ABSTRACT
Incorporation of new technologies to assist the liposuction procedure is becoming increasingly common. These technologies allow for a softer technique, balanced shaping, elimination of excess adipose tissue, and skin tightening. Some of these technologies include ultrasound (US; US-assisted liposculpture, VASER-assisted liposuction), power suction (power-assisted liposuction), radiofrequency (RF; RF-assisted lipolysis), and laser (laser-assisted liposuction). In addition, some of these devices have been shown to reduce the incidence of hematomas/inflammation and shorten recovery time. We report our experience in high-definition liposculpture of the arms in addition to new technologies to improve skin retraction, comparing their results in terms of complications, satisfaction score, and aesthetic outcomes. We included patients with mild-to-moderate arm dermatochalasis (Duncan classification) fat deposits in the upper extremities who were considered candidates for third-generation US-assisted liposculpture, power-assisted liposuction, RF-assisted lipolysis/skin tightening, and laser-assisted liposuction. A total of 683 consecutive patients met the inclusion criteria for the study. Most of them were women (n = 605, 88%). Fat grafting was performed in 80 patients (11.7%). A significant portion of the patients were secondary cases (n = 223, 33%). Age ranged from 18 to 70 years (median = 38 years). BMI ranged from 17.8 to 34.8 kg/m2 (mean = 24.3 kg/m2). RF-assisted and laser-assisted high-definition liposculpture of the arms are both effective and reproducible techniques for patients who seek an athletic and slim arm contour. A low rate of complications and high satisfaction index support our findings.
ABSTRACT
Background: The rejuvenation and restoration of a well-defined jawline contour are crucial for enhancing facial aesthetics in both men and women. Within the jawline aesthetic unit (mandibular angle), the masseter muscle plays a significant role, as it is responsible for mandibular masticatory movements. We propose a new approach using ultrasound-guided intramuscular fat transfer to enhance the mandibular angle and jawline. Methods: The multicenter study included 20 patients from three countries (Peru, Brazil, and Mexico). After fat harvesting, the ultrasound-guided masseteric fat transfer was performed with a 1.5-mm Viaro cannula from an incision beneath the ear lobule. The fat was then injected intramuscularly into the masseter at each side of the mandibular angle. Results: Masseter ultrasound-guided fat transfer was performed on 10 men and 10 women between 2021 and 2022. The patients had a mean age of 34.4â ±â 6.39 years and a mean body mass index of 22.39â ±â 2.59 kg per m2. The mean injected volume was 5.83 mL and 5.58 mL on the right and left sides, respectively. Muscle thickness increased in patients immediately postsurgery, but decreased after 1 month. The muscle remained significantly thicker on each side than the presurgery measurements in patients regardless of gender (both P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided intramuscular fat transfer is a safe and reproducible technique for enhancing the jawline contour at the mandibular angle. We believe that it could be a more durable solution than other procedures, although further evaluation of long-term results is necessary.