Treatment of lipedema by low‐volume micro‐cannular liposuction in tumescent anesthesia: Results in 111 patients

Abstract

Lipedema is a painful disease of subcutaneous adipose tissue leading to bilateral increase of leg and/ or arm volume, but sparing hands and feet. Although conservative treatment with complex decongestive therapy has been considered as the fundamental treatment, micro‐cannular liposuction in tumescent anesthesia has become a surgical option.

We report on 111 patients mostly with advanced lipedema treated by this technique in our center between 2007 and 2018. The median age of the patients was 44 years. Eighty percent of patients had at least one comorbidity. There was an association of longstanding and advanced disease to obesity and diseases of the metabolic syndrome‐spectrum. The median total amount of lipoaspirate was 4700 mL, with a range of 950 mL to 14 250 mL. The median reduction of limb circumference was 6 cm. The median pain level before treatment was 7.8 and 2.2 at the end of the treatment. An improvement of mobility could be achieved in all patients. Bruising was also reduced. Serious adverse events were observed in 1.2% of procedures, the infection rate was 0% and the bleeding rate was 0.3%. Liposuction is an effective treatment for painful lipedema. The procedure should be performed in specialized centers.

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