Tissue temperatures during ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Aesthetic Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty (UAL) uses ultrasonic energy for fat removal, gaining popularity in the US after European use.
• Concerns exist regarding potential heat-related complications, such as burns and ischemic skin injuries, associated with UAL.
• The heat generated during UAL is a byproduct of energy transfer and dissipates without directly treating adipose tissue.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether significant temperature elevations occur in subcutaneous tissues during clinical ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty.
• To assess the thermal safety of UAL by measuring tissue temperatures during the procedure.

Main Methods:

• Subcutaneous tissue temperatures were monitored in 55 patients undergoing UAL over a 6-month period.
• Temperature measurements were taken intraoperatively using a data-logging instrument and needle microprobe.
• Temperatures were recorded before tumescent fluid infusion, after infusion, and at 5-minute intervals throughout the procedure.

Main Results:

• Patient core body temperature remained stable (35.7°C–36.3°C) throughout the procedures.
• Subcutaneous tissue temperatures gradually increased during ultrasonic energy application but remained below core body temperature (p < 0.05).
• Room-temperature tumescent fluid did not lower core body temperature and contributed to thermal safety.

Conclusions:

• There is no clinically significant elevation of subcutaneous temperatures during ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty.
• Reported ischemic skin complications are likely due to subdermal plexus injury, not thermal injury.
• The risk of thermal injury with UAL is negligible when performed by experienced operators adhering to surgical principles.