Liposuction- Patient 119

A woman in her mid 20’s who is bothered by fatty deposits in the armpit area. (“Lipodystrophy of the axilla”) It has been present since she developed breasts, and bulges out of her bra and clothing. She is shown before and again, 6 weeks after power assisted liposuction using the S.A.F.E. technique. ( Suction Aspiration Fat Equalization) Under general anesthesia in the operating room, dilute local anesthetic solution is injected in each area. Then a cannula with raised fins on the end (“Becker cannula”) is used to mechanically break up the fat, using a power device that vibrates the cannula back and forth. This breaks up the fat but does not damage its viability. Then liposuction is performed using the same powered device but with a non finned cannula. Then the finned cannula is used again, without suction, to smooth and redistribute the remaining fat. In this way, I am able to obtain the smoothest removal of the fat with less chance of leaving irregularities. This procedure is commonly performed when needed at the time of a breast reduction, but can also be done by itself, as shown here.

Update: Our patient is now seen 4 ½ months after liposuction.  The contour has improved further as the mild swelling after surgery has continued to resolve.