Study shows 78.6% of liposuction patients maintain body contour after five years

A long-term study published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal reveals that approximately 78.6% of liposuction patients maintained improved body contours five years after their procedure. The research, conducted by teams from Tor Vergata University of Rome and Metropolitan General Hospital in Greece, tracked 1,248 patients who underwent procedures on areas such as the abdomen, flanks, back, and thighs between 2016 and 2019.

The study observed a gradual decline in contour maintenance over time, dropping from 94.8% at six months to 78.6% at the five-year mark. Additionally, 71.3% of patients managed to keep weight fluctuations within a 5% margin after five years. While body satisfaction scores remained significantly higher than pre-surgery levels even after five years, the study noted a total complication rate of 14.8%.

Common complications included contour irregularities (5.8%), prolonged edema (4.9%), seromas (2.6%), and fibrosis or palpable nodules (2.3%). Researchers identified risk factors for complications such as a BMI exceeding 30, smoking, large-volume liposuction (over 5,000mL), and concurrent surgical procedures.