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    The content on this page is not current guidance and is only for the purposes of the consultation process.

    Liposuction for chronic lipoedema

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    1 Draft recommendations

    1.1 Evidence on the safety of liposuction for chronic lipoedema is inadequate but does show there may be major safety concerns including fluid imbalance, fat embolism, deep vein thrombosis, and toxicity from local anaesthetic agents. Evidence on the efficacy is also inadequate and was only from retrospective case series with limited follow up and high dropout rates. Therefore, this procedure should only be used in the context of research. Find out what only in research means on the NICE interventional procedures guidance page.

    1.2 Further research should report:

    • Patient selection, including age, effects of hormonal changes (such as puberty and menopause) and the severity and site of disease.

    • Details of the number and duration of procedures, the liposuction technique used (including the type of anaesthesia and fluid balance during the procedure), and any procedure-related complications.

    • Long-term outcomes.

    • Patient-reported outcomes including quality of life.

    1.3 Patient selection should be done by a multidisciplinary team, including clinicians with expertise in managing lipoedema.

    1.4 The procedure should only be done in specialist centres by surgeons experienced in this procedure.