Liposuction for lymphoedema

Liposuction for lymphoedema — patient story

In 2015, Sharne Willoughby had liposuction at MQ Health for lymphoedema, which had become so debilitating she could barely climb stairs. In the years since then, she has run five half-marathons and is living a normal and busy family life.

“There are a lot of the myths about lymphoedema,” said Sharne. “I had been told for years that nothing could be done, and that movement was bad. This didn’t help me at all. I suffered and my family suffered. I got to the point where I was considering amputation and a prosthetic limb – anything to get rid of this massive leg I was carrying around with me.”

Sharne had a 12.5-litre volume difference in her legs following surgery for gynaecological cancer. She had liposuction at Macquarie University Hospital to treat the lymphoedema. Since then, Sharne has lost 65kg in weight because she could finally move normally, exercise and generally live an active life.

Louise Koelmeyer, Director of the Australian Lymphoedema Education, Research and Treatment (ALERT) Program, says that Sharne’s result was not only about the benefits of liposuction for lymphoedema, but also about the benefits of exercise and long-term health and wellbeing after cancer and other surgery.

“From a body composition point of view, Sharne lost more than 65kg since surgery and has changed her body shape,” said Louise Koelmeyer.

“When she lost the weight, she lost fat mass whilst maintaining and increasing her lean-muscle mass. She lost the right kind of weight because she lost the fat, then exercised to retain muscle.”

Sharne is now an advocate for women with lymphoedema, offering personal support through events to show that something can be done.

“The Macquarie lymphoedema program gave me a second chance of life. I was given a gift, and I decided to take it.”