Comparative Analysis of Subcutaneous Thickness of Each Compartment of Abdomen & the Selection of Cannula Insertion Site in Liposuction

ABSTRACT

The thickness of the abdominal subcutaneous tissues is discussed in the data obtained in 40 middle-aged female patients(the range of the age 31 to 60 years) examined on a modern computed tomographic system. The authors have shown that the superficial fascia, which separates the superficial and deep layers of subcutaneous fat, forms a continuous circumferential fascial plane. We have analyzed cross-sectional CT images at the umbilical level in a middle ged women. The authors have made several linear measurements of the thickness of the superficial and deep fat compartments at various reference points around the trunk in order to demonstrate the regional distribution of the deep fat compartment. Our data shows the mean, standard deviation(SD) concerning the thickness measurements of the superficial and deep fat compartments around the abdomen in the 40 women. From these observations, we concluded that the thickness of subcutaneous tissue of superficial layer is relatively constant and the thickness of subcutaneous tissue of deep layer is greatest at posterolateral region with decrements in thickness at anterior, lateral region respectively. And such pattern is same as the total subcutaneous tissue thickness, therefore, relatively safe parts for much amount of liposuction around the abdomen are paralumbar region and anterior abdomen. Such study result could offer the appropriate depths for cannula insertion, that is, 18.8mm at anterior, 16.9mm at lateral and 32.5mm at posterolateral region. Such knowledge could offer a guide to the necessary depth of cannula insertion when performing of the SAL (suction-assisted lipectomy). It is deemed desirable to place the tip in the middle of the deep compartment.