Understanding Lymphedema as a Potential Complication of Breast Surgery

By: Rob parker

Many of the same techniques used in breast enhancement surgery are also employed routinely to reconstruct breasts damaged in accidents or through medical necessity to remove cancerous masses. In the wake of those surgeries, women are cautioned to be vigilant about potential infections, a risk heightened by the immediate placement of implants. Equally important, however, is vigilance regarding the onset of lymphedema if lymph nodes have been removed or damaged during surgery or treatment.

Opting for reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy is a matter of aesthetics and self-esteem for many women, who may not be prepared, however, for the prospect of dealing with lymphedema as an equally challenging and life-long health and appearance issue. Lymphedema is the name given to localized fluid retention, most often in the arms and legs, caused by a compromised lymphatic system. The body’s lymph nodes work to collect and filter away interstitial or tissue fluid from the body. When lymph nodes have been removed or damaged and do not function well or at all, that filtration system goes seriously awry and fluid rapidly builds up, often to alarming levels.

Although lymphedema is not life-threatening, it is a time-consuming and difficult, requiring daily care. Occurring in approximately 25 percent of mastectomy cases, the condition may arise immediately following surgery or appear years later with symptoms including severe fatigue, heavy and swollen limbs, and skin discoloration. It is extremely important for mastectomy patients to be aware of any swelling in the limbs after surgery and to seek immediate treatment. When lymphedema is in Stage I, it can often be reversed. Once it progresses to Stage II, however, the condition is permanent.

There are two major avenues for maintaining lymphedema including a program of light massage in concert with therapeutic exercise and the use of compression garments. Skin care is vital, as lymphedema seriously elevates an individual’s risk of infection. Compression garment are worn during the day and at night, with the limbs requiring periods of elevation. Often these measures are used in addition to a sequential gradient pump, a device in which a chambered pneumatic sleeve with overlapping cells massages the limb to remove built-up fluid.

Patients with lymphedema face significant lifestyle changes and must avoid heavy lifting or excessive strain on the limbs. In severe cases, “strain” may be defined as something as benign as pushing a cart at the grocery store. Often individuals are forced to give up outdoor activities that carry a risk of injury including a wide variety of sports. Maintenance techniques are lengthy and boring, as well as a potentially unpleasant reminder of the injury or breast surgery that prefaced the onset of the lymphedema initially. Patients facing any kind of breast surgery, whether it be reconstructive or even an enhancement procedure, should fully discuss the potential for damage to the lymph system. In many cases this damage is, unfortunately, unavoidable, but with pre-surgical education and prompt care, lymphedema may be avoided or its impact on your life lessened considerably.

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Understanding all aspects of breast expansion and reconstruction will help avoid complications like lymphedema.

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