SURGICAL-CORRECTION OF POSTLIPOSUCTION CONTOUR IRREGULARITIES

The surgical correction of postliposuction contour irregularities and the results are presented. Postliposuction contour irregularities are classified as major or minor according to the size of the area, severi ty of the irregularity, difficulty of the correction, visual impact, a nd the need for dermolipectomy. Methods of correction include (1) lipo suction of the area of protuberance, (2) liposuction around the area o f depression, (3) simultaneous fat grafting, and (4) dermolipectomy. R esults of 22 patients with 43 areas of postliposuction contour irregul arities were analyzed. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 4.8 years (mean 2.1 +/- 1.0 years). All patients had corrective liposuction except one, wh o required medial thigh dermolipectomy. Fat grafting was performed in 19 areas in 9 patients. Average number of operations performed was 1.4 per patient (range 1 to 3). Of 17 areas of minor postliposuction cont our irregularities, 8 (47 percent) were improved and 8 (47 percent) we re corrected. Of 26 areas of major postliposuction contour irregularit ies, 17 (65 percent) were improved and 8 (31 percent) were corrected. Of all 43 areas, 25 (58 percent) were improved and 16 (37 percent) wer e corrected. Overcorrection in two areas (4.7 percent) resulted in min or depressions in 2 patients. Results from 5 patients are presented. I n summary, postliposuction contour irregularities were treated with va rious surgical techniques with a high rate of improvement or correctio n.