What does lipedema mean?
Lipedema is a chronic disease of the body’s lipid metabolism that results in the growth of fat cells. Lipedema is predominantly found in women, very rarely in men. The disease is linked with hormone production, and the symptoms often start during puberty or after pregnancy.
In lipedema, abnormal adipose tissue is located typically on the limbs, but it can be located all over the body as well.
Typical symptoms of lipedema are:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Coldness
- Sensitivity to touch
The disease often causes social harm and the feeling of shame as well.
Treating lipedema is important
Lipedema is often misdiagnosed as obesity despite the clear signs that separate lipedema from healthy adipose tissue.
Many with the disease suffer from it and have functional problems in their everyday lives. Losing weight eases the symptoms to some extent, and being in the standard weight range before considering surgery is good. The symptoms left can be treated with liposuction by removing fat cells.
Most patients consider their quality of life better after the surgery.
Lipedema – the treatment and recovery
Before the procedure there is a consultation, in which it is evaluated what treatment is suitable for you.
The first stage of the treatment is following your weight; you can do this by writing down your weight for a period of time. We recommend losing weight before surgery if it is needed.
The next step is wearing compression garments. They can ease the heavy feeling, reduce fat storing, and maintain the shape of the tissue. It is important to understand that compression garments ease the heavy, painful feeling, and this helps during and after the treatment.
Lipedema is treated with liposuction. Liposuction can remove most of the fat cells in the area treated and help the problem. The pain in tissue eases or ends after the procedure. The extent of liposuction is defined in the consultation.
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Recovery
Depending on the extent of liposuction, you can go home on the same day after the procedure or stay in the hospital for one night.
Swelling is prevented with compression garments, which are put on immediately after the procedure. Compression garments must be worn continuously for 6 months, which can be difficult and initially painful. However, this compression of the tissue is what squeezes fluid away from the liposuction area and allows the skin to shrink.
If additional liposuction is needed, a new procedure is performed after approximately 6 months. If additional surgery is performed earlier, blood clots may form in the blood vessels.
Liposuction is an extensive treatment. You should be prepared to be on sick leave for approximately 4 weeks after the treatment.
