Schaverien MV, Munnoch DA, Brorson H, et al.
Seminars in plastic surgery. Date of publication 2018 Feb 1;volume 32(1):42-47.
1. Semin Plast Surg. 2018 Feb;32(1):42-47. doi: 10.1055/s-0038-1635116. Epub 2018
Apr 9.
Liposuction Treatment of Lymphedema.
Schaverien MV(1), Munnoch DA(2), Brorson H(3).
Author information:
(1)Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center,
Houston, Texas.
(2)Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ninewells Hospital and
Medical School, Dundee, United Kingdom.
(3)Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Plastic and Reconstructive
Surgery, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
In the Western world, lymphedema most commonly occurs following treatment of
cancer. Limb reductions have been reported utilizing various conservative
therapies including manual lymph and pressure therapy, as well as by
microsurgical reconstruction involving lymphovenous shunts and transplantation of
lymph vessels or nodes. Failure of these conservative and surgical treatments to
provide complete reduction in patients with long-standing pronounced lymphedema
is due to the persistence of excess newly formed subcutaneous adipose tissue in
response to slow or absent lymph flow, which is not removed in patients with
chronic non-pitting lymphedema. Traditional surgical regimes utilizing bridging
procedures, total excision with skin grafting, or reduction plasty seldom
achieved acceptable cosmetic and functional results. Liposuction removes the
hypertrophied adipose tissue and is a prerequisite to achieve complete reduction,
and this reduction is maintained long-term through constant (24 h) use of
compression garments postoperatively. This article describes the techniques and
evidence basis for the use of liposuction for treatment of lymphedema.
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1635116
PMCID: PMC5891650
PMID: 29636653
