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Lymphedemia Liposuction
Lymphedemia Liposuction
One of the biggest preconceptions that people have about liposuction in particular and cosmetic surgery in general is that it serves little purpose in the larger medical field. Despite the progression and innovation evident in cosmetic surgery procedures such as liposuction over the last couple of decades, many skeptics feel that the resources used in cosmetic surgery are wasted.
Although many people may feel strongly that cosmetic surgery techniques such as liposuction are driven by superficiality, these people often do not give enough credit to the medical innovation driven by the plastic surgery industry. Even defenders of the cosmetic surgery industry often are unaware about the important contributions of cosmetic surgery to the larger medical world.
An example of the cosmetic surgery industry's contribution to medical innovation is evident in lymphedemia liposuction. Lymphedemia liposcution refers to a procedure discovered by the Swedish surgeon, Haken Broros, which was designed to assist individuals that have the crippling condition known as lymphedema. Lymphedema is caused by an accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the interstitial tissue that causes swelling. This condition can develop in two ways: when lymphatic vessels are missing or impaired; or when lymphatic vessels are damaged or lymph nodes are removed. If lymphedemedia progresses to an advanced stage it can:
- cause tissue channels to increase in size and number
- reduce oxygen available in the transport system
- interfere with wound healing
- provide a culture medium for bacteria that can lead to infection or lymphangitis
Lymphemedia is a regular occurrence for approximately fifty percent of all breast cancer patients that have obtained preventative surgery. Through the preventative surgery, the patient's lymph glands that are located in the armpits are excised to prevent the spread of cancer to other areas of the body. Although this action achieves its goal of cutting off the spread of cancer, it creates problems in the lymph system that can result in lymphedemia. For breast cancer patients that notice that is a gradual and significant increase in fatty tissue around their upper arms, this is the most significant symptom of lymphedemia. If left untreated, this condition can cause debilitating pain, intense swelling, and even loss of arm movement.
Whereas traditional methods of treating lymphedemia such as body massages and compression garments have been proven to work effectively, these solutions have to be administered during the early stage of the condition. If the fatty tissues have grown substantially, these treatments will be ineffective. However, through the use of lymphedemia liposuction, it is now possible for this condition to be completely reversed. Under Dr. Brorson's lymphedemia liposuction treatment that utilizes traditional liposuction techniques, the plastic surgeon makes twenty incisions across the patient's arm. This is done so the plastic surgeon is able to access the excess fat tissue that is to be extracted from the patient's body. Once the incisions have been made, the plastic surgeon will removed a large amount of fat deposits from the patient's body. In some instances, up to 2 liters of fat deposits have been removed from the patient's body. Following the surgery, the patient will have to make one compromise for their renewed health: they will have to wear a compression garment for the duration of their life. However, lymphedemia liposuction has been proven to be effective and patients will experience a complete return to normal arm size within a year. Although many past lymphedemia liposuction patients are shocked by how much swelling there is in their arms following the treatment, within two weeks there will be a 72% reduction in swelling.
Following lymphedemia liposuction treatment, patients will notice that their range of movement has been fully restored. Additionally, patients will notice that the pain in the joints of their arms and hands has been significantly reduced. An exciting medical breakthrough, the success of lymphedemia liposuction shows that cosmetic surgery techniques can lead to medical innovations.
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