Analysis of the body mass index and leg profiles of Asian women after total leg sculpture.
BACKGROUND
In addition to the conventional methods used to improve leg contours, total leg sculpture, including liposuction, selective neurectomy, and transilluminated powered phlebectomy, provides a one-time solution of leg contour problems, which is a major aesthetic concern among Asian women. The authors present the postoperative results of total leg sculpture and determine any significance and correlation between the leg variables and body mass index by statistical analysis.


METHODS
Thirty female patients who underwent total leg sculpture between 2005 and 2008 were included in the study, and prospective analysis of the patients' data was performed during a follow-up period of 1 year. Local measurement variables and body mass index were recorded, and the correlation between them was determined by Pearson's correlation and regression analysis. A paired t test was used to compare the postoperative outcomes.


RESULTS
Subjectively, all patient results were satisfactory. There were significant differences between preoperative and postoperative measurements for all variables for total leg sculpture. Body mass index was strongly correlated with all leg indexes, and there was a significant positive correlation between the index and variables related to the buttocks and upper thigh. The satisfactory postoperative leg variables were buttocks circumference (87.85 cm), thigh circumference (T60, 44.20 cm), maximal calf circumference (32.24 cm), and calf ratio (0.78). Each preoperative body mass index increment represents a 0.3 percent circumference improvement around the buttocks after surgery. No obvious morbidities or long-term hospital stays were noted.


CONCLUSIONS
Total leg sculpture provides a combined aesthetic solution for improving limb contours with minimal morbidity. Patients with larger body mass index values exhibit better aesthetic improvement than those with smaller values.
Tsai
Feng-Chou
FC
Taipei, Taiwan From the Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei Medical University; ESTAT Statistical Consulting Co., Ltd.; and Institute of Information Science, Academia Sinica, and Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Taiwan University.
Chen
Chien-Hao
CH
Lin
Chan-Yi
CY
Ho
Li-Yung
LY
D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002081:Buttocks / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D007866:Leg / Q000601:surgery*; D015187:Lipectomy; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D013848:Thigh / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult