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A 10-Year Retrospective before-and-after Study of Lipedema Surgery: Patient-Reported Lipedema-Associated Symptom Improvement after Multistage Liposuction
Resource type
Authors/contributors
- Kruppa, Philipp (Author)
- Georgiou, Iakovos (Author)
- Schmidt, Jeremias (Author)
- Infanger, Manfred (Author)
- Ghods, Mojtaba (Author)
Title
A 10-Year Retrospective before-and-after Study of Lipedema Surgery: Patient-Reported Lipedema-Associated Symptom Improvement after Multistage Liposuction
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite an increasing demand for surgical treatment of lipedema, the evidence for liposuction is still limited to five peer-reviewed publications. Little is known about the influence of disease stage, patient age, body mass index, or existing comorbidities on clinical outcomes. Considering the chronically progressive nature of lipedema, it was hypothesized that younger patients with lower body mass index and stage would report better results.
METHODS: This retrospective, single-center, noncomparative study included lipedema patients who underwent liposuction between July of 2009 and July of 2019. After a minimum of 6 months since the last surgery, all patients completed a disease-related questionnaire. The primary endpoint was the need for complex decongestive therapy based on a composite score. Secondary endpoints were the severity of complaints (i.e., spontaneous pain, sensitivity to pressure, feeling of tension, bruising, impairment of body image) measured on a visual analogue scale.
RESULTS: One hundred six patients underwent a total of 298 large-volume liposuctions (mean lipoaspirate, 6355 ± 2797 ml). After a median follow-up of 20 months (interquartile range, 10 to 42 months), a median complex decongestive therapy score reduction of 37.5 percent (interquartile range, 0 to 88.8 percent; p < 0.0001) was observed. An improvement in lipedema-associated symptoms was also observed (p < 0.0001). The percentage reduction in complex decongestive therapy scores was greater in patients with a body mass index less than or equal to 35 kg/m2; (compared to higher body mass index; p < 0.0001) and in stage I and II patients (compared to stage III patients; p = 0.0019).
CONCLUSION: Liposuction reduces the severity of symptoms and the need for conservative treatment in lipedema patients, especially if it is performed in patients with a body mass index below 35 kg/m2; at an early stage of the disease.
CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.
Publication
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Date
2022-01-24
Journal Abbr
Plast Reconstr Surg
Language
eng
ISSN
1529-4242
Short Title
A 10-Year Retrospective before-and-after Study of Lipedema Surgery
Library Catalog
PubMed
Citation
Kruppa, P., Georgiou, I., Schmidt, J., Infanger, M., & Ghods, M. (2022). A 10-Year Retrospective before-and-after Study of Lipedema Surgery: Patient-Reported Lipedema-Associated Symptom Improvement after Multistage Liposuction. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. https://doi.org/10.1097/PRS.0000000000008880
Topic
Remark
The Lipedema Foundation LEGATO Lipedema Library is not currently in possession of this resource.
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