Liposhifting: Treatment of Postliposuction Irregularities,Updated

Abstract

Introduction:

The most common complication after a liposuction is the residual (leftover) fat and hollows. Postliposuction irregularities have been commonly corrected with autologous fat injections, but without any long-term results. In the procedure described below, the fat is shifted under the skin from the surrounding tissues into the hollow without any suctioning, air contact, or injecting.

Materials and Methods:

The procedure is performed in the following stages: (1) marking the skin while the patient is standing; (2) local anesthestizing of the skin; (3) tumescent technique; (4) loosening the fat with a Becker cannula; (5) shifting; and (6) fixation of the shifted fat.

Results:

This technique has been applied to 82 patients over a period of 7 years. The rate of satisfaction was 88% (72 patients). Some cases with large imperfections had to be liposhifted more than once (5 cases, 14%). In 8 cases (9.8%), the results were not that satisfactory, and 2 cases (2.4%) did not respond to this treatment. The most common complication was hematoma due to fat loosening (5 cases, 6%).

Discussion:

Liposhifting is a very promising method for the elimination of larger irregularities on the skin and the underlying tissue caused by liposuction. It is only helpful in the extremities and in the abdominal wall. It is safe because any contamination of the fat transplant via air contact is avoided; it is practical because it does not need any special training or instruments. The irregularities due to liposuction still remain a main problem of the process.