Severe and massive necrosis following high definition power-assisted liposuction: a case report

Abstract

Although liposuction is one of the most sought-after surgical procedures in the world, there are plenty of acknowledged complications associated with it. There are, however, no case reports such as this one regarding severe complications deriving from the high-definition technique. We describe the management of a patient with massive necrosis following a high definition power-assisted liposuction. A 37-year-old woman, who presented an overweight body mass index and no other comorbidities, had a liposuction with abdominoplasty done in 2012. In early 2019, she underwent a high definition liposuction, being transferred 8 days after the procedure into a tertiary and university-related hospital with necrotizing fasciitis and sepsis. The patient received treatment for a life-threatening condition at the ICU and several interventions for debridement and skin replacement. She was discharged 2 months after admission. High definition liposuction is a new technique that has recently become widespread. However, it is not fail-safe, as the present case shows. It should be restricted to selected cases and its technique should be reviewed and trained extensively to reduce its possible risks. Level of evidence: Level V, risk/prognostic study.