Manual Lymphatic Drainage in Postoperative Abdominoplasty With Core Liposuction Patients

Abstract

Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) performed by lymphatic massage, in the postoperative period after abdominoplasty with core liposuction, may promote a faster resolution of edema. The purpose of this study was to determine the benefits of MLD by assessing the amount of edema at 6 and 8 weeks after abdominoplasty with core liposuction in patients who did or did not receive MLD for 3 weeks. The study used a prospective, comparative design. A total of 20 women aged 30 to 60 years, who underwent an abdominoplasty and core liposuction, were recruited from 2 clinics. Participants were divided into 2 equal groups based on clinic location. All participants wore a standard compression garment for 8 weeks after surgery. Starting at 6 weeks after surgery, the treatment group was treated by a certified lymphedema specialist twice a week for 3 weeks (6 visits). At 6 and 8 weeks after surgery, the waist circumferences of all participants were measured in 3 locations: at the navel, 3 cm above the navel, and 3 cm below the nave. Data from the 2 groups were compared to determine the change in edema. The mean age of participants was 41.6 years (range = 32-59 years) in the treatment group and 40.8 years (range = 30-59 years) in the control group. The mean (SD) reduction in edema between weeks 6 and 8 in the treatment group was 9.8 cm; 1 participant lost 18.2 cm during that period. The mean (SD) reduction in edema between weeks 6 and 8 in the control group was 6.6 cm; a few participants lost 12.0 cm during that period. No differences in mean reductions were found between groups ( P = .11). No differences were found between groups based on clinic location ( P = .84). Our results suggested that receiving MLD after abdominoplasty and core liposuction reduced edema more than the standard compressive garments, but not by a statistically significant amount. Furthermore, differences in the study groups were not dependent on clinic location.