Diabetic lipohypertrophy treated with suction-assisted lipectomy
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Updated: Nov 8, 2026
Human Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue Sampling Using a Mini-Liposuction Technique
Published on: September 27, 2021
F Samdal1, P F Amland, M Sandsmark
1Department of Plastic Surgery, Norwegian National Hospital, Oslo.
Objectives:
To investigate the effectiveness of liposuction as treatment for lipohypertrophy in insulin-treated diabetic patients.
Design:
Open clinical study.
Setting:
Norwegian National Hospital, Oslo.
Subjects:
Five consecutive diabetic patients operated on for insulin-induced lipohypertrophy.
Interventions:
Syringe-assisted liposuction under local anaesthesia.
Main Outcome Measures:
Change in contours assessed by pre- and postoperative photographs, and by the patients' and surgeon's evaluations according to a four-point graded scale.
Results:
Good or excellent results were obtained in all patients. Small surface irregularities were seen in two patients who had large volumes of fat removed from the proximal anterior thighs. Apart from this no side-effects or complications occurred.
Conclusions:
Insulin-induced lipohypertrophy ('insulin tumours') can be treated successfully with liposuction.
