Excess weight is one of the major components of cardiometabolic disorders. Liposuction removes excess adipose tissue. So it would not be unusual for cosmetic surgeons to be asked by their patients whether liposuction can improve their lipid profiles and blood glucose levels.

That issue is investigated in a three-part series, including information from worldwide investigators, and examines results of several recent studies exploring the effects of adipose tissue removal on cardiometabolic risk.

The first part, “Liposuction may hold key in treating metabolic syndrome,” explores the role of adipokines in the obesity-inflammation relationship and the effect of fat removal and liposuction on insulin resistance and vascular inflammatory markers in obese women.

Also available now is “When paired with behavior modification, can liposuction have a positive impact on obesity and on metabolic syndrome?” which examines the effect of liposuction on insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism and the effects of removal of subcutaneous abdominal fat on lipid metabolism—independent of insulin sensitivity—in normal to overweight patients.

The third and final part of this series, “Understanding research on subcutaneous fat” covers an interesting and relevant study carried out by Japanese scientists at Chiba University. It suggests that the balance between accumulation of subcutaneous fat and visceral fat may be important with respect to the occurrence of systemic insulin resistance in metabolic syndrome.

For an overview of cardiometabolic disorders plus a complete list of related articles, read “Cardiometabolic Disorders & Weight: Action for Outcomes.”

SERIES CONTENT

Liposuction may hold key in treating metabolic syndrome
If a positive connection between abdominal liposuction and metabolic syndrome can be confirmed, a paradigm shift with insurance coverage of liposuction could emerge.

Understanding research on subcutaneous fat
Many studies have found a connection between subcutaneous fat and insulin sensitivity, and more still have substantiated the ties between insulin sensitivity and metabolic syndrome. An example of an interesting and relevant study is one that was carried out by Japanese scientists at Chiba University. It suggests that the balance between accumulation of subcutaneous fat and visceral fat may be important with respect to the occurrence of systemic insulin resistance in metabolic syndrome.

When paired with behavior modification, can liposuction have a positive impact on obesity and on metabolic syndrome?
This is the second installment in Cosmetic Surgery Times's three-part series on the implications and current research findings on the potential linkage of abdominal fat and metabolic syndrome — and what role liposuction might play in its treatment.