Use of a nasopharyngeal cannula as a skin protector during lipoaspiration

Lipoaspiration is the most commonly practiced cosmetic procedure in the world. It provides both metabolic and aesthetic benefits, while avoiding the invasiveness of body-contouring surgery. However, it carries the risk of complications, the most common of which relate to the repetitive movement of the liposuction cannula back and forth causing friction burns of the skin at the access sites, cutaneous hyperpigmentation or necrosis. To avoid this distressing complication, we describe the use of a nasopharyngeal cannula fashioned into 15-20 mm long pieces and inserted into the access sites to protect the skin from the back and forth movement of the liposuction cannula.