REVIEW ARTICLE
Experience with liposuction for the treatment of subcutaneous lipoma: A case series from a tertiary health institution in Nigeria
Olayinka Adebanji Olawoye1, Afieharo I Michael1, Rotimi Aderibigbe2, Kayode Iyun2, Samuel Ademola1, Odunayo M Oluwatosin1
1 Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria
2 Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Olayinka Adebanji Olawoye
Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan
Nigeria
Source of Support: None
Conflict of Interest: None
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Background: Lipomas are the commonest benign tumours in the body. Treatment is often by excision biopsy. Liposuction has traditionally been used for body sculpturing, but recently, it was introduced for the operative management of lipomas. The aim of this study was to present our experience with liposuction lipectomy-assisted lipoma aspiration in terms of its efficacy, complications, risk of recurrence, and patient satisfaction.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of 16 patients with solitary or multiple lipomas managed with liposuction over a 5-year period was done. All the patients had a prior fine needle aspiration cytology, which was reported as benign. Informed consent was obtained, and the procedures were performed as a day case under tumescent anaesthesia. Lipo-aspiration was done with manual liposuction device. The patients were discharged on oral analgesics and antibiotics.
Results: Sixteen patients (10 females and six males) with 21 lesions were managed. The median age was 43 years (23–66 years). All the patients had satisfactory outcomes. The procedure was converted to open-excisional surgery in one patient, and the histology was reported as fibro lipoma. Friction burn at the cannula site occurred in one patient, which subsequently healed with scars. No recurrence was reported in any of the patients.
Conclusion: In well-selected patients, liposuction-assisted lipectomy may have an advantage over the classical open technique. All patients should have a minimum investigation of fine needle aspiration cytology because of the risk of atypical lipomas or liposarcoma, which might have similar features as subcutaneous lipoma.
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