Lymphoscintigraphic Appraisal of the Lower Limbs After Liposuction
Accepted 24 March 2009.
Background
The trauma resulting from liposuction damages the subcutaneous cellular tissue and subsequently the lymphatic structures. In turn, this damage can reduce lymphatic drainage, which may or may not appear clinically as some degree of edema.
Objective
It is possible to evaluate the function of the lymphatic system using lymphoscintigraphy. We conducted a study to evaluate the lymphatic system using this technique both before and after liposuction of the lower limbs.
Methods
The study included seven women ranging from 18 to 42 years of age, all of whom were diagnosed with lipodystrophy solely in the lateral and medial regions of the upper third of the thighs. This study was conducted in three stages: preoperative lymphoscintigraphy, liposuction, and postoperative lymphoscintigraphy three months postoperatively. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for the statistical analysis of the results.
Results
A comparison of values for the average time of the radiopharmaceutical acquisition curve and clearance in the areas of lymphoscintigraphic interest both before and three months after liposuction did not reveal significant results.
Conclusions
A comparison of preoperative and postoperative lymphoscintigraphic findings showed no significant damage to the lymphatic system associated with liposuction of the lower limbs.
Reprint requests: Douglas Haddad Filho, PhD, Univerdidad de Santo Amaro Medical School, Department of Plastic Surgery, Av. Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves, 1021, 91, São Paulo 040114-010, Brazil
DISCLOSURES
The authors have no disclosures with respect to the contents of this article.
1 The authors are from São Paulo, Brazil. Dr. Haddad Filho is Associate Professor, Department of Plastic Surgery, Universidade Santo Amaro Medical School.
2 Dr. Kafejian-Haddad is from the ABC Medical School.
3 Dr. Alonso is Associate Professor, Department of Plastic Surgery, Universidade de São Paulo Medical School.
4 Drs. Perez and Castiglione are from the Escola Paulista de Medicina–Universidade Federal de São Paulo.
5 Drs. Fukutaki and Anger are from the Hospital Brigadeiro.
6 Drs. Haddad Filho, Alonso, Anger, and Fukutaka are members of the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery.
ABSTRACT