LEARNING OBJECTIVES After studying this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Discuss the initial evaluation of a patient presenting with lower extremity enlargement. 2. Distinguish underlying medical conditions causing lower extremity enlargement, including lymphedema and lipedema. 3. Discuss appropriate management and treatment for patients presenting with these conditions. BACKGRO...

Low-level laser energy has been increasingly used in the treatment of a broad range of conditions and has improved wound healing, reduced edema, and relieved pain of various etiologies. This study examined whether 635-nm low-level lasers had an effect on adipose tissue in vivo and the procedural implementation of lipoplasty/liposuction techniques. The experiment investigated the effect of 635-n...

Liposuction is the most popular aesthetic surgery performed in Brazil and worldwide. Evidence showing that adipose tissue is a metabolically active tissue has led to the suggestion that liposuction could be a viable method for improving metabolic profile through the immediate loss of adipose tissue. However, the immediate liposuction-induced increase in the proportion of visceral to subcutaneou...

Lymphedema is a chronic disease with accumulation of water and proteins in the tissue, secondary to impairment of the lymphatic transport capacity. Nowadays, probably millions of persons worldwide are suffering from the disease. Lymphedema can be primary (congenital) or secondary (acquired after e.g. lymph node excision, radiotherapy, recurrent episodes of lymphangitis). The extremities are mos...

Loss of penile length is a common complaint of men with Peyronie's disease (PD), both before and after corrective intervention, which has a significant negative effect on patient quality of life. We sought to identify and describe the methods by which penile length can be preserved or increased. We conducted an extensive, systematic literature review, based on a search of the PUBMED database fo...

We report our experience with three patients who received NPWT over complex incisions following combined fleur-de-lis panniculectomy with ventral hernia repair. All patients received perioperative antibiotics. Panniculectomy was performed prior to components separation and underlay of biologic graft. Closure followed with drain placement to all undermined areas, with 3 French fry portals left o...

We would be happy to comment on the study by Dr. Colabianchi et al. on the role of synchronic panniculectomy and bariatric surgery when performed by laparotomy. As the authors mention in the article, bariatric surgery can be combined with panniculectomy during the first stage. Although controversial, the authors present the experience of 325 cases [1]. Interestingly, there are few reports that ...

HYPOTHESIS Separation of components is a safe and effective technique for abdominal wall reconstruction in morbidly obese patients. DESIGN Review of a prospectively accumulated database. SETTING University tertiary care medical center. PATIENTS Thirty morbidly obese patients who underwent ventral hernia repair using the separation of components technique between August 1, 2001, and August...

Background: A novel Radiofrequency-Assisted Liposuction (RFAL) technology was evaluated clinically. Parallel original histological studies were conducted to substantiate the technology’s efficacy in skin tightening, and cellulite improvement. Methods: BodyTite system, utilizing the RFAL technology, was used for treating patients on abdomen, hips, flanks and arms. Clinical results were measured ...

BACKGROUND Lymphedema is an iatrogenic complication after breast cancer treatment in which lymph fluid in the affected limb progresses to fat deposition and fibrosis that are amenable to liposuction treatment. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for lymphedema can differentiate fat tissue from fluid, but estimating relative volumes remains problematic. METHODS AND RESULTS Patients underwent rout...