Microcannular tumescent liposuction in advanced lipedema and Dercum's disease.
OBJECTIVE
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 1500 mL and 4800 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).


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Wollina
U
U
Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Academic Teaching Hospital of the Technical, University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany. wollina-uw@khdf.de
Goldman
A
A
Heinig
B
B
D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000274:Adiposis Dolorosa / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015187:Lipectomy / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index