Acute limb ischaemia secondary to fat embolism following lipoinjection.

Posada-Ríos, Diego; Dieck-Gutiérrez, Bárbara; López-Salazar, Eugenia; Peña-Niño, Wilber Édison; Gómez-Rodríguez, Juan Carlos; Vásquez-Sañudo, Vanesa; Botero-Ángel, Laura · J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg · 2025

case_report · Level V

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Abstract

Peripheral arterial fat embolism is an exceptionally rare complication of autologous fat grafting. We report a 49-year-old woman who developed Rutherford grade IIB ischaemia of the left lower limb 90 min after combined liposuction and gluteo-femoral lipoinjection. Urgent thromboembolectomy 12 h later retrieved mature adipose fragments, yet progressive gangrene mandated transfemoral amputation. The case underscores the need for strict injection technique, intra-operative ultrasound guidance and prompt vascular referral when acute limb pain follows lipoinjection.

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