title: Effect of liposuction on skin perfusion.
abstract: Clinical reports of full-thickness skin necrosis have raised concern about the thermal and dermal ischemic effects of ultrasound-assisted liposuction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate skin perfusion in patients treated with ultrasound-assisted liposuction or suction-assisted liposuction. Patients (n = 75) were studied prospectively in the perioperative period surrounding their suction-assisted liposuction (31 patients) or ultrasound-assisted liposuction (64 patients). The laser Doppler flowmeter was used to monitor skin perfusion in the treated regions preoperatively, intraoperatively, and postoperatively at a series of time intervals. The effects of the anesthetic, wetting solution, and type of liposuction (suction-assisted liposuction or ultrasound-assisted liposuction) on skin perfusion were measured. Anesthetic induction significantly increased measured skin perfusion. Wetting solution infusion significantly decreased skin perfusion (-57.4 percent +/- 2.0) by 15 minutes postinfusion. Skin perfusion in the ultrasound-assisted liposuction group was significantly greater than that of the suction-assisted liposuction patients at 1 hour, 1 day, and 1 week postoperatively; however, by 2 to 5 weeks, no difference in skin perfusion was noted and skin perfusion had returned to preoperative levels in both groups. Although skin perfusion in the suction-assisted liposuction group was significantly lower than in the ultrasound-assisted liposuction group in the early postoperative period, no differences in skin perfusion between the groups were noted beyond 1 week postoperatively, suggesting that neither technique impairs perfusion.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Nevada School of Medicine, 2040 W. Charleston Boulevard, Suite 301, Las Vegas, NV 89102-2227, USA.
authors.forename: Subhas C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Kayvan T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Khiabani
authors.forename: Linda L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Stephenson
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Zamboni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015187:Lipectomy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*