Body sculpturing by lipo-suction extraction.

Classical open surgical contouring and sculpturing of the body has required significant scarring with long incisions and wide depressed scars. During the last decade, a small number of European surgeons have pioneered techniques for suction lipectomy. Illouz introduced the concept of lipolysis and blunt cannula extraction. The method described herein, which is termed lipo-suction, is a dry technique. No lipolytic solutions or local anesthetic solutions are injected. The technique relies on mechanical disruption and suction extraction of adipose tissue. The instrument is a rigid blunt-ended extractor with dull apertures. Postoperative care is a significant factor in reducing the rate of seroma formation to less than 1%.