What is the difference between liposuction of the thigh and a thigh lift?

Fat removal vs lift: Liposuction is a very effective contouring procedure for the thighs if the skin has reasonable elasticity. With age and weight fluctuations there is loss of elasticity ("skin tone") which lessens the efficacy of liposuction alone. In patients with less ideal elasticity, a lift procedure should be considered. Liposuction is less invasive than a lift with longer incisions and longer recovery.

Totally different: Liposuction is usually performed when the skin is of good quality. Liposuction works by reducing the fat and relying on the skin the shrink back to recontour your reduced thigh. Thigh lift removes skin. Incisions are longer.

Lipo VS Thigh Lift: Liposuction is excellent at treating localize fat deposits in the setting of tight, elastic skin and requires only small incisions. Compression garments are worn postoperatively. A thigh lift is helpful for someone who has excess hanging skin on the thighs and requires surgical excision of some of the skin and fat followed by resuspension of the soft tissues. This can be combined with liposuction.

Lift vs lipo: Liposuction removes localized areas of excess fat, and in order for it to be successful the skin tone in that area has to be elastic enough to shrink evenly. When the skin is lax, for example after weight loss, some skin needs to be removed. Examples of this would be tummy tuck and thigh lift.

Skin laxity vs fat: Thigh lifts involve removal of excess skin and fat when the skin has become lax. Liposuction only deals with removal of fat. Liposuction requires that the overlying skin has good enough tone to reconform and give a good contour. Thigh lifts are often needed in the case of significant skin laxity occuring after massive weight loss.

Thigh lift or lipo: Thigh lift frequently includes liposuction but not the other way around. If you don't have significan ptosis and is just a matter of excess subcutaneus tissie then lipo should be enough. Now if you are a weight loss patient with excess skin you will need a thigh lift.