Product Description

This systematic review evaluates the efficacy and safety of high-definition liposuction, an advanced body-contouring technique that combines superficial and deep fat removal to enhance muscular definition and promote skin retraction. Across 21 case series encompassing approximately 6,900 patients, the authors reported a 14.4% overall complication rate, with major complications occurring in only 0.2% of cases. The most common complications were transient hyperpigmentation, seroma, and temporary soft-tissue fibrosis, while overall patient satisfaction reached 92.6%. Although these findings support high-definition liposuction as an effective procedure with a low rate of major complications, the authors emphasize that the available evidence is limited by retrospective study designs, inconsistent reporting, and the absence of standardized patient-reported outcome measures.

Intended Audience

This educational activity is intended for all CME-related persons including plastic surgery practitioners, residents, and other healthcare professionals.

Learning Objectives

After viewing this course, the participant should be able to:

1. Describe the anatomical and technical basis of high-definition liposuction (HDL), including how combined superficial and deep liposuction is used to accentuate the linea alba, linea semilunaris, and tendinous intersections to create a defined muscular contour.
2. State the major and minor complication rates associated with HDL as reported across the pooled literature (0.2% major; 14.2% minor), and identify the three most common minor complications (transient hyperpigmentation, seroma, transient soft-tissue fibrosis) along with their approximate incidence.
3. Identify at least two technique modifications associated with reduced seroma/hematoma rates in HDL, specifically the practice of not suturing liposuction access ports and the selective use of postoperative drains, and explain the proposed mechanism behind each.
4. Critically appraise the quality of evidence underlying HDL outcomes data, including why all 21 included studies were classified as Level IV evidence, why meta-analysis was not feasible, and how non-standardized outcome reporting (e.g., lack of validated PROMs) limits the strength of satisfaction and complication conclusions.
5. Explain the role of standardized patient-reported outcome measures (e.g., the BODY-Q instrument) in future HDL research, and articulate why their absence in current literature undermines comparability across studies and limits evidence-based counseling of patients considering HDL.

Faculty:

Jake W. Willet MBBS, MPH; Anton I. Alvaro, MBBS; Abdullah K. Ibrahim, MBBS; Muhammad U. Javed, MSc(Res), FRSC(Plast)

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Editors

Editor-in-Chief: Kevin C. Chung, MD

Co-editor: Amy S. Colwell, MD

CME Faculty:

Josef G. Hadeed, MD, FACS

Accreditation

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Designation

The ASPS designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM: 1.0

Media: Journal Article

Release Date: 7/28/2026

Expiration Date: 7/28/2029*

Estimated time to complete this course: 1 hour

*Course access ends on course expiration date

Disclosure Policy

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) requires all instructors, planners, reviewers, managers and other individuals in a position to control or influence the content of an activity to disclose all relevant financial relationships or affiliations. All identified conflicts of interest must be resolved and the educational content thoroughly vetted by ASPS for fair balance, scientific objectivity and appropriateness of patient care recommendations. ASPS also requires faculty/authors to disclose when off-label/unapproved uses of product are discussed in a CME activity or included in related materials.

Disclaimer: All relevant financial relationships for planners, faculty and others in control of content (either individually or as a group) are reviewed by the ASPS Continuing Education Committee and have been mitigated, if applicable.

The following planners and faculty members have no relevant financial relationships or affiliations to disclose:

Jake W. Willet, MBBS, MPH

Anton I. Alvaro, MBBS

Abdullah K. Ibrahim, MBBS

Muhammad U. Javed, MSc(Res), FRCS(Plast)

Josef Hadeed MD, FACS

Recognition Statement

The Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits offered by this activity are enhanced by ASPS Learner Credit Reporting for learners who have opted into this reporting. Successful completion of this CME activity enables active American Board of Surgery (ABS) members the opportunity to earn credit toward the CME requirement of the ABS's Continuous Certification program when claimed within 30 days of completion of the activity.

Directly provided by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons® (ASPS®)

Participants in ASPS-accredited education who want their CME credits reported to certifying and state licensing boards must opt-in to reporting and add their NPI as well as state license ID and/or collaborating board ID(s) before claiming credit.

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