Rhytidectomy assisted with ultrasound techniques: the ultra-lipo-lift technique

Ultrasound-assisted liposuction has been practiced in Europe and South America for more than 10 years. This method was clinically introduced in 1989 for removal of fat by Dr. Zocchi, who developed the concept of applying ultrasound energy to adipose tissue [13,14]. Since 1992, we have been using ultrasound lipoplasty, first in body remodeling, then in face and neck surgery, after establishing working and safety rules in a study of 300 patients. In the beginning we were only looking to eliminate deposits of fat in oval faces with acne-scars, subdermal fibrosis, and thick skin, as these types of cases are not good candidates for rithidectomy. We found good skin retraction when we adjusted the superficial movements of the canula and had adequate machine power to avoid complications beneath the skin. Afterwards, we can break and release the adhesion zones of scarring and fibrosis, consequences of subdermic infiltrations or thread implants. Now we report our technique of rithidectomy assisted with ultrasound, which we have called ultra-lipo-lift (ULL). During the two last years we used this technique on 67 patients (48 females and 19 males) with good results and very few complications.