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August 2010

In the current issue of Allure magazine, Joan Kron has written a very interesting article entitled "Fat" Allure.com The article on the whole is very informative and very much worth reading although I do not agree with all of its conclusions.

First, you get a history of fat removal beginning in 1964. The modern version of tumescent liposuction, which has become the gold standard with subtle improvements, was first described in 1985.

In the future, there may be noninvasive ways of removing fat but at the moment they are largely experimental and not approved by the FDA in the United States.

The article states that about 20% of patients request a re-do after liposuction. This seems like an extremely high number to me. In our own practice, approximately 5% of patients need a touch up after undergoing liposuction in New York City.

The results of liposuction are permanent in the sense that the improvement in shape is very long lasting. Of course, the benefits can be undone with excessive postoperative weight gain.

The article discusses laser liposuction (Smart Lipo and Slim Lipo, for example). My own view is that there is no scientific data that supports the claimed benefits for laser liposuction. Additionally, by introducing a new source of energy which heats the skin, there is in my opinion a greater risk of complications. I am in general very skeptical of procedures that have catchy names or trademarks.

Finally, the article discusses treating the abdomen with liposuction vs. tummy tuck. In my opinion, quite a few women get major improvement with liposuction alone and without the long scar and significantly more difficult recovery associated with a tummy tuck.

George J. Beraka, M.D.