Our group published a study about 10 years ago showing that after liposuction surgery, fat comes back in some people1. Therefore, one reason for doing the study is so that we can answer the question, “Why does the fat come back?” We will also be studying how the body deposits fat, and if there are genetic mechanisms that seem to play a role in how this happens. We are looking for 54 subjects, men and women, who are interested in having liposuction surgery.
Men will have liposuction surgery in their belly, and also in their flank (lower back, by the kidneys). Women will have liposuction surgery in their thighs, gluteal area (buttocks) or the lower abdomen below the umbilicus (belly button). Our subjects will then be followed for 3 years by the investigative team.
If you believe you qualify for the study and are interested in participating, we have put mechanisms into place to help you find out more. It is a commitment to participate. However, there are many benefits to participation that go beyond having the surgery. For more information about plastic surgery, visit American Society of Plastic Surgeons, or the American Society for Asthetic Plastic Surgery. For information about surgical weight loss visit the University of Colorado Surgical Weight Loss Center.
1Yost, T.J., Rodgers, C.M., Eckel, R.H. (1993). Suction lipectomy: Outcome relates to region-specific lipoprotein lipase activity and interval weight change. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 92(6), 1101-1108. Reference
The Investigators
<TOP>
Robert H. Eckel, MD Professor of Medicine, Physiology, and of Biophysics
Dr. Robert Eckel, the Principal Investigator, is an internationally known Endocrinologist. He focuses his research on obesity, diabetes, and lipid metabolism. He is the past Presidentt of the American Heart Association, and has cared for patients and conducted his research at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center for more than 20 years.
Christopher K. Law, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine The Cosmetic Center, University of Colorado Hospital
Dr. Christopher Law was educated at the University of Pennsylvania, first in biology, art and music history, then medicine. After his surgical training there, he completed his specialty Plastic Surgery training here at the University of Colorado and is fully board certified. He is especially fond of a restorative approach to both facial and body contour surgery, and favors subtlety and balance in his results.
Teri L Hernandez, RN, MS Instructor
Teri Hernandez is both the nurse coordinator and a nurse investigator for this project and has worked with Dr. Eckel for nearly six years. She completed her undergraduate training at Northern Illinois University in 1994. She also has a Master of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center (UCHSC), and is currently a PhD student at the UCHSC School of Nursing. Teri and will be the main contact person for study subjects and will follow you through the duration of the project.. If you are interested in participating in this study, she can be contacted at Teri.Hernandez@UCHSC.edu.
This study also includes investigators from radiology, psychiatry, molecular genetics, and bioinformatics.
Inclusion Criteria
<TOP>
Age: 18-50 years
-
Normal weight or slightly overweight. Specifically, your body mass index (BMI) must be between 22 and 27 kg/m2. To calculate your BMI, visit:
http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi -
Weight stable for at least 3 months. This means no change in weight greater than 10% of total body weight within the last 3 months.
-
No diabetes or other chronic diseases
-
Non-smoker
-
No metal implants (for example, a bone plate or a pacemaker)
-
Also, if you have serious claustrophobia, you may not wish to participate. This is mostly related to having a MRI scan done, for which you will remain in a confined area during the procedure (see below)
-
No history of liposuction or gastric bypass surgery
-
Not taking Estrogen or a medication for hormone replacement
-
Physical activity/lifestyle: You must also be willing to make no drastic lifestyle changes during the study. This means we will ask you to maintain whatever your activity level is at the start of the study. If you are active at the start, we hope that you will remain active throughout. Please ask questions about this, because it should not be the soul reason you would not want to participate.
Study Design
<TOP>
Randomization: If you are interested in participating, we will randomize you to either the surgery or control group. This means that your group assignment is chosen like flipping a coin. None of the investigators have any control over what group you will be placed in. Remember: if you participate in the control group, you will still have the chance to have the surgery (see details below).
Study Events: All study subjects will have a very comprehensive battery of metabolic testing done throughout the study; you will receive the results of this testing. These tests include: blood work (tests a variety of measures to be sure you are healthy), a DEXA scan (measures your body fat, plus measures bone density), a measure of Resting Metabolic Rate (to accurately determine how many calories you burn at rest), a Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan (MRI; a radiology procedure to accurately measure where fat is deposited), a measure of your sensitivity to the hormone insulin, and a fat biopsy.
Control Group: We also have a control group in the study. Members of the control group will not have surgery at the start of the study, but will be offered the opportunity to have the surgery after the 3 years is complete. Control group subjects will be offered the same reduced rate ‘package’ (with no inflation increases in cost) to have the surgery after the study is completed.
Surgery group subjects will also have the surgery. Click here to download a copy of the consent form
Cost
<TOP>
We have worked out a “package deal” with the University of Colorado Hospital. This is based on a 2.5 hour procedure, which is considered normal/average. There is a possibility that your procedure could be longer, though it is not expected. If it is longer, extra cost could be involved.
However, if your surgery is of the standard 2.5 hour length, here is the cost breakdown:
Total cost = $3966. Surgery in the community runs around $4500-$5100.
Your compensation for completing the study = $1500 over 3 years
Bottom line = $2466. This is your cost, and is calculated from $3966 – $1500 = $2466.
This cost also includes a 24-hour post-operative stay at The University of Colorado Hospital. Normally, you would be discharged immediately after you have recovered from the anesthetic.