Does Reston foam reduce bruising when applied to a patient after liposuction?
Although Reston foam does reduce bruising after liposuction, its dangers far outweigh its benefits. Reston foam consists of a 3/8 inch thick sheet of sponge-like plastic foam pad with adhesive applied to one side. The intended use of Reston foam is to prevent bedsores by applying the adhesive-backed foam to the bed sheet beneath a patient’s heels or buttocks. A bruise occurs when red blood cells leak out of blood vessels and move toward the skin surface. The application of Reston foam directly onto skin beneath a compression garment, tightly compresses the skin’s collagen fibers and prevents bruising by impairing the outward percolation of red blood cells from the liposuction wound toward the surface of the skin. Reston foam applied directly to skin can compress capillary blood vessels. This impairs oxygen delivery to the skin, and can cause blistering and ulceration of the skin. Several patients have died from infection (necrotizing fasciitis) associated with the use of Reston foam af
