Improvements in cardiovascular risk profile after large-volume lipoplasty: A 1-year follow-up study

Abstract

Background: Large-volume lipoplasty changes body composition during a single surgical intervention by selectively decreasing subcutaneous adipose tissue. Positive health benefits, previously reported for a cohort of 14 women at 4 months after surgery, include significant decreases in weight, systolic blood pressure, and fasting insulin levels. Objective: In the present study, we sought to determine whether the benefits of altering body composition by large-volume liposuction observed at 4 months are sustained over longer periods of time. Methods: Subjects were seen for an additional follow-up visit approximately 1 year (range 10 to 21 months) after surgery. Fasting insulin levels were measured in the 8 patients who had preoperative fasting insulin levels higher than 12 μU/mL. Weight, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and body circumferences were measured in all 14 subjects. Results: Compared with data obtained before surgery and 4 months after surgery, results at 10 to 21 months after lipoplasty showed that the improvements in body weight, systolic blood pressure, and fasting insulin levels observed 4 months after the procedure had been maintained. Conclusions: Should these results be confirmed in larger studies, lipoplasty may prove to be a valuable tool for reducing some of the co-morbid conditions associated with obesity.