Lymphemedia Liposuction

Regular occurrence of lymphemedia occurs in almost half of all breast cancer patients who receive preventive surgery. Usually the lymph glands in the armpits are excised to prevent the spread of cancer in the body. Though this helps to stem the tide, it causes problems in the lymph system where improper drainage can wreak havoc on a woman's body. The most obvious symptom is a gradual and significant increase in fatty tissue around the upper arms. If the condition is left untreated, patients experience debilitating pain, intense swelling, and loss of arm movement.

Traditional treatments included body massages and compression garments to help drain the arms. However, these were ineffective if applied too late and when fatty tissues had grown substantially.

A breakthrough by the Swedish surgeon Haken Brorson brought the traditional cosmetic operation of liposuction to these patients and found that it could completely reverse the effects of this crippling condition.

His approach includes some twenty incisions along the arm to allow access to the fat tissue. A large amount of fat can be removed this way—up to 2 liters in some cases. Once the operation is complete, patients must wear a compression garment for the rest of their life.

Though this may seem rather severe, consider that the patients experience a complete return to normal arm size within a year, with a 72% reduction in swelling after just two weeks. Patients also had their range of movement fully restored while their pain in the joints of the arm and hand reduced significantly.

Some critics argue that the cosmetic enhancement technique is not suitable for medical purposes. However, it's hard to argue with the patients who are completely satisfied and can go on to live normal lives in comfort.

Even though the cosmetic enhancement industry is considered superficial (that's what it does) this is a prime lesson that it still has some important lessons for the medical profession.

Despite the fact that most users of cosmetic surgery do so simply for reasons of looks, the hard working surgeons in the field still advance knowledge of the human body. Even if they aren't doing it to save lives, one day it could turn out to be exactly the case.