Prevention and treatment of waves after suction lipectomy.

Suction lipectomy using a cannula to create multiple tunnels leaves multidirectional subcutaneous scars that, if deep enough, do not modify the appearance of the skin. The postoperative appearance of waves is due to either subcutaneous fat deficiency or to a relative excess of skin. Easy to distinguish clinically, these two kinds of waves may be avoided by a vertical aspiration technique. Fatty defects may be filled with fat obtained from the margins of the defect or from a distant site. The condition of excess skin must be foreseen and the patient warned that a skin resection will be necessary 6 months later.