Study shows Safe Fat amount to remove with Liposuction depends on Body Weight
This is a really crucial question when someone considers liposuction.. What is a Safe amount of fat to be suctioned by means of Lipo? A new study published in the September Issue of Plastic an Reconstructive Surgery (official journal of ASPS – American Society of Plastic Surgeons) shows it all depends on the Body Mass Index (BMI – to calculate it click here).
One of the leaders of the study, Surgeon John Y.S. Kim (based on the Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago) comments on the results of the study: “Our study shows that liposuction is associated with a very low complication rate, with major complications occurring in less than 1 in 1,000 patients,” and adds “It also calls into question the concept of simple absolute thresholds for lipoaspirate volume—the amount of liposuction that can be performed safely seems to depend in part on how much fat content a person begins with.”
The previous concept regarding the highest amount of fat to be removed was at 5 liters, but such amount is not absolutely safe because it is connected with several complications. This is why the study team checked the relationship between fat volume, side effects risks and BMI.
Data showed that percentage of complications was at 1.5{f4e1575822752660c3387461b06f16047197db710b64f29e8565d582c3a8cd4f} though serious complications were not common and no deaths happened. The most common side effect was seromas (fluid collection) while the average amount of fat that was removed was at 2 liters. Data analysis also showed that patients that faced complications had a higher average amount of fat removed (3.4 liters) as well as higher BMI. Also patients that removed more than 5 liters of fat had a 3.7{f4e1575822752660c3387461b06f16047197db710b64f29e8565d582c3a8cd4f} complication rate (mostly seromas). It’s also interesting to highlight that there is a relation between volume and BMI. Once patients with higher BMIs had great fat volume suctioned they had a lower compication rate (comparing to patients that had lower BMI and removed the same amount of fat).
The researchers claim: “In other words, obese patients may tolerate larger lipoaspirate volumes without an increased risk of complications”.
The results of the study made Dr. Kim and his team invent a concept of “relative liposuction volume threshold” based on BMI. Such factor is not absolute but it indicates a fat volume threshold where complications significantly increase.
Dr. Kim concludes: “Our risk assessment tool can further aid shared decision-making between the surgeon and patient by linking BMI and liposuction volumes”.
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