Effect of Postoperative Compression Therapy on the Success of Liposuction in Patients with Advanced Lower Limb Lymphedema.

[OBJECTIVE] There is limited information on postoperative care after liposuction for lymphedema limb. The aim of this retrospective study was to identify the threshold compression pressure and other factors that lead liposuction for lower limb lymphedema to success.

[MATERIALS AND METHODS] Patients were divided according to whether they underwent compression therapy with both stockings and bandaging (SB group), stockings alone (S group), or bandaging alone (B group) for 6 months after liposuction. The postoperative compression pressure and rate of improvement were compared according to the postoperative compression method. We also investigated whether it was possible to decrease the compression pressure after 6 months. Liposuction was considered successful if improvement rate was >15.

[RESULTS] Mean compression pressure was significantly lower in the S group than in the SB group or B group. The liposuction success rate was significantly higher in the SB group than in the B group or S group. There was not a significant difference between the values at 6 months after liposuction and at 6 months after a decrease in compression pressure in the successful group.

[CONCLUSION] Our results suggest that stable high-pressure postoperative compression therapy is key to the success of liposuction for lower limb lymphedema and is best achieved by using both stockings and bandages. The postoperative compression pressure required for liposuction to be successful was >40 mmHg on the lower leg and >20 mmHg on the thigh. These pressures could be decreased after 6 months.