A review of liposuction as a cosmetic surgical procedure.

Liposuction (suction-assisted lipectomy) is today an accepted, closed surgical technique utilized by physicians practicing in a number of different specialties. It is a procedure that can be learned and used as an adjunct to a number of open procedures, including rhytidectomy and abdominoplasty.THE TWO PRINCIPAL KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL LIPOSUCTION PROCEDURES ARE: (1) good patient selection, and (2) realistic expectations. Good selection should be based on physiological skin age of the patient rather than chronological age. Many liposuction procedures can be performed under local anesthesia in an office surgical suite. A conservative approach is always appropriate, as overcorrection is difficult to treat.Areas that can be suctioned effectively include the face, chin, neck, anterior and posterior axilary areas, arms, breasts, abdomen, waist, hips, buttocks, thighs, knees, and ankles. Using the blunt cannula technique pioneered by Fischer and modified and popularized by Illouz and Fournier yields a high percentage of good results. A low percentage of possible complications and undesired sequelae have been documented.