In December of 1998 I underwent bilateral ultrasonic upper arm liposuction in a local hospital, performed by a board certified plastic surgeon. I had acute hand swelling 3 days post surgery. Then mild swelling, which got worse after a ride on an airplane over the summer of 1999. Lymphedema is not something that a lot of doctors really know about or pay attention to, unfortunately. This I have found out the hard way.
Doctors are also difficult to talk to.
They don't want to talk to you because they view you as a walking lawsuit. Three have made comments on my case, two have put them in writing. The first is a vascular surgeon who confirmed the primary physician diagnosis. He stated in the letter he wrote to my primary physician that this lymphedema was a direct complication of the liposuction I had had. Two plastic surgeons have commented on my case, but have not seen me.