Brasília, 1/14/2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - In the quest for a perfect body, 200,000 Brazilians went through some kind of plastic surgery in 2003. Out of that total, 80,000 underwent a lipoaspiration procedure. The number of lipoaspirations performed in Brazil has been rising at 20% a year. And the number of complaints about lipoaspirations has also risen. In 2000 there were five. In 2002 there were 38 complaints of medical error.

Concerned with the problem, the Federal Medical Board (Conselho Federal de Medicina) (CFM) has now issued strict guidelines for lipoaspiration procedures.

The CFM makes it clear that lipoaspiration is definitely not a way to lose weight. To lose weight, says the CFM, a person should first go on a controlled diet. Lipoaspiration may be necessary later. The organization also recommends that patients avoid doctors who promise miracles and if they decide to have a lipoaspiration they should make sure the surgeon has specific training in the procedure. (AB)