Excessive Superficial Liposuction

Excessive superficial liposuction can produce significant cosmetic complications.

The use of the tumescent technique and microcannulas allows the surgeon to do liposuction more superficially and to generate smoother results than could be done with old-fashioned techniques that used larger cannulas.

Some surgeons mistakenly believe that scraping the undersurface of the skin with the liposuction cannula will cause the skin to contract.

There is no scientific evidence to support the theory that intentional injury to the skin by doing excessive superficial liposuction produces improved cosmetic results.

Excessive superficial liposuction can injure the superficial blood and lymphatic vessels located on the immediate undersurface of the skin resulting in significant complications including scars, lumpiness, permanent irregular coloration, and full necrosis (death) of the overlying skin.

Skin naturally contracts after liposuction because
1) skin naturally contains elastic fibers and
2) skin is relieved of the gravitational effect of subcutaneous fat, and
3) liposuction naturally results in contraction of the collagen in subcutaneous fat.

Surgeons who advocate superficial liposuction must be careful to avoid the performance of excessive superficial liposuction.