Thigh Lift Scars: What to Expect and How to Minimize Them
Unfortunately, we would be lying if we told you that we can give you a thigh lift and leave no scars behind—and we believe in being completely honest with our patients. We can, however, tell you that your plastic surgeon will do everything possible to hide and minimize scarring. With time and proper care, your scars will fade and become much less noticeable. Here we’ll explain where your surgical incisions will be and provide a timeline of when they will heal and mature.
Where Are the Scars Located After a Thigh Lift?
The location of your thigh lift scars depends on what type of incision you require. There are several different types of thigh lift, each with its own incision placement. The one constant is that plastic surgeons do make every effort to hide the incisions in the natural creases of the body or where clothing will cover them.
Mini Thigh Lift
If you need only minimal assistance with your upper inner thighs, you may qualify for a mini thigh lift. Patients who get a mini thigh lift have just a small scar running along the groin crease. A mini thigh lift creates the least scarring and hides the scar very well.
Inner (Medial) Thigh Lift
If you have moderate amounts of excess skin and fat on your inner thighs, an inner thigh lift may work best for you. Like the mini thigh lift, an inner lift leaves a scar along the groin crease where the thigh meets the body. The scar then travels down the leg along the inner thigh. It won’t necessarily extend very far down your inner thigh, but there will be some scarring there.
Vertical Thigh Lift
When skin laxity is significant or severe, a vertical thigh lift can be just what the doctor ordered, literally. This surgery takes things a bit further than an inner thigh lift. The scar left by a vertical lift is the same but extends farther down the inner thigh, often going as far as the knee. This scar may be more noticeable due to its length.
Bilateral (Outer) Thigh Lift
When loose skin (like after massive weight loss) becomes a problem on the hips and outer thighs, a bilateral thigh lift is in order. The incision starts at the front of the hip and extends around the outside of the thigh, sometimes going as far as the lower back. Because it is on the outside of the thigh, this lift leaves the most visible scar. It is, however, usually placed in such a way that underwear will hide it.
Thigh Lift Scar Healing Timeline
They say time heals all wounds, but it may do so at different rates for different people. Your age, general health, skin type, and skin tone can all impact how long it takes your scars to heal. Most patients find that their scars mature in about a year, however, and healing tends to follow this timeline fairly closely:
- First Few Weeks (Early Healing Phase)
- Scars appear red, raised, and slightly swollen
- Itching and tightness around the incision sites are common
- Weeks 4–8 (Scar Maturation Begins)
- Scars start to flatten and fade from bright red to pink
- Your surgeon may recommend starting scar treatments at this stage
- Months 3–6 (Scar Lightening Phase)
- Scars continue to fade and become less noticeable
- Silicone sheets and sun protection play a major role in reducing visibility
- Months 6–12 (Final Scar Maturation)
- Scars become lighter and smoother, blending with natural skin tone
- Darker skin tones may take longer to see fading and may be more prone to hyperpigmentation or keloids
Factors That Affect Thigh Lift Scar Appearance
Every patient is different, and so is every scar. There are several factors that may impact how quickly your scars fade as compared to someone else’s. Here are some things that tend to make scar healing take longer:
- Skin tone, with darker skin more likely to develop hypertrophic or keloid scars
- Family or personal history of poor scar healing
- The amount of tension on the scar; the inner thigh is a high-tension area, which can make scars heal more slowly
- Too much movement during healing, which can cause scars to widen
- UV rays from sun exposure darkening scars and making them more noticeable
How to Minimize Thigh Lift Scars
Fortunately, there are several things you can do to minimize the appearance of your scars and encourage them to fade as quickly as possible. To do so:
- Follow all of your surgeon’s post-op instructions carefully
- Keep your incisions clean and dry to prevent infection and inflammation
- Avoid excessive walking or stretching in the early recovery period
- Use silicone-based scar treatments starting as soon as your incisions are fully healed
- Learn and use gentle scar massage techniques
- Apply sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more to incision sites for at least 12 months after surgery
- Avoid smoking and alcohol
When to Seek Additional Scar Treatment
Most patients happily watch their scars fade throughout the year after their thigh lift, but a rare few aren’t quite so lucky. If your scars are still quite dark or raised at the six-month mark, talk to your plastic surgeon. Sometimes steroid injections, laser therapy, or chemical peels can help reduce the appearance of stubborn scars. If things don’t seem to have improved in a year, surgical scar revision may be an option.
Recap & Next Steps
When it comes to a thigh lift, scars are a necessary evil that simply can’t be avoided. But they can be managed effectively with proper aftercare and treatment. The first few weeks after your surgery, it’s crucial that you take good care of your incisions and put as little tension on them as possible. Once your incisions heal, utilizing scar treatments for the next six to 12 months continues to encourage healing and fading. If you have concerns about scarring after your thigh lift, we encourage you to schedule a free virtual consultation to get more information about scars and how to mitigate them.