The Energy a Plastic Surgeon Expends during Liposuction

It is generally accepted that liposuction requires a significant amount of energy from surgeons. This procedure involves the use of specialized equipment and techniques to remove fat cells from the body, which can be physically demanding for surgeons. The amount of effort required for liposuction must be evaluated in terms of energy consumption. Our goal was to conduct a study to record the energy that the surgeon uses during liposuction and correlate these results with the volume of fat obtained as well as other variables.

A series of cases was carried out from April 2022 to November 1, 2022, in three different plastic surgery centers. Three plastic surgeons recorded the procedures using an Apple Watch, choosing from among Apple Watch training options and free indoor walking. The surgeon then concluded the registration at the time of finishing the surgery and removed the surgical gloves and gowns.

Complete data were obtained for 63 patients. The average fat obtained per 1 kcal of energy was 6.14 cm³ of fat, and 160 cal to obtain 1 cm³ of fat by liposuction. Other data that demonstrated statistically significant correlations were fat volume versus average pace (km), total fat volume versus average heart rate, fat volume versus surgical time, and fat volume versus distance.

Liposuction is a surgical procedure that requires considerable effort. This study demonstrates the amount of energy required for regular liposuction. Compared with other single procedures, three times more energy is required to complete liposuction.