The treatment of facial
lipomas at times requires the use of incisions that are less than satisfactory in either size or location. In an effort to minimize
scarring, the authors have been removing these lesions with
liposuction. The purpose of this study was to review the authors' experience in treating small facial
lipomas using
liposuction. Over the last 10 years, the authors treated five patients with forehead
lipomas by removal with
liposuction through hair-bearing scalp incisions. All patients were evaluated after the procedure for
bleeding,
paresthesias, recurrence,
scarring, and overall satisfaction with the procedure. All of these patients had
lipomas that measured 4 cm or less at the time of surgery. No patient experienced
hematoma, nerve injury, or recurrence. All patients were completely satisfied with their result and
scar. The literature describes an advantage to using
liposuction for the treatment of medium (4 to 10 cm) and large (>10 cm)
lipomas. Because small
lipomas (<4 cm) can be extracted through small incisions, the literature reports no advantage to removal with
liposuction. However, favorable aesthetic results can be obtained by removing small facial
lipomas with
liposuction through strategically placed incisions.