title: The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) survey: current trends in liposuction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The emergence of new technologies necessitates a study of current trends in liposuction and other methods for fat removal.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) conducted a survey of its members to gain valuable information from Board-certified plastic surgeons about their experience with new technologies for fat removal and managing complications after liposuction.
  
  
  METHODS
  The ASAPS Current Trends in Liposuction Survey was emailed to 1713 ASAPS members. Data were tabulated and examined to determine current trends in liposuction and other fat removal techniques performed by ASAPS members.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate for the survey was 28.7% (n = 492). Most ASAPS respondents reported performing between 50 and 100 liposuction procedures annually. Most plastic surgeons currently employ or have previous experience with suction-assisted lipectomy/liposuction (SAL), ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL), and power-assisted liposuction, but fewer reported experience with laser-assisted liposuction (LAL), mesotherapy, or external, noninvasive devices. SAL was the preferred method of fat removal for 51.4%. UAL, LAL, and SAL were most commonly associated with complications. Only 10.5% of ASAPS members employ LAL; 38% have treated a patient with complications secondary to LAL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Valuable information about current trends in liposuction and other fat removal techniques has been gained from this survey. Although many studies have been published that review issues related to safety, morbidity, aesthetics, and recovery after different methods of fat removal, more prospective studies with standardized objective outcome measures comparing these techniques, particularly newer modalities, are needed to continue improving safety-related standards of care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 1801 Inwood Road, Dallas, TX 75390-9132, USA.
authors.forename: Jamil
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Felmont F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Eaves
authors.forename: Rod J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Rohrich
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kenkel
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods; D015187:Lipectomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional; D014481:United States