Objective: Toinvestigate the value of subcutaneous axillary injection of lipolytic solution before axillary lymph node dissection for breast cancer. Methods: During March to July 2012, 26 patients with breast cancer were allotted to traditional group (undergoing traditional axillary lymph node dissection) and lipolytic solution injection group (undergoing subcutaneous axillary injection of lipolytic solution before axillary lymph node dissection), with 13 cases in each group. The operative time, intraoperative blood loss, preservation of the intercostobrachial nerve and incidence of postoperative axillary leakage between the two groups were compared. Results: In patients of lipolytic solution injection group, the intercostobrachial nerves were all preserved with less intraoperative blood loss, and the differences were statistically significant versus traditional group (both P<0.05). No differences were noted between the two groups in operative time and incidence of postoperative axillary leakage(both P>0.05). Conclusion: Lipolytic solution injection before axillary lymph node dissection is helpful for detection and preservation of the intercostobrachial nerve during surgery,and meanwhile it can reduce intraoperative blood loss. So it has certain application value in axillary lymph node dissection for breast cancer.