Liposuction - can any type of lipo potentially damage the lymph system? Thinking about getting it done. Always have had fat

Question

Tissue around love handles and pectorals even when around 10% body fat. 29 year old male, 5 foot 11, muscular, 180 pounds. Thank you for your help.

Christopher L. Hess, MD · Answer

This is a very intuitive question.  The short answer is all forms of liposuction will damage the lymphatics.  This is because the lymphatics, single cell wall vessels, run through the fat.  When the fat is removed so are the lymphatics.  The good news is that they will regenerate over time.  I always tell my patients that it takes 6-8 months to "feel" the result of liposuction.  This is because it takes that long for the lymphatics to regenerate and remove the fluid that accumulates.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

All surgeries interrupt the lymphatics to some extent. These channels eventually re-connect to some extent.

Karl William Schwarz, MD · Answer

just like with a tummy tuck there is damage to the lymphatic system and a lot of times when we operate we can’t see the little lymphatic vessels but postoperatively they repair themselves and people usually don’t have any problems accumulating fluid afterwards. Occasionally they do and we have to drain it but I have never seen any long term problems.

David E. Berman, MD (retired) · Answer

See a board certified plastic surgeon to see if you are a good candidate since you did not attach any photos. The fat has to be in the subcutaneous tissue to be reachable for any type of liposuction. You will continue to improve for 6 months after Smartlipo.
david berman md

Ron B. Somogyi, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Thank you for sending this important question.  Liposuction can be performed in several different ways such as water assisted, laser assisted, ultrasound assisted and others.  These each have potentially different effects on lymph drainage after liposuction.  In general lymphadema is not common following safe liposuction performed by a experienced surgeon.  You will need to ask your surgeon what type of liposuction they use and what their experience has been with lypmphadema.

Liposuction - can any type of lipo potentially damage the lymph system? Thinking about getting it done. Always have had fat

Answers (5)

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