Background: Recent advances in liposuction techniques now make it possible to remove considerable amounts of subcutaneous adipose tissue. However, the metabolic consequences of this procedure are not well documented. The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of the surgical removal of subcutaneous fat on the body weights and serum lipids of patients who have undergone large-volume liposuction.
Methods: 10 consecutive patients with a minimum aspirate volume of 5,000 mL were evaluated, and their serum lipids were measured at postoperative 2-month follow ups. Tumescent fluid was injected using the superwet technique. The liposuction device used was a Lipomatic vibropneumatic system. We measured the amount of solution infiltrated and the volume of aspirate. We also compared pre- and postoperative serum lipids, body weights and body mass indices. Changes of lipid profiles and aspirates were assessed by means of Spearman correlations analysis and Wilcoxon signed-rank test.
Results: The average volumes of infiltrate and aspirate were 7,175 mL and 6,709 ml, respectively. Mean body weight decreased from (Mean ± SD) 64.6 ±19.8 to 60.1 ± 18.8 kg (P < 0.01). The change in body weight per 1 liter of aspirate volume was 0.66 ± 0.11 kg/L. Mean body mass index dropped from 23.7 ±4.7 to 22.0 ± 4.4 kg/m2 (P < 0.01), and mean total serum cholesterol levels from 171.6 ± 21.8 to 167.3± 23.3 mg/dL, an average of 2.5%. LDL decreased from a mean of 97.7 ± 18.0 to 92.1 ± 17.8 mg/dL, a 5.7% drop, mean HDL decreased from 55.3 ± 9.8 to 52.4 ± 10.3 mg/dL, a 5.2% drop. The mean HDL/ LDL proportion slightly increased from 58.7 ± 17.2 to 59.2 ± 18.3%, averaging 0.8%. No significant correlation was found between the aspirated volume of fat and lipid profile changes. However, significant correlation was found between the aspirated volume of fat and difference of body weight (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Previously, liposuction was seen as a cosmetic procedure with no real therapeutic value. However, large-volume liposuction has a definitive effect on body weight and lipid levels as we shown. We hope to discover if therapeutic impact of liposuction is long lasting and may decrease the rate and incidence of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, dyslipidemia, and so on, thus adding years to a patient's life.

Keywords: Large-volume liposuction, Superwet technique, LipomaticⓇ, vibropneumatic system