Liposuction???? Too good to be true?

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cookiegal
cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema
The Benefits Of Liposuction On Breast Cancer Patients Reconstructive plastic surgery is often a necessity for breast cancer survivors. Insurance companies will normally pay for reconstructive plastic surgery procedures that have been linked to a medical illness but will not cover certain procedures that are still considered cosmetic. One such procedure is liposuction.

Insurance companies view liposuction as a strictly elective procedure that is used to remove fat deposits for cosmetic improvement. New research is starting to discover that liposuction can offer help for breast cancer patients that have developed secondary medical conditions from their cancer treatments. The most prominent illness that is linked to breast cancer treatment is Lymphedema.

Lymphedema occurs when the lymph nodes near the breasts and upper arms are removed due to the presence of cancerous cells. Once the lymph nodes are removed from the upper arms, the lymphatic fluid is trapped with no way to be purged from the body. The excess lymphatic fluid is absorbed into the surrounding fat cells. This process results in the painful condition called Lymphedema. Symptoms of Lymphedema include: severely swollen arms, numbness of the arms, heaviness and poor mobility.

Both traditional liposuction and smart liposuction have proven to be very effective treatments in reducing the effects of Lymphedema. Removing excess fat cells in the upper arm region decreases the amount of swelling that is associated with this medical condition. Currently Insurance companies refuse to acknowledge the benefits of liposuction as a treatment to Lymphedema.

Liposuction cost can range anywhere from $12,000 to $17,000. Without insurance coverage, patients are often left to pay for these procedures out of pocket. The medical community is currently doing case studies to prove that both regular and laser liposuction can help improve the quality of life in breast cancer survivors. However, these medical case studies can take several years to complete. Patients who are currently suffering from Lymphedema have no other options to cover the liposuction cost other than paying the entire fee upfront or borrowing in the form of a medical loan.

The health benefits associated with liposuction in regards to Lymphedema are worth the costs of the procedure. Many patients have reported relief of the swelling and regained use of the affected limbs. Until the medical community can prove to the insurance companies that liposuction can be a medical necessity, there are other financial options available to patients who wish to use liposuction as a means to relieve Lymphedema.
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  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited March 2011

    I know there is a clinical trial of this in the Tampa area.

    Am I dreaming that this could help. Since I aparently have lipodema...and it is mostly in my upper arm.

    Still I just think the chance of getting worse is frightening.

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  • kriserts
    kriserts Member Posts: 224
    edited March 2011

    it doesn't don't look very credible, since the article links to a site that sells liposuction. A lot of articles are generated and placed just to gain traffic on the net.

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  • Nordy
    Nordy Member Posts: 2,106
    edited March 2011

    Cookie - Here is another surgeon that does this... and his website. I think it may give you more information. (sorry Mozilla doesn't let me paste links... what a pain.. )

    www.lymphedemasurgeon.com

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