Ultrasound and Helium Plasma-Assisted Liposuction for Body Contouring: A Single-Retrospective Cohort Study of 639 Patients

Damiano Tambasco; Roberta Albanese; Anna Scarabosio; Federica Tomaselli; Massimo Pinelli; Pier Camillo Parodi; Valentina Pinto; Yanis Berkane; Giorgio De Santis

doi:10.1007/s00266-024-04367-6

Ultrasound and Helium Plasma-Assisted Liposuction for Body Contouring: A Single-Retrospective Cohort Study of 639 Patients

Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2024 Oct 14. doi: 10.1007/s00266-024-04367-6. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Damiano Tambasco¹, Roberta Albanese^{1

2}, Anna Scarabosio^{3

4}, Federica Tomaselli¹, Massimo Pinelli⁵, Pier Camillo Parodi⁶, Valentina Pinto⁵, Yanis Berkane^{7

8

9}, Giorgio De Santis⁵

Affiliations

¹ Plastic Surgery Unit, Ospedale San Carlo di Nancy Roma, Via Aurelia 275, Roma, Italy.
² Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ospedale Santa Maria della Misericordia, Udine, Italy.
³ Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ospedale Santa Maria della Misericordia, Udine, Italy. scarabosioanna@gmail.com.
⁴ Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02114, MA, United States. scarabosioanna@gmail.com.
⁵ Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Policlinico of Modena, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
⁶ Department of Medicine, Ospedale Santa Maria della Misericordia, Udine, Italy.
⁷ Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Rennes University Hospital Center, Rennes, France.
⁸ SITI Laboratory, UMR1236, INSERM, Rennes University, Rennes, France.
⁹ Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital ,Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02114, MA, United States.

PMID: 39402196
DOI: 10.1007/s00266-024-04367-6

Abstract

Background: Over the past two decades, liposuction techniques have significantly evolved, moving from basic fat removal to sophisticated methods aimed at improving safety, efficiency, and cosmetic outcomes. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of a combined approach using ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL) and helium plasma radiofrequency (HPRF) technology to enhance skin tightening without the need for extensive surgical interventions.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 639 patients who underwent the combined UAL and HPRF liposuction technique. The patient cohort had an average age of 31.5 years and a mean BMI of 27.9 kg/m². The procedure predominantly targeted the abdomen, with an average of 2.4 body areas treated per patient. Surgical duration averaged 118 minutes, with a mean aspirate volume of 1698 mL.

Results: Minimal residual skin laxity was observed in 87% of patients, and 91% achieved excellent improvement in body contouring. The complication rates were low, with minor occurrences of seroma (5.6%) and a very low incidence of infection (0.3%). This combined technique demonstrated safety and efficacy, providing significant skin tightening and reducing recovery time compared to more invasive procedures.

Conclusions: The combined use of UAL and HPRF technology offers a safe and effective method for enhancing skin tightening and improving body contouring outcomes. Despite the promising results, this study acknowledges the limitations of its retrospective design. Future prospective, multicenter studies are recommended to further validate these findings. This technique represents a significant advancement in the field of cosmetic surgery, emphasizing minimally invasive solutions with substantial esthetic benefits.

Level of evidence iv: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Keywords: Body contouring; Helium plasma radiofrequency; High-definition liposuction; Liposuction; UAL.