[Ultrasonic suction lipectomy. A mini-invasive treatment of obesity]

The safety of ultrasounds lipolysis in the treatment of local obesity and lipodystrophies versus suction lipectomy (less blood loss because of a lower impact on blood vessels network, and less mortality) induced us to combine these mini-invasive techniques in the treatment of obese patients. Between 1991 and 1994 we treated 205 patients (146 females, 59 males, 18-59 range age), affected by 1st degree obesity (44.4%), 2nd degree obesity (27.3%) and 3rd degree obesity (28.3%), accordingly to the following schedule: 1) general anesthesia; 2) subdermal infiltration of the operating sites of a cold sodium chloride (0.9%) epinephrine solution (1:10(5), 8 degrees C); 3) 0.5 cm cutaneous incisions; 4) introduction of titanium tips as ultrasounds source; 5) insertion of suction lipectomy probes to remove the adipose tissue destroyed by ultrasounds; 6) drainage of the wide subcutaneous space; 7) setting of elastic bandages. Mortality was zero and very low side effects have been observed. We report an improvement of blood glucose and triglycerides level and blood pressure 30 days after surgery. Fair late postoperative improvement of the blood glucose tolerance test have been seen in 3 cases.