Liposuction Combined with Controlled Compression Therapy Reduces Arm Lymphedema More Effectively than Controlled Compression Therapy Alone

Liposuction Gives Complete Reduction of Chronic Large Arm Lymphedema After Breast Cancer

“…As with a squeezed sponge, the lymph capillaries are better able to absorb edema fluid. This pathophysiological reasoning is supported by our experience of patients in whom compression therapy was temporarily interrupted, which resulted in a significant increase in arm edema volume over a one-week period (72). This situation also favors increased radiotracer uptake (59), which was documented at 3 months.…”

Liposuction Normalizes – in Contrast to Other Therapies – Lymphedema-Induced Adipose Tissue Hypertrophy

“…In time, there is also an increase in the adipose tissue content of the swollen arm. The author has observed this clinically since 1987, when the first lymphedema patient in his department was operated on [11,12].…”

Surgical Treatment Modalities for Lymphedema

“…It is important to emphasize that liposuction is not a cure for lymphedema, because it does not treat the underlying cause. Hence, without the continued use of post-operative compression garments, relapse of lymphedema is inevitable [23,25]. However, when used complementarily with conservative treatment modalities or procedures improving lymphatic drainage (i.e., LVA or VLNT), the benefit from liposuction is maintained longterm [26,27].…”