Abstract
Introduction:
This study describes the author's technique and discusses and the advantages and drawbacks of using a tourniquet to perform liposculpture on the legs.
Materials and Methods:
One hundred patients (1 man and 99 women) were followed for more than 4 years after receiving liposculpture of the calves and ankles. The patients ranged in age from 21 to 71 years (mean 44 years). Their motivation for treatment was to seek relief from painful excess fat. All of the patients had a preoperative Doppler study and a photographic sketch. Circumference measurements were taken every 5 cm from the malleolus before and after surgery. Operative tourniquet time and the volume of aspirated fat was recorded.
Results:
Most of the patients (96%) were satisfied with the results of the treatment at 6 months, and 95% reported an easy postoperative recovery. Some patients reported feeling that their legs were lighter (86%), and 6% of the patients experienced a reduction in shoe size.
No phlebitis occurred. One patient had a tourniquet deflation during the procedure, which resulted immediately in a bloody aspirate, followed by marked edema, ecchymosis, and pain.
Conclusions:
Liposuction of the legs with a pneumatic tourniquet is an attractive technique for the surgeon because it allows the surgeon to go beyond the usual limits of liposuction of the legs in both extracted volume and treated surface. The absence of infiltration and blood in the fat reduces the distortion of the tissue, and the surgeon can more accurately view and sculpt the parts of the legs being treated. Liposculpture with a tourniquet allows the surgeon to obtain better cosmetic results with fewer postoperative problems.
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