Normally, water in the body exists as blood or lymph. As blood circulates, oxygen is supplied to tissues, and approximately 10% of the water in the blood leaks out of the blood vessels and enters a circulatory system called the lymphatic system, which returns to the heart. After surgery on the limbs or abdomen or radiation therapy, lymphatic return becomes poor and lymphatic fluid accumulates in the limbs, a condition known as lymphedema. Generally, lymphedema occurs in patients who have undergone abdominal surgery, primarily for gynecological reasons, and appears several years after surgery. However, lymphedema can also occur gradually due to congenital poor development of lymphatic tissue, or for unknown reasons.

If left untreated, edema will progress, increasing the risk of functional disorders such as difficulty walking and the development of infections. Because lymphatic congestion occurs, cellulitis is likely to occur even with minor trauma, and with each recurrence of inflammation, fibrosis progresses around the lymphatic tissue, causing the edema to progress. Eventually, the condition develops into an elephantiasis accompanied by hyperkeratosis of the skin.

Treatment method
1. Lymphaticovenular anastomosis
Ultra-microsurgery technology has made it possible to connect thin lymphatic vessels, which was previously impossible, and has made possible surgical treatments that are less stressful on the body and have excellent therapeutic effects.

In our department, we first inject a dye called indocyanine green (ICG) under the skin before surgery and observe the state of the lymphatic vessels using a special camera. During surgery, we use a Carl Zeiss Pentero surgical microscope equipped with an ICG observation device to accurately anastomose the lymphatic vessels and venules.

2. In addition to compression with elastic stockings and skin care to prevent progression, we also provide lymphatic massage instruction by specialized nurses.

Plastic Surgery here