Suction-assisted lipectomy in the older patient.

A retrospective study of 158 suction-assisted lipectomy patients ranging in age from 50 to 81 years was completed in order to determine the success of the technique in this subset of older patients. These were primarily cosmetic procedures of the trunk and extremities. The patients presented with a typical wide spectrum of systemic medical disorders as one would expect in this age group. The study revealed no mortalities and limited suboptimal aesthetic results consisting of insufficient fat removal, requiring secondary suctioning, and waviness or asymmetry. We feel that with adequate preoperative explanation and planning suction-assisted lipectomy can be a rewarding procedure in patients of all ages.