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Water Jet-Assisted Liposuction for Patients with Lipoedema: Histologic and Immunohistologic Analysis of the Aspirates of 30 Lipoedema Patients

Aesthetic Plastic Surgery volume 33, Article number: 153 (2009) Cite this article

Abstract

Lipoedema is a fat distribution disorder causing massive, bilaterally symmetrical enlargement of the lower and in some cases the upper extremities in women. The atraumatic, anatomically appropriate procedure of water jet-assisted liposuction available today represents a promising treatment for these patients who generally suffer from severe subjective and objective impairment. Liposuction treatment can bring long-term improvement if the operative technique focuses on lymph vessel preservation. Immunohistologic analyses show minimal evidence of lymph vessel structures in lipoaspirates. The histologic analysis of the aspirates documents a relatively specific removal (“apheresis”) of primarily intact lipocytes with low vascular amount.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Schwerpunktpraxis Lipödem, Thiemitztalstrasse 6, 95131, Schwarzenbach/Wald, Germany

    J. J. Stutz

  2. Institute for Dermatohistology, Mönchhofstr. 52, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    D. Krahl

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  1. J. J. Stutz
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  2. D. Krahl
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Correspondence to J. J. Stutz.

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Stutz, J.J., Krahl, D. Water Jet-Assisted Liposuction for Patients with Lipoedema: Histologic and Immunohistologic Analysis of the Aspirates of 30 Lipoedema Patients. Aesth Plast Surg 33, 153 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-008-9214-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-008-9214-y

Keywords

  • Liposuction
  • Water jet-assisted liposuction
  • WAL
  • Body-jet
  • Lipoedema
  • Intact lipocytes
  • Atraumatic liposuction procedure
  • Intact lymph vessels