ORIGINAL ARTICLES  DERMATOLOGICAL SURGERY 

Giornale Italiano di Dermatologia e Venereologia 2010 April;145(2):151-9

Copyright © 2010 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Microcannular tumescent liposuction in advanced lipedema and Dercum’s disease

Wollina U., Goldman A., Heinig B. ✉

¹ Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Academic Teaching Hospital of the Technical, University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany; ² Clinica Goldman of Plastic Surgery, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; ³ Centre for Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Hospital Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Academic Teaching Hospital of the Technical, University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany

AIM: We evaluated the outcome and risks of tumescence liposuction in patients with advanced lipedema or Dercum’s disease.
METHODS: Six patients treated at a single center during the years 2004 to 2008 have been included. All patients were female and obese (body mass index 34 to 41.9; mean 38.2±3.8) with an age range from 29 to 78 years (mean 55.7±20.5 years), five of them had co-morbidities.
RESULTS: The total amount of lipoaspirates varied between 1 500 mL and 4 800 mL. Pain could be reduced in all four patients with Dercum’s disease. Large adipose tissue removing implies a better the outcome for pain. Patient’s satisfaction was “high” or “very high” in 5 and “medium” in one. The most common adverse effect was met-hemoglobulinemia (N.=4).
CONCLUSION: Tumescence liposuction is a treatment option for lipedema and Dercum’s disease. With careful monitoring the procedure is safe even for patients in advanced stages, higher age and with co-morbidities.