Dermatologic Surgery
Breast reduction using liposuction with tumescent local anesthesia and powered cannulas
Habbema L. Dermatol Surg. 2009;35:41-52.
It is well known that having over-sized, large breasts can cause both physical and psychological problems for women. Excessively heavy breasts are blamed for back, neck and shoulder pain and can make certain activities and clothing impossible to fit desired looks and lifestyles. In general, a breast reduction can help to make all-around improvements. The standard approach is a surgical breast reduction that removes excess tissue and skin. But not everyone is a candidate or wants the inherent risks that come with the procedure. The author designed this study to consider another option: liposuction using powered cannulas on 151 women with overly large breasts under tumescent anesthesia. Breast volume and ptosis measurements were taken pre-procedure and at 6 weeks and 4 months post-procedure. The study author reports that liposuction under tumescent anesthesia using powered cannulas is safe and effective. Nearly half (53%) of breast volume was removed via liposuction on average and breast ptosis was reduced by an average of 3 cm at the 4-month measurement. Patients were satisfied, there was minimal downtime, and there were no serious adverse events reported.
Publication available in Wiley’s Online Library at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1524-4725.2008.34381.x/abstract