Inner thigh · two incision options, chosen individually
Sagging skin on the inner thighs after weight loss or ageing — tightened precisely. The incision follows your anatomy, not a standard.
Treatment
What is Thigh lift?
The thigh lift is a surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fatty tissue on the thighs — usually after pronounced weight loss, bariatric surgery, natural ageing or a genetic predisposition to laxity. At the Ästhetik am Isartor practice in Munich it is carried out under the medical direction of Dr. Fabian Weinschenk. The incision is set individually for each patient — two variants: inguinal, in the groin crease, for moderate laxity (short and inconspicuous), or vertical along the inner thigh between groin and knee for a large excess of skin (classic, with more scope). Where needed, it is combined with liposuction to refine adjacent contours. The incisions typically run in an L-shape — inner-medial along the inner thigh and the groin — so the proximal thigh is also tightened optimally. With moderate skin laxity, Renuvion plasma tightening is a sensible minimally invasive first step; the classic skin-resection lift is used where Renuvion is not enough. The operation is carried out under general anaesthesia, takes three to three and a half hours and requires one to two inpatient nights. Patients wear a compression garment for six weeks day and night; full sporting activity after six to eight weeks.
Suitability
Who is Thigh lift suitable for?
Sagging skin on the inner thighs often arises after pronounced weight loss, in the natural ageing process or through predisposition. The thigh lift corrects it — the incision follows your anatomy.
Suitable for
The thigh lift is suitable for sagging thigh skin after pronounced weight loss, after bariatric surgery, in the natural ageing process or where there is genetically determined laxity. The inguinal variant suits moderate laxity in the upper third; the vertical variant pronounced laxity across the full inner thigh. A precondition in both variants: a weight that has been stable for several months, a healthy lifestyle, realistic expectations regarding the scar line and the length of recovery.
Not suitable for
The thigh lift is not appropriate where weight has not been stabilised — here we would first like to work with you on stabilising your weight over 6 months. Acute wound-healing disorders or infections as well as active anticoagulation that cannot be paused postpone the operation. Where the change is purely volume-related without skin laxity, liposuction is usually enough — we then spare you the skin-resection incision.
Which incision comes into question we decide together in the personal initial consultation (€100), after a clinical assessment of skin quality, the excess of skin and the proportion of fatty tissue.
Method
Two incision options — two indications.
There is no standard incision for a thigh lift. Two variants are available; which one is suitable depends on where the excess tissue sits and how much skin has to be removed.
- Minimally invasive
Inguinal
Inguinal (groin crease)
- How it works
- A short incision hidden in the natural groin crease
- Strength
- Easily concealed · for moderate laxity in the upper third
- Areas
- Upper thigh, transition to the groin
- Standard
Vertical
Vertical, inner thigh
- How it works
- A longitudinal incision along the inner thigh from the groin down to the knee where required
- Strength
- The greatest scope for resection · for pronounced laxity
- Areas
- The full inner thigh
The skin resection is frequently combined with liposuction of the adjacent areas in order to optimise the overall contour. Which variant comes into question we assess clinically in the initial consultation (€100). Clinic fees are shown separately.
Marking
No standard. Your anatomy.
Every thigh lift is preceded by an individual marking — no standard incision, but an incision matched to your anatomy. The amount of skin, the skin quality and the course of the natural leg contour determine whether the incision is inguinal or vertical.
Discreetly placed — the scar on the inner thigh is already covered completely by ordinary clothing.
Procedure
How the procedure works
Four clearly separated steps — from the initial consultation with the assessment of the incision, through thorough preparation, to consistent six-week aftercare with compression tights and keeping the legs consistently elevated.
Schritt 01approx. 45 min.Consultation
In the personal initial consultation (€100) we assess skin quality, the excess of skin and the proportion of fatty tissue clinically — decisive for the choice between the two incisions. We discuss the choice of method, the risks, the recovery and the alternatives. You receive a written cost estimate afterwards.
Schritt 02Preparation
The pre-operative tests (blood count, ECG where indicated) must be available; no nicotine for at least 4 weeks beforehand. A weight that has been stable for several months is a precondition. For the one- to two-night inpatient stay, pack a small bag with comfortable, loose clothing — the trousers should fit loosely over the compression tights.
Schritt 03approx. 3–3.5 hoursOperation
The operation is carried out under general anaesthesia. After the individual marking, the skin envelope is mobilised through the planned incision (inguinal or vertical) and excess skin and fatty tissue are resected. Optionally combined with liposuction to refine the contour. Layered wound closure with drains.
