Does Radiofrequency Assistance Improve Skin Contraction after Liposuction?

1 Eric Swanson, MD Swanson Center Leawood, Kans. Sir: C et al1 conclude that radiofrequency-assisted liposuction provides greater skin contraction of the arms than aggressive superficial liposuction. Unfortunately, no measurement data are presented, only the percentage changes in 10 patients. Two patients underwent skin excisions. The authors do not report the inclusion rate or whether their study was prospective or retrospective. Area varies as the square of any linear dimension of an equilateral triangle (Fig. 1). If the height decreases approximately 20%,1 one would expect the surface area to drop 36% [(100 – (80 x 80%)]. Surprisingly, the reported reduction in triangular surface area (8.1%–15.0%1) is less than the reduction in height— the opposite of what is expected. This discrepancy is impossible to reconcile with basic geometry.