Prevention of Umbilical Sagging After Medium Definition Liposuction

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Aesthetic Medicine
• Surgical Techniques

Background:

• Umbilical deformities, specifically horizontal shape changes, are a common aesthetic concern following liposuction.
• Existing energy devices like LASER and VASER aim to improve skin retraction but lack data on preventing umbilical sagging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe and evaluate a technique for preventing umbilical deformities after medium definition liposuction.
• To assess the efficacy of direct needle fixation of the umbilical stalk in maintaining umbilical shape.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 62 patients undergoing medium definition liposuction with direct needle fixation of the umbilical stalk.
• Objective measurements of umbilical shape using digital imaging software (Mirror Image) before and after surgery.
• Follow-up evaluations at 2 weeks and 9 months postoperatively.

Main Results:

• 96.7% of patients showed maintenance or improvement in umbilical shape at 9 months postoperatively.
• 82.2% experienced significant improvement in umbilical shape (P < 0.05).
• Only 3.2% of patients experienced a worsening of umbilical shape despite the fixation technique.

Conclusions:

• Direct needle fixation of the umbilical stalk is an effective method for improving and preventing horizontal umbilical deformities after liposuction.
• The technique is safe, reproducible, and recommended for selected patients seeking to avoid umbilical sagging.