Lipedema liposuction and acute lymphoblastic leukemia: am I candidate for the procedure?

Question

Hi, I am an 45 years old woman that was diagnosed with a painful lipedema for 1 year ago. I am going to do a Wal liposuction of my legs in Madrid but I have a medical history and I was diagnosed with ALL Leukemia 2011. I have been cancer free and in remission since 2013. Do you see any contraindications for this procedure? According my Gp, he don't see any reason to not do it since Im healthy and my blood work is perfectly fine. I have to do 3 surgeries. I would appreciate your answer.

Thomas Wright, MD · Answer

Leila,
I think that it would be fine to have the lipedema tissue reduced with liposuction.  You have been in remission for nearly a decade so I don't think recurrence of ALL leukemia is likely.  We recommend optimizing  your compression garment use before and after your surgery. A recent consensus  document reports that liposuction can prevent progression of lipedema.  Wishing you the best of health,

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Leila76,
it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. If you are considering a surgery, I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Lipedema does not cause pain.

It is a diagnosis based on exclusion. In other words there’s no test or parameters that confirms the diagnosis.

If you have lower extremity pain then you will most likely have lower extremity pain after liposuction.

Lower extremity pain can come from lots of ideologies including lower back pathology.

If you’ve been cleared and your leukemia is in remission I see no reason why you can’t move forward and have elective cosmetic procedures.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD

PS. I was contacted by an anesthesiologist in Southern California who tells me that lipedema does cause pain. She also informed me that Liposuction can treat lymphedema related pain.

My first hand experience has not shown any improvements in pain from liposuction and most patients have fairly poor aesthetic outcomes from the procedure.
Typically any procedure that shows scientific evidence of relieving pain will be covered by insurance and my understanding is that there is currently no indication for medical insurance to pay for liposuction regardless of the diagnosis.
That said, there really are no good alternatives.

I would simply keep expectations on the low side and hope for the best.

Feel free to post your post operative experience and let us know how it went. Lower extremity liposuction is difficult enough to do on patients with tight skin and normal fat distributions.
This condition is extremely unfortunate and I feel for those who have been plagued by it.

Best, MH

Lipedema liposuction and acute lymphoblastic leukemia: am I candidate for the procedure?

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Lipedema liposuction and acute lymphoblastic leukemia: am I candidate for the procedure?

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