S.A.F.E. Liposuction: Fat Separation, Aspiration and Equalization. Part 3. A Surgical Video by Simeon Wall, Jr., MD, FACS from the 46th Annual Baker Gordon Symposium on Cosmetic Surgery.

Part 3 (of 3) of a surgical video from the 46th Annual Baker Gordon Educational Symposium which features the concepts, techniques, and surgical results of Dr. Simeon Wall Jr’s SAFELipo® method of comprehensive body contouring. SAFELipo (Separation, Aspiration, and Fat Equalization) provides a nonthermal liposuction, fat-shifting, and fat-grafting method that aims to minimize bleeding, tissue trauma and contour deformities while maximizing smooth and even fat removal, and can be utilized with excisional procedures safely and effectively. SAFELipo is based on a three-step process. First, the fat globules are separated from one another and from their attachments such as blood vessels, nerves and the stromal architecture. The fat separation is performed utilizing specialized probes or basket cannulas, with or without a power-assisted vibrational device, leaving separated and viable fat behind. Next, aspiration of the separated fat is performed with less aggressive cannulas. This step minimizes suction avulsion injuries to the vascular and stromal bed, as the already separated and largely intact fat cells are preferentially harvested. This is followed up with the final step of fat equalization, where the remaining bed of fatty tissues is smoothed out and aesthetically contoured, without any further aspiration. Fat equalization leaves behind a smooth subcutaneous layer of “local fat grafts” that prevent adhesion of dermis to fascia, minimizing the risk of resultant contour deformities otherwise seen with dramatic and/or superficial liposuction.

Baker Gordon Symposium on Cosmetic Surgery.