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In 10 patients, lymphatic drainage was studied before and after liposuction of the legs, employing dynamic lymph scintigraphy. The data (comparison of right/left, stress/rest, before/after liposuction) were well reproducible. Lymphatic drainage was not altered significantly after liposuction as compared to the pretherapeutic status. Particularly, no relevant disturbance of lymphatic drainage became evident. Our limited data indicate that liposuction does not cause relevant damage to lymph vessels.

he term “lipedema“ was first used in 1974 by ALLEN and HINES. Their publication is regarded as “the classical description“ of the syndrome5; p. 184: “We wish to describe a clinical syndrome, lipedema of the legs, which is frequently very distressing. In our experience it affects solely women. The chief complaint is of swelling of the legs and feet...On questioning, the physician may elicit that enlargement of the limbs has always been generalized and symmetrical. The swelling below the knees is accentuated when patients are on their feet much and in warm weather. Aching distress in the legs is common... Occasionally, a patient feels, that her large legs have ‘ruined her life.’ Many are ‘ashamed’ of their legs.” This describes the patient’s problems very well, but it is difficult to define lipedema precisely because the definition depends mainly on subjective findings. There are no medical or laboratory tests to distinguish local lipohypertrophy (local fat tissue increase) of the legs or hips from lipedema or general obesity. Consequently, lipedema is not generally accepted as a real disease. We will attempt to describe the current knowledge on the pathophysiology and treatment of lipedema. Lipedema is a metabolic disorder of the adipose (fat) tissue with unknown etiology, affecting almost exclusively females. The following clinical and pathophysiological findings are of importance for differential diagnosis.

This case presentation illustrates the tremendous functional gains that individuals with lipo-lymphedema can achieve with proper diagnosis, education and treatment.

After successful completion of a conservative initial treatment consisting of manual lymph drainage and bandaging a lipedema must be fitted with an adequate compression garment made of flat-knitted material.The type of the compression supply and its duration following liposuction depends on the result obtained after the removal of fatty tissue. Due to liposuction alone, an improvement of the quality of life can be already achieved. An additional treatment using compression garments may have a positive effect, too.

Compiled by an internationally renowned pioneer in the field of lymphology with contributions from leading experts, this textbook explores all aspects of lymphological science, including the causes, diagnoses, prognoses, and treatments for primary and secondary Lymphedema. Comprehensive discussions address all the essential topics relevant to lymphology, such as anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology. Therapists will benefit from practical information on clinical findings as well as instructions for performing manual lymph drainage.Provides a detailed presentation of the anatomy and physiology of the lymphatic system.Explores the causes, diagnoses, therapies and prognoses of all lymphological conditions from a physician's perspective.Includes a well-founded and practical discussion on the techniques, effects and implementation of Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT).

The primary lymphedema is a pathological interstitial accumulation of lymphatic fluid. Lower limbs are mainly affected by primary lymphedema. It is caused by a hereditary lack or complete absence of lymphatic vessel systeme. Final complications of chronic limb lymphedema include »elephantiasis«, lymphatic ulceration and malignant degeneration. Secondary lymphedema, obesity, phlebedema and lipedema are most important differential diagnoses.Treatment of primary lymphedema includes early manual lymph drainages, decrease in weight, exercise, prevention or therapy of skin infections. Up to the present primary lymhedema cannot be cured in causality.

Lipoedema: Improved Quality of Life by Combination of Therapies Lipoedema is a chronic progressive disease with increased fat volumes mainly of the legs, causing body disproportion together with orthostatic oedema, pain and bruising. Early diagnosis can be achieved by clinical symptoms. Complex physical therapy with manual lymphatic drainage, compression and physiotherapy reduces oedema and complaints. Surgical therapy with liposuction reduces circumscribed fat volumes, improves body proportions and diminishes oedema and bruising. Following surgery physical therapy can be diminished in intensity and number. Nowadays the combination of physiotherapy and liposuction is considered the optimal treatment regime which can tremendously improve the patient's quality of life.

Ich habe 2002 in Denver die Operation des Lipodems und den Vorschlag zu ihrer Standardisierung vorgestellt. Heute konnen wir die Follow-up-Untersuchungen der Patienten besprechen. Alle Patienten wurden mittels indirekter Lymphszintigraphie und indirekter Lymphangiographie vor- und nachuntersucht. Die Ergebnisse zeigen eindeutig, dass die Liposuktion beim Lipodem zu einer Normalisierung des Lymphflusses fuhren. Die Schmerzhaftigkeit des Krankheitsbildes Lipohypertrophia dolorosa wird drastisch verbessert. Manuelle Lymphdrainage und Kompression, die bislang bei diesen Patientinnen an Armen und Beinen lebenslang durchgefuhrt werden mussten, werden in der Frequenz mindestens verringert. In den meisten Fallen konnte vollig darauf verzichtet werden. Ich werde eine Variation der Operation in Lagerung und Zugangsweg vorstellen. Wir operieren heute die Arme und Beine in insgesamt zwei Sitzungen. Der Stellenwert der postoperativen manuellen Lymphdrainage und der lang andauernden Kompression durch Garments soll im besonderen noch einmal unterstreichen, dass es sich bei der Operation des Lipodems nicht um eine ausschlieslich asthetische, sondern in erster Linie um eine medizinische Indikation handelt.

Both generalized and localized edema needs to be submitted to a differential diagnostic investigation. In the case of edema affecting the lower extremities, in particular the Stemmer sign which is the inability to tent the skin at the dorsum of the toes is a useful distinguishing aid. If there is acute unilateral swelling of a leg, other processes with diffuse space-consuming processes need to be distinguished from deep venous thrombosis and secondary lymphedema. Chronic bilateral leg edema is usually due to a venous flowoff obstruction (stasis edema). Less commonly, lipedema or a primary lymphedema may be responsible for the swelling.

BACKGROUND: Lipedema is a condition characterized by diffuse, bilaterally symmetrical, painful swelling of the legs and buttocks. Microscopically, there are dermal and septal edema, adipocyte degeneration, and numerous mast cells, features held in common with lipedematous alopecia. CASE REPORT: We present the case of a 60-year-old woman with a long history of bilateral leg masses with microscopic features of lipedema. In addition, elastic-fiber changes typical of pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) were discovered within the subcutaneous septa in three separate specimens obtained from an affected extremity. The patient did not have other clinical findings of PXE, although there was a history of both hypertension and congestive heart failure. CONCLUSION: This tumefactive presentation of lipedema has not been previously described. Regarding the elastic-tissue abnormalities, the patient could have either a subclinical form of PXE, perhaps predisposing to lipedema, or secondary elastic-tissue changes resulting from the massive edema. If the latter is the case, then this could represent an unusual manifestation of localized acquired cutaneous PXE (calcific elastosis).