Experience of tumescent liposuction in the treatment of osmidrosis

BACKGROUND. Tumescent liposuction is a safe procedure for removal of subcut aneous fat tissue. Because apocrine glands are located deep in the fat, sur gical removal of these glands by non-tumescent liposuction has been utilize d for treating Osmidrosis. OBJECTIVE. To evaluate the effect of tumescent liposuction in the treatment of osmidrosis and to compare the efficacy of simple tumescent liposuction and combined tumescent liposuction and curettage. METHODS. A total of 20 patients with osmidrosis (all female, age 16-44 year s) were included in this study. Ten patients were treated by simple tumesce nt liposuction, the ether 10 patients mere treated by tumescent liposuction combined with curettage. The aspirates were sent for pathologic examinatio n. At a follow-up visit, the improvement of symptoms was graded by the pati ent as satisfied when the odor decreased >75%, partially satisfied when it decreased greater than or equal to 50% to less than or equal to 75%, and di ssatisfied when it decreased <50%. RESULTS. Among the 10 patients treated with simple tumescent liposuction, 1 0% were satisfied, 70% were partially satisfied, and 20% were dissatisfied. Eighty percent of patients treated with a combination of tumescent liposuc tion and curettage mere satisfied, while 20% were partially satisfied. No m ajor complications were noted following the procedure except mild ecchymosi s and swelling. CONCLUSION. Tumescent liposuction is a simple and safe procedure in the tre atment of osmidrosis. Tumescent liposuction combined with curettage is bett er than simple tumescent liposuction alone. The effect of tumescent liposuc tion combined with curettage in the treatment of osmidrosis is compatible w ith traditional surgery or neurosurgery but offers fewer complications.