SVF
Level C· Early Human ResearchProspective Study

A novel combined approach of stromal vascular fraction gel grafting and liposuction for postmastectomy upper extremity lymphedema: A prospective study.

Xiao S., Wei M., Chen J., Wu X., Li H., Wu B.

Prospective Study with a reported sample of 12 on Shoulder, published in J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg (2026) — summary generated from the PubMed abstract.

This page is generated from the PubMed record. The Thai description is an automated summary of bibliographic fields and the abstract, not a full translation, and is not medical advice.

Study type
Prospective Study
Journal
J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg (2026)
Country
Netherlands
Reported sample size
12
PMID
41273946
DOI
10.1016/j.bjps.2025.11.006

Abstract (original English)

Conventional therapies for postmastectomy upper extremity lymphedema often provide limited and temporary relief, especially in advanced cases. Although surgical interventions such as liposuction have improved outcomes, combining regenerative cell-based strategies with surgical volume reduction has not been systematically evaluated. This prospective study assessed the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of combining stromal vascular fraction (SVF)-gel grafting with liposuction, targeting physical debulking and lymphatic regeneration in breast cancer-related upper extremity lymphedema. In this prospective, single-arm exploratory study, 12 patients with stage II or III breast cancer-related upper extremity lymphedema underwent liposuction followed by SVF-gel transplantation. The primary endpoint was change in excess arm volume at 12 months. Secondary outcomes included symptom severity, quality of life (QoL; Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand [DASH] and Lymphedema Quality-of-Life Questionnaire [LYMQOL] questionnaires), incidence of cellulitis, and reliance on compression therapy. Safety was monitored throughout. Statistical analyses included repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni corrections, Wilcoxon, and multi-linear regression to compare changes from baseline and identify factors influencing arm volume. At 12 months, the combined intervention achiev

What this study does not prove

  • • This study does not prove SVF is an approved treatment or a replacement for standard care.

Evidence level

Early human evidence such as case series or small samples, often without a control group.

How we grade evidence
HumansFemaleLipectomyProspective StudiesMiddle AgedMastectomyQuality of LifeUpper ExtremityAdultAged
Shoulder
View on PubMedDOI

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