Skip to main content
Log in

Cutis marmorata Resemblance After Liposuction

  • Published:
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Liposuction is a safe method for the treatment of lipodystrophy. It gives good results in relation to body contours, especially when the superficial and deep layers of the superficial fascia are aspirated. The authors present clinical cases of female patients who underwent liposuction of the abdomen, flanks, and back in which superficial and deep liposuction was used. In the immediate postoperative period, these patients presented a skin pattern of marbled appearance, involving rosy-purplish stains intermingled with other whitish stains on the skin in the areas subjected to surgery and resembling the cutis marmorata described in the literature. Even 1 year after the operation, the stains had not receded. The literature mentions cases of cutaneous necrosis provoked by a temperature increase induced by liposuction cannulas. This trauma said to be the determining factor for local lesions of the subdermal plexus. However, no cases involving lesions of this plexus attributable to mechanical trauma from cannulas are cited. According to several authors, it is important during superficial liposuction to maintain a strip about 1 cm thick under the deep dermis for the preservation of the arterial plexus of the skin. This would avoid the formation of a skin pattern resembling cutis marmorata.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. VJ Ablaza MK Gingrass LC Perry J Fischer GP Maxwell (1998) ArticleTitleTissue temperatures during ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty Plast Reconstr Surg 102 534–542 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1czms1Kmtw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1097/00006534-199808000-00039 Occurrence Handle9703095

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Arnold HL, Odon RD, James W: Doenças da Pele de Andrews: Dermatologia Clínica Manole: São Paulo, pp. 1015-1018, 1994

  3. IA Ascott RS Boyle (1986) ArticleTitleSneddon’s syndrome Aust N Z J Med 16 799–802 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1445-5994.1986.tb00041.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. G Bormann J Wohlrab M Fischer WC Marsch (2001) ArticleTitleCutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita: Laser doppler fluxometry evidence for a functional nervous defect Pediatr Dermatol 18 110–113 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M3ms1yruw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1525-1470.2001.018002110.x Occurrence Handle11358548

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Bruce S, et al: Quinidine-induced photosensitive livedo reticularis-like eruption. JAAD 12:332, 1985

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. RPM Bruyn JPW der Veen Particlevan et al. (1987) ArticleTitleSneddon’s syndrome: Case report and literature review J Neurol Sci 79 243–253 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaL2s3ot1CmsA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1016/0022-510X(87)90232-2 Occurrence Handle3612175

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Calikoglu E, Zalewska A, Onder M, Schwartz RA: Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita. 2005. Accessed at www.emedicine.com/derm/topic793.htm

  8. Campbell ES: Decompression illness in sports divers: Part I. Medscape Orthop Sports Med J 1,1997. Accessed at www.scuba-doc.com/DCSPartI.html

  9. Cedidi CC, Berger A: Severe abdominal wall necrosis after ultrasound-assisted liposuction. Aesth Plast Surg 26:20–22, 2002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. RH Champion (1965) ArticleTitleLivedo reticularis: A review Br J Dermatol 77 167 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaF2M%2Fotlemug%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1365-2133.1965.tb14627.x Occurrence Handle14278789

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Conkin J: How should cutis marmorata be treated? Aviation Space Environ Med 70:939–940, 1999

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Ehrmann S: Ein neues Gefässymptom bei Lues. Wien Med Wochenschr 57:777–782, 1907

    Google Scholar 

  13. Francés C, Crickx B, Beylot C: Lupus érithémateux disséminé: Syndrome des antiphospholipides: Manifestations cutanéo-muqueuses du lupus érithémateux systémique. Ann Dermatol Vener 129:2S102–2S105, 2002

    Google Scholar 

  14. C Gasperoni M Salgarello (1995) ArticleTitleRationale of subdermal superficial liposuction related to the anatomy of subcutaneous fat and the superficial fascial system Aesth Plast Surg 19 13–20 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK2M3gvVCrtQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00209305

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Gasparotti M: Aggressive liposuction. Abstracts 1st RAPS Congress Sao Paulo, Brazil, 1989

  16. Gasparotti M: Superficial liposuction. Abstracts 2nd RAPS Congress Sao Paulo, Brazil, 1990

  17. Gasparotti M, Lewis CM, Toledo LS: Superficial Liposculpture: Manual of Technique. Springer-Verlag: New York, 1993

    Book  Google Scholar 

  18. Geukens J, Rabe E, Bieber T: Embolia cutis medicamentosa of the foot after sclerotherapy. Europ J. Dermatol Accessed at www.john-libbey-eurotext.fr/articles/ejd/9/2/132-3/

  19. SC Gupta KT Khiabani LL Stephenson WA Zamboni (2002) ArticleTitleEffect of liposuction on skin perfusion Plast Reconstr Surg 110 1748–1751 Occurrence Handle10.1097/00006534-200212000-00019 Occurrence Handle12447059

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Illouz YG: Une Nouvelle Technique pour les Lipodystrophies Localisées. Rev Chir Esthet Langue Française 19, 1980:3–10.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Kalter DC, et al: Livedo reticularis due to multiple cholesterol emboli. JAAD 13:235, 1985

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Kaplan RP, et al. Dermatologic features of fat embolism syndrome. Cutis 36:52, 1986

    Google Scholar 

  23. Nicolau S: Dermatite livedoïde et gangréneuse de la consécutive aux injections intramusculaires dans la syphilis: A propos d’un cas d’embolie artérielle bismutique. Ann Mal Vener 20:321–329, 1925

    Google Scholar 

  24. SV Pollack (1999) ArticleTitleLiposuction of the abdomen: The basics Dermatol Clin 17 823–834 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1MvlsFKgtg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0733-8635(05)70131-5 Occurrence Handle10526714

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. M Rebollo JF Val F Garijo F Quintana J Berciano (1983) ArticleTitleLivedo reticularis and cerebrovascular lesions (Sneddon’s syndrome): Clinical, radiological and pathological features in eight cases Brain 106 965–979 Occurrence Handle10.1093/brain/106.4.965 Occurrence Handle6652469

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Souza Pinto EB: Lipoaspiração superficial. Revinter: Rio de Janeiro, 1998

    Google Scholar 

  27. Souza Pinto EB, Erazo PJ, Muniz AC, Portioli Filho AC, Caetano TA, Regazzini DV: Superficial liposuction. Annals of the “Cutting Edge II: Advances in Plastic Surgery.” Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, New York, 1998

  28. Souza Pinto EB, Fodor PB, Jewell ML, Al Shammari MA: Clinical application of VASER-assisted lipoplasty: A pilot clinical study. Aesth Surg J 22:31–146, 2002

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rogério Porto da Rocha M.D., M.S..

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rocha, R.P.d., Rocha, E.L.P.d., de Souza Pinto, E. et al. Cutis marmorata Resemblance After Liposuction. Aesth Plast Surg 29, 310–312 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-005-0017-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-005-0017-0

Keywords

Navigation