees are quoted individually after the consultation and the quote is all-inclusive: surgeon, anaesthesiologist, hospital and theatre, compression garments, discharge medication and follow-up. No fixed price list is published.

Yes. Many of Dr. Paulo Michels' body-contouring patients live in Dubai. All consultations and surgery take place at Elyzee Hospital in Abu Dhabi, and pre-operative tests, surgery and follow-up visits are grouped to keep the number of journeys to a minimum.