What an arm lift and a thigh lift cost in Bangkok
On 2 November 2026 we looked for the skin removal prices that Bangkok hospitals and clinics publish on their own websites. One hospital, which updated its pages in August 2026, and one clinic, which updated its price list in September 2026, publish them. The clinic gives starting prices for a first operation, and says a revision, a high BMI or extra techniques can cost more:
| What the surgeon does | Published prices |
|---|---|
| Arm lift, removing loose skin from the upper arm | 111,000 baht at the hospital, with two nights; from 260,000 baht at the clinic. |
| Thigh lift, removing loose skin from the inner thigh | 126,000 baht at the hospital, with two nights; from 260,000 baht at the clinic. |
| Liposuction instead, when the problem is fat | 66,000 baht for both arms (VASER) and 66,000 to 74,000 baht for the thighs at the hospital, with one night. |
| Skin tightening instead (Renuvion J-Plasma), for mild looseness | 85,000 baht for both arms and 95,000 baht for the thighs at the hospital, with one night. |
| Back lift along the bra line, or a lift all round the waist (belt lipectomy) | From 260,000 baht and from 650,000 baht at the clinic. |
What the price covers
The hospital's prices cover the surgeon, the anaesthesia and the stated nights; its arm lift price also covers tests before surgery and care afterwards. Flights and a hotel beyond the stay are not included. A thigh lift done with liposuction is priced at the consultation, not as the sum of the two. The clinic gives a final quote before treatment, valid for up to 30 days, and refunds nothing once the operation is done. Ask whether yours covers:
- the anaesthesia and the anaesthetist;
- the nights in hospital;
- liposuction done at the same time;
- the compression garment;
- medicine, taking out the stitches and follow-up visits.
Skin, fat, or both
The hospital says a lift is only for skin that hangs: if you can take hold of a fold of it, only removing it works. If the problem is mostly fat and the skin still springs back, liposuction does it without a long scar; if the skin is only mildly loose, tightening under the skin may do. A surgeon can tell which in a few minutes by examining you.
Your weight should be stable first. The hospital says surgeons generally want six to twelve months of stable weight, particularly after weight loss surgery, because skin removed while you are still losing will be the wrong amount later. It also asks you to stop smoking well before, because wounds under tension heal badly in smokers.
The scar
Both scars are permanent. A standard arm lift leaves a line along the inner arm from the armpit towards the elbow; a short-scar arm lift hides a shorter cut in the armpit, but only works when the loose skin stops before the middle of the arm. The hospital says arm lift scars widen, thicken or stay pink more often than scars elsewhere, and mature over 6 to 12 months.
A thigh lift either keeps the cut in the crease of the groin, which lifts mainly the top of the inner thigh, or runs it down the inner thigh, sometimes to the knee, which removes far more skin. The hospital warns that the scar can drift lower over the months after surgery, and that in women a closure without firm deep anchoring can pull the labia apart; both are largely prevented by technique. Ask to see the cut drawn on you, standing, before surgery.
How long to stay, and recovery
Both operations are done under general anaesthesia, with two nights in hospital. The follow-up and stitch check come 7 to 10 days after surgery, which the hospital says is the least time to allow in Bangkok. Arms look close to normal in two to three weeks, and thighs at about three weeks. You wear a compression garment, and avoid lifting, pushing and reaching overhead after an arm lift, and wide-legged positions after a thigh lift, until your surgeon clears them.
After a thigh lift, a long flight keeps the hip bent and presses on the groin wound for hours. The hospital advises staying beyond the stitch check, asking your surgeon to clear you for your flight, and walking regularly in the air. Get medical help rather than boarding if one calf is painful or swollen, you have chest pain or are short of breath, or the wound is red or leaking.
Risks
The hospital says the most common problem after an arm lift is fluid collecting under the skin, which may need draining, followed by problems with the wound healing. Numbness on the inner arm is common and can be permanent in patches. After a thigh lift, the wound opening is more common than at most sites, and the leg or ankle can swell, usually for a while but occasionally for a long time. Both carry bleeding, infection, uneven sides, wide scars, blood clots and the possible need for revision.
Check the surgeon
Only a doctor registered and licensed by the Medical Council of Thailand may practise medicine (Medical Profession Act 1982, section 26). You can check a doctor on the Medical Council's website by searching their first name and surname, in Thai or in English. It lists only licensed doctors. If you find nothing, the Council answers on 02-590-1887.
No one may present themselves as skilled in a field of medicine unless they hold the Medical Council's certificate for it, or one the Council recognises, or meet criteria set in the Council's regulations (section 28). Ask which certificate your surgeon holds, and check the name you are given.
What to ask before you pay
- Do I need skin removed, or would liposuction or tightening do?
- Where will the scar run, and how long will it be?
- Is liposuction included, and is the anaesthetist included?
- How many nights in hospital, and when is the stitch check?
- When can I fly home?
- What does a revision cost if I need one?
- What is the surgeon's full name, and which Medical Council certificate do they hold?
Clinics and hospitals in Bangkok
Our directory lists clinics and hospitals in Bangkok with their address and the services they offer. Send one enquiry and the ones that do this can reply.
The rules this guide is based on
We read each of these in full and last checked this guide against them on 2 November 2026. The legal texts are in Thai.