New Study Says Liposuction Can Benefit Health
A new study found a correlation between cosmetic fat removal during liposuction procedures and a reduction in the levels of harmful fat cells (triglycerides) and white blood cells circulating in the blood stream. Led by Dr. Eric Swanson, a Kansas plastic surgeon, the study was presented yesterday at the annual meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in Denver, Colorado. While further research is required, the results of this initial study are promising. The findings could eventually lead to the use of liposuction as a method of quickly lowering cholesterol levels, immediately reducing one of the prominent risk factors associated with heart disease, diabetes and stroke.
The Kansas study measured the triglyceride levels of 229 patients who underwent liposuction. Patients were given blood tests to measure triglyceride levels before their cosmetic surgery and again one and three months following their procedure. While liposuction appeared to have no impact on patients who had normal triglyceride levels, the cosmetic surgery procedure appeared to reduce triglyceride levels by 43% in patients who registered high triglyceride levels prior to having their liposuction procedure. Study researchers said liposuction appeared to reduce triglyceride levels in the blood stream by twice the level normally achieved by patients taking cholesterol-lowering drugs. Study findings also indicated a decrease in infection and disease-fighting white blood cells but showed no change in other cholesterol or glucose levels.
In an ASPS news release, Dr. Swanson explained the significance of the study’s findings:
“For years, it has been assumed that visceral fat surrounding the internal organs has greater metabolic importance and is more directly linked to cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk than 'subcutaneous fat' that lies under the skin. These new findings support recent studies suggesting subcutaneous fat, which can be reduced by liposuction, is just as metabolically important."