Liposuction in lipoedema: The best option we have

Title : Liposuction in lipoedema: The best option we have

Abstract:

Lipoedema only affects women; it persists lifelong and and tends to progress gradually or intermittendly. Though we do not understand many aspects of this disease, we are able to offer very effective conservative and surgical treatment modalities; they improve shape and symptoms and enable the patients to live a fairly normal life again. Combined decongestive therapy (manual lymphatic drainage, compression garments) is able to minimize oedema. Tumescent liposuction is used for reducing the increased volume of fatty tissue. It can be applied in stage I, in stage II and – depending from the patients weight, the amount of subcutaneous tissue and the elasticity of the skin – in stage III. Liposuction causes a correction of shape with a decrease in the circumference of hips, legs and arms, resulting in a normalization of body proportions. In addition there is a significant and long lasting improvement – sometimes a complete disappearance of spontaneous pain and pain due to pressure. This causes an improvement of mobility, cosmetic impairment and a marked increase of quality of life. Though many aspects of this treatment – especial the reduction of pain - are not well understood, the impressive long-term benefits of liposuction in patients with lipoedema are well documented. Up till now liposuction is the best treatment option we have in patients with progressive disease. Though the results demonstrate a long lasting positive effect, it should be pointed out that surgery cannot cure lipoedema completely in all patients; in case of a (reduced) persisting oedema formation, decongestive therapy and compression is still necessary in many patients, although at longer intervals and to a much lower degree.

Biography:

Dr. Axel Baumgartner is a board certified surgeon with an additional specialization in emergency medicine. He worked for 8 years in the Department of General and Vascular Surgery in Berlin and Lueneburg. During his long career Dr. med. Baumgartner also qualified as Senior Emergency Physician and still continues to work in the emergency services.  In 2012 he started his career at the Hanse-Klinik in Lübeck, solely doing liposuctions on lipoedema patients and became the director of the clinic in 2017. Hanse-Klinik has been scientifically active in the field of lipoedema for over 20 years. Dr. Baumgartner was involved in several scientific studies on lipoedema concerned with the long-term effect of liposuction on lipoedema patients over a period of 8 and 12 years. These studies have contributed significantly to the development of today's therapy guidelines.  Due to his numerous publications relating to lipoedema and presentations at national and international congresses he is well known and appreciated and in a constant scientific dialogue with experts worldwide. He also takes an active part in advising self-help groups and conducts training courses on lipoedema for medical suppliers and companies throughout Germany.