Schritt 04Aftercare
Inpatient stay of 1–2 nights. Compression tights for 6 weeks day and night. Take it strictly easy in the first 2 weeks — sit as little as possible, keep the legs consistently elevated. Manual lymphatic drainage is recommended to reduce swelling. First check-up after 1 week, with further appointments after 3 weeks, 6 weeks and 3 months. Full sporting activity after 6–8 weeks.
Facts
Key facts
- Type
- surgical, 1–2 nights as an inpatient
- Anaesthesia
- general anaesthesia
- Duration
- approx. 3–3.5 hours
- Stay
- 1–2 nights as an inpatient
- Incisions
- inguinal · vertical
- Compression
- tights for 6 weeks day and night
- Taking it easy
- 2 weeks, legs elevated
- Exercise
- after 6–8 weeks
- Combination
- possible with liposuction
- Consultation
- €100 · required before every treatment
Recovery
Recovery & final result
DAY
0–1.
Waking up, resting.
Operation; the compression tights are fitted straight away. 1–2 nights of inpatient observation. The drains are removed before discharge. Pain is usually mild to moderate — well managed with painkillers.
WEEK
1–2.
Legs up.
Take it strictly easy. Sit as little as possible, keep the legs consistently elevated to reduce swelling. Compression tights around the clock. First wound check after 7 days. Manual lymphatic drainage is recommended.
WEEK
3–6.
Walking again.
Everyday movement becomes possible again step by step, short walks are permitted. Compression continues day and night. The scar begins to mature — silicone patches and consistent sun protection support the healing.
WEEK
6–8.
Exercise returns.
Compression ends after 6 weeks. Sporting activity can be taken up again step by step after 6–8 weeks — heavy loading of the legs after consultation.
MONTH
3–12.
Fading.
The scar fades markedly over 6–12 months. The final result stabilises after 3–6 months. After 12 months, with proper aftercare, the scar is inconspicuous and as a rule covered in everyday life.
Endergebnis
The final result can be assessed after 3 to 6 months — scar maturation takes a further 6–12 months.
Once matured, the scar on the inner side is inconspicuous with proper aftercare and is as a rule covered in everyday life. In the first two weeks it is necessary to take it easy.
Six weeks
Legs up. Compression trousers on. Patience.
Compression tights around the clock for six weeks are not a recommendation but a precondition for clean scar healing. In the first two weeks, sit as little as possible and keep the legs consistently elevated — the swelling then recedes in a controlled way. The scar on the inner side fades markedly over six to twelve months.
Consultation
100€
approx. 45 min · medical · mandatory before every treatment (§ 8 HWG)
Let us establish the indication together.
Which method suits your situation can only be established reliably in a personal examination and consultation.
What is included
- Examination & establishing the indication
- Choice of method, risks & alternatives
- Written cost estimate afterwards
Risks
Risks & informed consent
When carried out properly, the thigh lift is an established procedure. We discuss all risks in detail in the personal informed-consent consultation in accordance with § 8 HWG (German Health Advertising Act).
- General
Swelling and bruising on the thighs are part of the expected course in the first weeks after the operation and typically subside within a few weeks under consistent compression and with the legs elevated. Wound-healing disorders are reduced to a minimum by sterile operating conditions, consistent compression tights and taking it strictly easy in the first two weeks.
- Specific
A visible scar along the chosen incision remains; it does, however, fade markedly over six to twelve months and — with the vertical variant, on the inner side — lies covered when the legs are together. Impaired lymphatic drainage is possible during healing and can be addressed well with lymphatic drainage and consistent compression. A temporary change of sensation on the inner side is possible and as a rule resolves within months. Delayed wound healing at junctions of the incision on the inner side occurs particularly where nicotine is used — abstaining beforehand and afterwards is therefore a precondition.
- Very rare
Thromboembolic events are minimised by early mobilisation, consistent compression and, where indicated, heparin prophylaxis. Hypertrophic scars or keloids are rare — where the history points to it, we are particularly cautious with the incision. Asymmetries are minimised by the precise individual marking before the procedure.
All individual risks are documented in detail during the personal informed-consent consultation in accordance with § 8 HWG (German Health Advertising Act).
Costs
Costs at a glance
The thigh lift starts from €10,900. The specific calculation depends on the incision, the length of surgery and any combination with liposuction.
