Liposuction to the female breast can be an extremely rewarding procedure for both the patient and cosmetic surgeon. Women requesting the procedure do so primarily for symptom relief; cosmetic considerations are secondary. Women seek out this procedure in preference to excisional surgery because of an almost total absence of scarring and other possible complications of excisional surgery, such as persistent nipple sensation changes and necrosis. Liposuction surgery can be effectively performed using a pure tumescent technique using lidocaine concentrations as low as 600 mg/L. Breast liposuction not only reduces breast size but also improves nipple position, reduces nipple/areolar complex size, and elevates the breast to a variable degree. Relief of symptoms caused by larger breast has been universal among patients, in the author's experience. 47
objective. To assess the lifestyle benefits of liposuction surgery using tumescent local anesthesia and to attempt to establish any significant factors affecting these lifestyle outcomes. methods. Standardized questionnaires were sent to 332 patients who had liposuction performed at the clinic in 1999 and 2000 for purely cosmetic indications. Questions were designed to evaluate specific lifestyle benefits generally attributed to liposuction surgery by intending patients and the general public. results. Of the 332 patients, 123 (37%) completed and re-turned the survey; 87.8% of respondents were female. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 26.16. A large proportion of patients experienced positive lifestyle outcomes from the procedure: 80.5% were more confident, 74.8% noted an increase in self-esteem, and 87% were more comfortable in clothes. The time since surgery did not influence results. conclusion. Liposuction using the tumescent technique is associated with a wide range of beneficial lifestyle outcomes for the majority of patients.
M. R. GOYEN, MBBS(HONS), MACCS HAS INDICATED NO SIGNIFICANT INTEREST WITH COMMERCIAL SUPPORTERS.
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