Use of Closed-Incision Negative-Pressure Therapy in Aesthetic Surgery

BACKGROUND: Recently published studies have demonstrated clinical effectiveness of closed-incision negative-pressure therapy (ciNPT) in many fields of surgery including vascular, cardiac, colorectal, orthopedic, and reconstructive surgery. A review of current literature was conducted to determine whether the application of negative-pressure therapy to closed incisions post aesthetic procedures was beneficial. METHODS: The PubMed/MEDLINE databases were searched for preclinical and clinical studies published through June 2018. Higher quality publications that met the following criteria were included: adult patients undergoing aesthetic or body contouring procedures, comparison of ciNPT with conventional dressings, and documentation of wound complications and/or incision quality. RESULTS: One animal and multiple small, retrospective comparison articles are discussed. Scientific mechanism of action and economic analysis are also discussed. There are no level 1 randomized prospective controlled trials that directly evaluate the effects of ciNPT dressings in cosmetic patients. CONCLUSION: For patients undergoing certain cosmetic procedures, preliminary data support the idea that ciNPT dressings provide aesthetic benefit, but more research is clearly needed.