Starting price
from €10,900 individual, according to the incision
Variants
Two incision options — effort and scar
| Aspect | Inguinal | Vertical |
|---|---|---|
| Incision site | groin crease | inner side, longitudinal |
| Scar visibility | hidden in the groin | inner side (covered with the legs together) |
| Indication | moderate laxity | pronounced laxity |
| Surgery time | 1.5–2 h | 3–3.5 h |
| Stay | 1 night | 1–2 nights |
| Compression | 6 weeks | 6 weeks |
| Starting price | from €10,900 | from €10,900 |
Specific treatment costs are calculated individually; a combination with liposuction of the adjacent areas is shown separately. Clinic fees are likewise shown separately.
All starting prices are net · plus 19% VAT · excluding clinic fees for anaesthesia and overnight stay. Individual cost estimate in the personal initial consultation (€100).
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Skin tightening or liposuction — which is right for me?
Where there is pure skin laxity with no fat pad to speak of, skin-resection tightening is the right route. Where there is a pure fat pad without skin laxity, liposuction is enough. Where there is both — typical after weight loss — we combine skin resection with liposuction of the adjacent areas for a harmonious overall contour. Which route is right we assess clinically in the initial consultation (€100).
How visible will the scar be?
That depends on the incision. Inguinal incision: short, hidden in the natural groin crease, easily concealed. Vertical incision: on the inner side from the groin down to the knee where required — covered when the legs are together, discernible when the legs are apart. With proper aftercare, both scars fade markedly after 6–12 months.
When can I exercise again?
Sporting activity is possible again after 6–8 weeks. In the first 2 weeks the legs must be treated strictly gently — sit as little as possible, keep the legs consistently elevated. From week 3, short walks are possible; heavy loading of the legs only after consultation. You wear the compression tights for 6 weeks day and night.
What does a thigh lift cost in Munich?
The procedure starts from €10,900. The specific calculation depends on the incision, the length of surgery and any combination with liposuction of the adjacent areas. You receive a written cost estimate in the initial consultation (€100).
Does the operation make sense after pronounced weight loss?
Yes — that is one of the most typical indications. The precondition is that your weight has been stable for several months (for post-bariatric patients, for more than 6 months). Where weight has not been stabilised, we would first like to work with you on stabilising it before we plan the procedure.
How long is the stay in the clinic?
1–2 nights as an inpatient. The exact length of stay depends on the chosen incision, the extent of the procedure and your individual healing. The drains are removed before discharge; you receive the compression tights while still in the clinic.
Can the operation be combined with liposuction?
Yes, very frequently. Where an excess of skin is combined with a fat pad, the combination makes sense — liposuction of the adjacent areas (hips, knees, outer-thigh fat pads) contours the volume, the skin resection removes the excess. Both procedures are carried out in the same session.
When is the final result visible?
The first contours become visible after 4–6 weeks. The final result stabilises after 3 to 6 months, once all swelling has subsided. The scar matures over a further 6–12 months until it has faded as far as it will.
Why don't you show before-and-after photographs on your website?
For two reasons — one legal, one ethical. First, the German Heilmittelwerbegesetz (§ 11 HWG, the Health Advertising Act) prohibits advertising surgical plastic procedures with before-and-after photographs on publicly accessible websites — a rule in force since 2012 that protects patients from distorted promotional depictions. Second, we respect our patients' privacy: even where written consent exists, many would rather intimate photographs of their body did not circulate on the open web. What you can expect instead: in the personal initial consultation (€100) we show you anonymised examples from our own practice documentation — matched to your indication, your build and your aesthetic goal. Those images are shown with the written consent of the patients concerned, exclusively within the protected setting of the consultation, and are never published online. You get a realistic sense of what to expect without anyone having to give up their privacy for someone else's advertising.
What should I look for when choosing a doctor for aesthetic plastic surgery in Munich?
Three objective criteria help you get your bearings. First, the specialist qualification: "Facharzt für Plastische und Ästhetische Chirurgie" is a legally protected German specialist title requiring several years of specialist training — unlike general, unprotected descriptions such as "cosmetic surgeon". Second, membership of a medical professional society such as the DGPRÄC (the German Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons), which requires binding professional standards and continuous further training. Third, the quality of the consultation: a reputable practice takes its time, is honest about risks, alternatives and realistically achievable results, and does not push you towards a decision. At Ästhetik am Isartor the medical direction lies with Dr. Fabian Weinschenk, specialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery (Facharzt) and a member of the DGPRÄC. Procedures are carried out personally by the specialist, and every treatment is preceded by a detailed medical informed-consent consultation (chargeable at €100).
Related
Related treatments
In the consultation we establish what is possible — and what is not. In person at the Isartorplatz, unhurried, with no sales pressure.
Dr. Fabian Weinschenk
Specialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery (Facharzt)