Safe Liposuction and Fat Transfer

From The Critics

Reviewer: Jane S. Weston, MD(Atherton Plastic Surgery Center)
Description: This book on liposuction is edited by Rhoda Narins, MD, and written by a group of contributors that reads like the Who's Who of dermatologic liposuction. Chapters cover a wide variety of topics addressing practical and clinical concerns.
Purpose: The purpose is to provide inexperienced as well as experienced liposuction surgeons with the information necessary to assure safe and effective liposuction and fat transfer. The book also serves to defend the tumescent technique of liposuction, as performed primarily by dermatologic surgeons, as the safest technique available. The goal of promoting safety in liposuction is a worthwhile one. However, the scope of this book. combined with the wide array of authors, diffuses the focus. The early chapters address issues of interest to neophyte surgeons but most of the clinical chapters assume a familiarity with the technique that few novices possess. The thought of a novice reading this book and practicing liposuction without supplemental training gives little assurance of safety.
Audience: This book is intended for dermatologists. Residents in training and practitioners new to liposuction may benefit from the chapters discussing the basics of setting up a surgical suite, photographing patients, computer imaging, and obtaining informed consent. Dr. Narins' surgical results are impressive and establish her as a credible authority in the field.
Features: The editor has chosen her contributors well. The book includes several "classic" writings including, "The Weekend Facelift" by Drs. Cook, syringe lipoplasty by Pierre Fournier, MD, and structural lipoaugmentation by Sydney Coleman, MD. As with most multiauthored books, some chapters are more helpful than others. Detailed descriptions of the tumescent technique are offered in several chapters. Risks are addressed and specific hints for each anatomic site are detailed. The book includes up-to-date discussions of newer technologies such as ultrasonic liposuction and power-assisted liposuction.
Assessment: As an experienced liposuction surgeon, I found the book lacking in depth, addressing many topics superficially. Dr. Narins might have fared better had she written two books, each addressing one of her two intended audiences. Nonetheless, I think this book would be a helpful addition to a medical library, offering "one stop shopping" for a lot of basic liposuction and fat grafting information.

3 Stars from Doody