Expert Consensus Recommendations for Clinical Use of the AYON Body Contouring System in Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction: A Modified Delphi Study With Early Postmarket Observations.
Abstract
Background
Ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL) is widely used in aesthetic body contouring to facilitate adipose tissue fragmentation and aspiration. Advances in device technology have focused on improving energy delivery, procedural efficiency, and workflow integration. The AYON Body Contouring System (Apyx Medical Corporation, Clearwater, FL; AYON UAL) is a recently introduced UAL platform that integrates infiltration, ultrasonic fragmentation, and aspiration within a single system.Objectives
The aim of this study was to develop device-specific expert consensus recommendations for the clinical use of the AYON UAL platform.Methods
A structured modified Delphi process was conducted with an expert panel of aesthetic surgeons experienced in UAL and clinical use of the AYON UAL platform. Panelists participated in iterative survey rounds and a moderated consensus meeting to evaluate procedural technique, workflow, and safety considerations. Consensus thresholds were predefined, and statements meeting agreement criteria were incorporated into the final recommendations. A concurrent postmarket clinical follow-up (PMCF) survey was analyzed separately to provide descriptive context regarding early real-world platform use.Results
Consensus was achieved across key aspects of AYON UAL use. Following refinement and consolidation, 19 consensus statements were unanimously confirmed, with additional consensus findings providing practical context across key domains of device use. The PMCF survey demonstrated broad early clinical adoption across a range of body-contouring procedures and infrequent intraoperative device-related issues.Conclusions
This modified Delphi consensus provides device-specific recommendations for the clinical use of the AYON UAL platform. Together with descriptive early PMCF findings, these recommendations provide a practical framework to support clinical adoption, procedural standardization, education, and future clinical research.Level of evidence 5 therapeutic
Related
- Handheld Ultrasound: Technical Review and International Expert Consensus Recommendations
- A generalizable pipeline for specialty-curated postmarket device surveillance: a reference implementation in neurosurgery
- Combination of Technologies in Body Contouring: Evidence Mapping and a Decision-Making Algorithm
- Bilateral pneumothorax after liposuction: a rare complication
- Establishing a Dedicated Body Contouring Fellowship: Rationale, Structure, and a Framework for Subspecialty Training.
BibTeX
@article{vanek2026expert,
title = {{Expert Consensus Recommendations for Clinical Use of the AYON Body Contouring System in Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction: A Modified Delphi Study With Early Postmarket Observations.}},
author = {Paul Vanek and Paul G Ruff and Barry E DiBernardo and Charles J Galanis and Michael Kluska and Melinda Lacerna Kimbrell and David Shafer and Johnny Franco},
journal = {Aesthetic surgery journal. Open forum},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1093/asjof/ojag184},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42927385},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Expert Consensus Recommendations for Clinical Use of the AYON Body Contouring System in Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction: A Modified Delphi Study With Early Postmarket Observations.
AU - Paul Vanek
AU - Paul G Ruff
AU - Barry E DiBernardo
AU - Charles J Galanis
AU - Michael Kluska
AU - Melinda Lacerna Kimbrell
AU - David Shafer
AU - Johnny Franco
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/23
JO - Aesthetic surgery journal. Open forum
DO - 10.1093/asjof/ojag184
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42927385
AB - Background Ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL) is widely used in aesthetic body contouring to facilitate adipose tissue fragmentation and aspiration. Advances in device technology have focused on improving energy delivery, procedural efficiency, and workflow integration. The AYON Body Contouring System (Apyx Medical Corporation, Clearwater, FL; AYON UAL) is a recently introduced UAL platform that integrates infiltration, ultrasonic fragmentation, and aspiration within a single system.Objectives The aim of this study was to develop device-specific expert consensus recommendations for the clinical use of the AYON UAL platform.Methods A structured modified Delphi process was conducted with an expert panel of aesthetic surgeons experienced in UAL and clinical use of the AYON UAL platform. Panelists participated in iterative survey rounds and a moderated consensus meeting to evaluate procedural technique, workflow, and safety considerations. Consensus thresholds were predefined, and statements meeting agreement criteria were incorporated into the final recommendations. A concurrent postmarket clinical follow-up (PMCF) survey was analyzed separately to provide descriptive context regarding early real-world platform use.Results Consensus was achieved across key aspects of AYON UAL use. Following refinement and consolidation, 19 consensus statements were unanimously confirmed, with additional consensus findings providing practical context across key domains of device use. The PMCF survey demonstrated broad early clinical adoption across a range of body-contouring procedures and infrequent intraoperative device-related issues.Conclusions This modified Delphi consensus provides device-specific recommendations for the clinical use of the AYON UAL platform. Together with descriptive early PMCF findings, these recommendations provide a practical framework to support clinical adoption, procedural standardization, education, and future clinical research.Level of evidence 5 therapeutic
SN - 2631-4797
ER -