Power-Assisted High Definition Liposuction in Male Patients With or Without VASER: Comparison of Seroma Formation

Abstract

In power-assisted high definition liposuction (PA-HDL), large areas of the body surface are treated, followed by superficial aspiration along definition lines between muscle groups. Both factors can contribute to seroma formation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if the use of vibration amplification of sound energy at resonance (VASER) prior to PA-HDL would increase the frequency of seroma formation. In this retrospective study, 164 male patients underwent PA-HDL with (n = 82) or without VASER (n = 82). No drains were used. Lymphatic drainage was performed in all patients. Seroma formation was determined by physical examination 1 and 2 weeks postoperatively. The incidence of seroma was 11% (n = 9) in the group with VASER treatment prior to PA-HDL, and 4.9% (n = 4) in the group without previous VASER use. The difference was statistically not significant ( P > .05). The most frequent area of seroma formation was at the lower part of the linea semilunaris. PA-HDL has an increased risk of seroma formation, which in our series was mainly located at the lower part of the linea semilunaris. VASER treatment prior to PA-HDL showed a tendency to further increase the risk of seroma formation in an open drainage—no-drains technique, albeit the difference was not statistically significant.

Safety of Combined Use of Ultrasound and Power-Assisted Liposuction in Local Anesthesia

“…In a previously published series on patients undergoing high-definition liposuction, we found no statistically significant difference of the occurrence of seroma, whether PAL was used alone or in combination with UAL. 15 We therefore attribute the occurrence of seroma to the high definition technique, and not to energy devices.…”