Lymphedema is a clinical condition characterized by swelling, commonly affecting the legs and arms due to the obstruction of lymphatic flow. It typically arises from acquired causes, such as blockage of lymph nodes in chronic filariasis or their removal during cancer surgery, although congenital cases are occasionally observed. Limbs or body parts affected by lymphedema are prone to recurrent infections, skin changes, chronic ulceration, and sepsis.
In the early stages, conservative treatments like compression garments, manual lymphatic drainage, pneumatic compression, and surgical interventions such as vascularized lymph node transfer (moving lymph nodes with intact blood supply from a healthy area to the affected region) or nodo venous shunt (connecting lymph nodes to superficial veins) can be beneficial in reducing swelling.
In advanced stages, characterized by significant skin changes and ulcerations (resembling an elephant foot), complete or partial removal of affected skin followed by skin grafting or suturing may be necessary. While lymphedema can be debilitating, early detection and proper management can lead to effective treatment.
Aesthetic or cosmetic surgery is a prominent subspecialty of plastic surgery, particularly in today's social media-driven era where beauty standards are highly emphasized. Aesthetic surgery not only addresses abnormalities or deformities but also enhances natural beauty, symmetry, and overall appearance. It encompasses various subspecialties focused on different body parts, with some procedures offering additional physical benefits, such as rhinoplasty for recurrent sinusitis, breast reduction for alleviating neck and back pain, and abdominoplasty for improving posture and back pain.
Common aesthetic procedures include:
- Breast augmentation
- Rhinoplasty
- Breast reduction
- Gynecomastia correction
- Abdominoplasty (Tummy tuck)
- Fat grafting
- Buccal fat removal
- Eyelid surgery (Blepharoplasty)
- Facelift, neck lift, thigh lift, arm lift
- Mastopexy (Breast lift)
- Hair transplantation
- High-definition liposuction
- Body sculpting
- Buttock augmentation.
