9906-2016 Trott
Trott SA, Rohrich RJ, Beran SJ, Kenkel JM, Adams WP Jr, Robinson JB Jr.
Sensory changes after traditional and ultrasound-assisted liposuction using
computer-assisted analysis.
Plast Reconstr Surg. 1999 Jun;103(7):2016-25; discussion 2026-8. PMID: 10359269
Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center,
Dallas 75235-9132, USA.
Postoperative sensory changes (i.e., hypesthesias) that occur after
suction-assisted lipoplasty (SAL) are expected clinical sequelae. These
disturbances usually return to normal within several weeks to months
postoperatively. The presumed mechanism of injury is direct trauma to the
peripheral nerves from the suction cannula. In addition, the potential for
demyelination of peripheral nerves secondary to cavitation during
ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL) is well known. Quantitative data
describing hypesthesia after both procedures are limited. The purpose of this
study was to objectively evaluate the severity and duration of postoperative
hypesthesia after liposuction to better educate patients preoperatively.
Furthermore, the authors use the three-stage UAL technique and wanted to
determine whether a clinical difference in sensory return existed between
suction- and ultrasound-treated areas. A total of 21 patients underwent
liposuction performed by the senior author (RJ.R.). The abdomen, flanks, thighs,
and medial knees were tested for objective sensation with the Pressure Specified
Sensory Device preoperatively and at 2, 6, and 10 weeks postoperatively. A total
of 102 sites were tested. On average, the SAL-treated areas improved to normal
sensation by 6 weeks, whereas the UAL-treated areas took, on average, 10 weeks
to recover. The severity of the hypesthesia was not correlated with larger
aspiration volumes or longer UAL exposure time per site. At 10 weeks, 90 percent
of UAL-treated patients and 89 percent of liposuction patients overall had
recovered normal sensation. This study provides the body-contouring surgeon with
good, objective data with which to educate patients regarding sensory return
after liposuction.
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