ArticleAesthetic plastic surgery2026
Pain Reduction Following Liposuction for Lower Limb Lipedema: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Article in Aesthetic plastic surgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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5 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundLipedema is a chronic disorder of adipose tissue marked by disproportionate fat accumulation in the extremities and persistent pain, which significantly impairs quality of life. Although liposuction has been adopted as a therapeutic intervention beyond aesthetic purposes, the extent and long-term persistence of pain reduction after surgery have not been fully quantified.
methodsThis systematic review and meta-analysis followed PRISMA guidelines. Multiple electronic databases were searched from inception to September 2025. Eligible studies included adult patients with lipedema who underwent lower limb liposuction and reported both preoperative and postoperative pain outcomes. Pain scores, measured by the Visual Analog Scale or Numeric Rating Scale, were pooled using random-effects and reported as standardized mean differences (SMDs). Analyses were stratified by short-term (≤ 6 months) and long-term (> 6 months) follow-up. Subgroup analyses examined outcomes by liposuction technique.
resultsTen studies comprising 901 patients were included. Liposuction was associated with a significant reduction in pain at ≤ 6 months postoperatively (SMD - 1.72, 95% CI - 2.18 to - 1.27). Pain reduction persisted at long-term follow-up (> 6 months; SMD - 1.96, 95% CI - 3.05 to - 0.88). Subgroup analyses demonstrated pain reduction across all evaluated techniques; however, the current evidence is insufficient to determine the superiority of any specific technique. Overall, 87.7% of patients reported improvement in postoperative pain.
conclusionsLiposuction for lower limb lipedema is associated with substantial and sustained pain reduction across various surgical techniques. Despite heterogeneity and the predominance of observational data, these findings support liposuction as an effective therapeutic intervention for pain related to lipedema. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
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