The effects of ultrasound-assisted megaliposuction on body mass index and seric leptin level in obese women- case report]

INTRODUCTION: Numerous studies in the literature shows that liposuction has a functional role (removal of large quantities of fat would lead to an increase lipase activity, leading to a continued reduction in body weight, linked to an inhibition of the hunger center through a feedback mechanism). Nowadays, liposuction is performed not only for aesthetic reasons, but also in therapy to improve quality of life of obese patients. CASE REPORT: We exemplify the effects of the surgical removal of subcutaneous adipose tissue by ultrasound-assisted megaliposuction (UAM) on body mass index (BMI) and seric leptin level in a 53 years old premenopausal obese women. UAM reduced both parameters in the first six months after surgery, without further important changes in the following six months. Leptin levels transiently increased after UAM and then declined according to fat mass reduction. Leptin levels were directly associated with BMI, except postoperative inflammatory phase. Only one minor complication was noted, a burn which was solved favorably. CONCLUSIONS: The results are consistent with existing data in literature and in addition is a response to the dilemmas and conflicting statements about this issue.