Science News
University of Pennsylvania Medical Center Department of Public Affairs
219 Blockley Hall, 418 Guardian Drive
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Contact: Rebecca Harmon
Phone:(215) 349-5660 or (215) 662-2560
Internet:[email protected]
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, January 15, 1997
"LIPOSHAVING" LESS TRAUMATIC THAN LIPOSUCTION
(Philadelphia, PA) -- Liposhaving, an improved form of liposuction, is now available at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center. Performed by Daniel G. Becker, MD, assistant professor in Penn's Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the procedure is more advantageous than traditional liposuction because it is far less traumatic to facial tissue and can also be done under direct visualization.
To perform the outpatient surgical procedure, Dr. Becker carefully inserts a liposhaver -- a compact, pen-shaped instrument -- into a small incision made in the crease of a patient's chin. The liposhaver, co-invented by Dr. Becker several years ago, is specially-designed to house a miniature cutting blade and soft-suctioning system. During the procedure, the surgeon precisely locates and cuts fat tissue, which is then extracted from the chin area via the liposhaver's gentle- suctioning system. "The procedure may be less traumatic because it requires low suction pressures and does not rely on the potentially bruising, vigorous, back-and-forth motion for fat extraction typical of conventional liposuction," explains Dr. Becker.
In a recent clinical trial involving 19 patients, the liposhaver was used successfully for cosmetic facial surgery in all cases. As detailed in the November 1996 issue of Archives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, the multi-site trial produced superior results: the fat was cleanly shaved and the contour results were even, without dimpling or asymmetry; there were no cases of facial nerve injury; no evidence of increased bleeding during the operation; and no unusual or unexpected complications in the immediate postoperative period.
Dr. Becker, who recently joined Penn to spearhead clinical and academic programs in the Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, believes that liposhaving offers distinct advantages to patients seeking surgical improvement of the facial and chin areas.
# # #
Note To Reporters: Dr. Daniel G. Becker can be reached directly at
(215) 662-4976, or via the Internet at [email protected]
RSS