Liposuction on a lymphedematous arm

Suction lipectomy is a technique that is being used more and more frequently for both aesthetic and reconstructive purposes. One area in which this technique has only seen limited use heretofore is in the treatment of acquired lymphedema. A patient with longstanding postmastectomy lymphedema recently presented with a large squamous cell carcinoma and multiple smaller suspicious lesions on the lymphedematous forearm. After resection of these lesions, the remaining forearm skin was treated with liposuction to debulk the arm and facilitate wound closure. Most of the forearm wound could be closed after this treatment. The upper arm was then debulked with liposuction as well. Redundant skin from the upper arm was resected and used as a skin graft to the residual defect on the forearm. All wounds healed primarily. The patient has shown no sign of recurrence and has greatly improved function of the arm at 10 months follow-up. Although its exact indications and limitations need to be defined, liposuction can be a useful treatment modality for at least some patients with acquired lymphedema.