Acute renal failure in association with cosmetic suction lipectomy

A case of severe non-oliguric acute renal failure following cosmetic suction lipectomy in a 33 year old woman is described. The renal failure, although requiring emergency treatment, resolved spontaneously with only negligible residual impairment of renal function. An aetiology involving rhabdomyolysis and myoglobinuria is proposed and other mechanisms are discussed.