SAPL (Suction-Assisted Protein Lipectomy) is a surgical treatment that may be considered for some people with lymphedema. Before deciding on surgery, it is important to understand what the procedure can—and cannot—do and what ongoing lymphedema management will be needed.

Am I a Good Candidate?

☐ Why do you recommend SAPL for my lymphedema?

☐ Is my swelling mainly fluid, fatty/fibrotic tissue, or both?

☐ Are there other treatments or surgeries I should consider?

What Results Can I Expect?

☐ How much reduction in the size of my limb can I realistically expect?

☐ Will SAPL improve my lymphatic drainage, or mainly reduce the excess tissue?

☐ How long should the results last?

☐ Could my lymphedema return or worsen?

What Are the Risks?

☐ What are the most common complications?

☐ What is the risk of infection or cellulitis?

☐ Is there a risk of nerve, skin, blood vessel or lymphatic vessel damage?

☐ How often do your patients experience complications?

What Will Recovery Be Like?

☐ How long will I be in the hospital?

☐ How much pain, bruising and swelling should I expect?

☐ When can I return to work and normal daily activities?

☐ When can I exercise, swim, drive and travel?

☐ How long does full recovery usually take?

What Happens With My Compression?

☐ What compression will I need immediately after surgery?

☐ When will I be fitted for new compression garments?

☐ Will I need to wear compression every day?

☐ Will compression be lifelong?

☐ What could happen if I stop wearing compression?

What Care Will I Need After Surgery?

☐ Will I need a Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT) before and after surgery?

☐ Will I still need Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD)?

☐ Who will manage my compression and lymphedema care after surgery?

☐ How often will I need follow-up appointments?

Ask About Your Surgeon's Experience

☐ How many SAPL procedures for lymphedema have you performed?

☐ What results have your patients had over the long term?

☐ How do you measure whether the surgery has been successful?

Don't Forget to Ask About Costs

Ask which expenses are covered and which you will need to pay yourself, including surgery, hospital costs, travel, lymphedema therapy and replacement compression garments.

One important question to ask:

“What will my lifelong lymphedema management look like after SAPL?”

SAPL can reduce excess tissue and the size of an affected limb, but ongoing lymphedema management may still be required. Make sure you understand the long-term plan before deciding whether surgery is right for you.