title: Liposuction of the female breast: a histologic study of the aspirate.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Liposuction for female breast reduction is a new treatment modality that has many advantages over the generally accepted procedure of excision, which can damage glandular tissue and impair breastfeeding capacity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess any potential damage to glandular tissue caused by liposuction of the female breast.
  
  
  METHODS
  Specimens of the aspirate from 61 consecutive female patients who underwent liposuction of the breast using tumescent local anesthesia (TLA) and powered cannulae (PCs) were sent for histologic evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all cases, fat tissue was the main component observed in the breast aspirate specimens. In 58 cases, fragments of fibrotic tissue were found. In nine cases, minor fragments of the smallest glandular tissue ductuli were detected. In no case was there any sign of larger glandular structures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Histologic evaluation of 61 specimens of the aspirate obtained from breast liposuctions using TLA and PCs showed only minor signs of damage to glandular tissue in a small minority of patients. There was no indication that lactation might be impaired using this procedure. The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Erasmus M.C., Rotterdam, The Netherlands. loek@mcgooi.nl
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Habbema
authors.forename: Josephine J M
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Alons
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001940:Breast / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015187:Lipectomy / Q000295:instrumentation; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult