Plastic surgery restores form and function through reconstructive procedures, cosmetic enhancements, and body contouring.
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
The first six weeks are crucial. For LVA/VLNT, the new connections are fragile. Patients must avoid pressure on the specific incision sites but maintain compression on the rest of the limb. Excessive movement or trauma can disrupt the tiny vessels.
For SAPL, this period involves managing the compression bandages to close the dead space. The skin is shrinking and adhering to the muscle. Swelling will be significant initially, then improve.
Compression is a lifelong commitment for most, but the intensity may change over time. After SAPL, compression is non-negotiable, 24/7, forever, to prevent fat reaccumulation. Custom flat-knit garments are ordered once swelling stabilizes.
After LVA/VLNT, patients wear compression to support the new drainage. Some early-stage patients may eventually wean off garments (“compression holiday”), but this is done slowly under therapist supervision. Most continue to wear them during the day or for exercise.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) therapy resumes once incisions are healed (usually 2-3 weeks). MLD helps direct fluid toward the new bypasses (LVA) or the transplanted nodes (VLNT).
It softens the tissues, reduces scar tissue formation, and trains the lymphatic system. Regular therapy sessions are a key part of the maintenance routine, especially in the first year.
Meticulous skin care prevents cellulitis, which can destroy the surgical results. Patients must keep the limb moisturized with low-pH lotions to maintain the acid mantle barrier. Any cut or scrape must be treated immediately with antibiotic ointment.
Fungal infections between toes or fingers must be treated aggressively. Avoiding needle sticks, blood pressure cuffs, and tight jewelry on the affected limb remains a lifelong precaution.
Maintaining a healthy weight is essential. Obesity increases lymph production and venous pressure, stressing the repair. An anti-inflammatory diet low in salt and processed foods helps minimize fluid retention.
Patients are encouraged to stay hydrated. Weight gain can lead to the recurrence of fatty deposition in the limb, negating the effects of SAPL or overwhelming the VLNT’s capacity.
Exercise activates the muscle pump, which moves lymph fluid. Once cleared, patients are encouraged to return to activity. Resistance training, swimming, and aerobic exercise are beneficial.
Patients should wear compression garments during exercise to support the limb. The return to activity is gradual, monitoring the limb for any increase in swelling or heaviness.
Scars from VLNT or SAPL (port sites) can be managed with silicone sheets or gel. Massage helps soften the wounds and prevents adhesions that could block lymph flow.
LVA scars are tiny and barely visible. The donor site scar for VLNT (groin, axilla) requires care to prevent hypertrophy. Sun protection is essential for all fresh scars.
Follow-up continues for years. Surgeons measure limb volume at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months to track success. ICG lymphography may be repeated to visualize the function of the LVA bypasses or the growth of new vessels from the VLNT.
Patients monitor themselves for signs of recurrence or infection. Early detection of volume increase allows for intervention, such as adjusting compression or a “touch-up” procedure.
Success is defined differently for each patient. For some, it is a reduction in limb volume. For others, there are fewer infections (cellulitis). For some LVA patients, it is freedom from compression garments.
Clinical success often means a volume reduction of 30-50% or more. Functional success is the ability to wear regular clothes and move freely. The goal is improvement and control, not always perfection.
Lymphedema is a chronic condition. Surgery manages it, but doesn’t change the underlying genetic or traumatic defect entirely. Swelling can fluctuate.
If swelling returns, the first step is to check the compression garment fit and compliance. A “tune-up” with MLD or a short course of bandaging often resolves it. In some cases, additional LVA bypasses or liposuction can be performed years later.
Living with lymphedema is a mental challenge. Surgery offers hope and relief. Patients often report feeling “normal” again. Adjusting to a smaller limb and a less burdensome routine takes time.
Celebrating milestones fitting into a ring, wearing boots, going a day without a sleeve reinforces the positive outcome. Continued support helps patients transition from a “sick role” to an empowered management role.
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
With SAPL, volume reduction is immediate, though obscured by swelling. With LVA and VLNT, results are gradual. You may feel “lighter” within weeks, but visible volume reduction typically takes 6 to 12 months as the new channels mature.
It is strongly advised not to get a tattoo on a lymphedema-affected limb, even after surgery. The trauma of the needle introduces bacteria and triggers inflammation, which carries a very high risk of severe cellulitis or worsening swelling.
If you notice redness, heat, pain, or fever, start your emergency antibiotics immediately and call your doctor. Infections can damage the surgical repairs. Quick treatment is essential to protect your results.
After SAPL, night compression is often needed. After LVA/VLNT, many patients can stop night compression after a few months if the limb remains stable. Your therapist will guide you based on your specific measurements.
For SAPL, the fat removal is permanent as long as you wear compression to stop fluid from refilling the space. For LVA/VLNT, the results are long-lasting, but the lymphatic system can degrade with age or illness. Maintenance is key to longevity.
Your Comparison List (you must select at least 2 packages)
