Intraoperative Expansion Technique for Soft Tissue Necrosis after Liposuction

Kim, Jae Hyun; Suh, In Suck; Tak, Kyoung Seok

Abstract

PURPOSE
The liposuction has been generalized & undergone in the field of plastic surgery and it has had a great influence on fat graft. But despite of liposuction and fat injection being performed widely, we did not focus on complication associated with donor site. So we reported satisfactory result with the intraoperative sustained limited expansion & direct closure to donor site tissue necrosis after liposuction and analyzed the cause & measures of donor site necrosis with the literature investigation
METHODS
From November 2007 to June 2008, we treated four cases of tissue necrosis and infection surrounding the thigh and forearm. Necrosis after liposuction was 1 case, donor site necrosis after fat injection were 3 cases and MRSA was detected in 2 cases. first, we debrided the necrotic tissue and treated with potadine gauze soaking dressing & susceptible antibiotics. After confirmation of healthy granulation tissue, we used intraoperative sustained limited expansion and closed directly of defect & observed the results.
RESULTS
The patient was displeased and worried with the unexpected damage concerning the donor site and the procedure concerning time and financial exhaustion, but after confirming no contracture of the scar tissues and only a thin or slightly widened line of scar, showed satisfaction.
CONCLUSION
Because it is fastidious to avoid donor site complication after liposuction & fat injection, enough explanation and understanding on possible complication to donor site are necessary and careful surgery procedure & materials are required. But if donor site necrosis occurred despite close consideration of possible causes of necrosis, we should think about not only wound healing process but also the sequela like scar contracture & cosmetic effect and treat the most adequate method to resolve both concerns.