A Nationwide Analysis of Complications and Risks Associated With Types of Liposuction in 69,424 Patients

Liposuction is the most common plastic surgery procedure performed in the United States. Continued advancements have led to the development of five common approaches to liposuction.

The authors of this study aim to compare complications and associated risk factors between liposuction modalities.

Patients undergoing liposuction from March 2015 to December 2022 were identified using the CosmetAssure database (Birmingham, AL). Demographics and major complications were reported. Findings were compared between five types of liposuction: conventional, infusion-assisted, laser-assisted, power-assisted, and ultrasound-assisted. Risk factors and complications associated with each type were identified. A subgroup analysis of patients who received liposuction alone was also completed.

A total of 69,424 patients underwent liposuction, with an average age of 43 and a female predominance of 93.2%. Conventional liposuction (56.5%) was the most prevalent method, followed by power-assisted (32%), laser-assisted (8%), ultrasound-assisted (4%), and infusion-assisted (0.4%). Complication rates varied, with infusion-assisted liposuction showing a 6.7 times higher risk and laser-assisted liposuction having a 50% lower risk compared with conventional liposuction. The overall complication rate among patients receiving liposuction alone was 1.16%, with infusion-assisted liposuction having the highest risk. Patients who underwent infusion-assisted liposuction had a higher rate of infection (0.54%, P < .05).

Liposuction is associated with low complication rates, with hematoma and infection being the most prevalent. Although power-assisted liposuction had the highest rate of major complications, regression analysis controlling for confounders showed that infusion-assisted liposuction had the highest risk of serious complications. Factors such as diabetes and being underweight correlate with a higher complication risk.