Lipogenesis and Lipoplasty

[*]It is a great privilege to serve as the invited guest editor for this issue of Seminars in Plastic Surgery. I thank Saleh M. Shenaq, M.D., the Editor-in-Chief, for this opportunity. This publication is an evolution of Perspectives in Plastic Surgery that has been enjoyed for the last 15 years.

This new issue focuses on liposuction. As the most frequently performed procedure in aesthetic plastic surgery, liposuction naturally takes center stage for patients and plastic surgeons alike.

Liposuction has evolved from a simple reduction of localized excess adiposity to one of effective body shaping and contouring. Large-volume removal has subsequently been performed and presented as a natural progression of this procedure. Safety considerations are paramount with respect to this more-invasive and involved technique. I welcome our anesthesia colleagues, Drs. Bruce Halperin and Phillip Walk, and their thoughtful input into this most important area of plastic surgery. Thanks are extended also to Drs. Commons and Colony for their contributions of large-volume liposuction considerations and guidelines, respectively.

Although liposuction has proven to be an extremely safe procedure, complications can occur. I thank the authors for reviewing this issue and for offering suggestions on complication avoidance and treatment. Finally, special thanks to Drs. Gilliland, Young, and Paulsen, whose insight into technical enhancements and tumescent technique evolution, and revolution, is much appreciated.

Lipogenesis is also presented in this issue. Lipogenesis is a natural phenomenon that occurs throughout human life. Excessive lipogenesis for one reason or another can lead to excessive fat deposits, excess weight, lipodystrophy, and morbid obesity. This issue addresses bioregulation of adipocyte growth and differentiation, molecular and genetic mechanisms of obesity, and changes in diet, exercise, weight, and serum lipids following liposuction. This portion of Seminars in Plastic Surgery is intended to provide the reader with a glimpse of information regarding body lipogenesis that will benefit the patient presenting for liposuction.

As previously outlined by Dr. Shenaq, Seminars in Plastic Surgery was designed to provide information of immediate clinical relevance. I strongly believe that this issue goes beyond this mandate and serves as a reference and resource for all plastic surgeons performing liposuction.