caring for lipedema
Bringing you a better day-to-day with lower pain
Commonly unknown and misunderstood, lipedema impacts an estimated 11% of women. That’s a silent pandemic. We provide lipedema assessment, clear answers and effective care options.
Lipedema = lipid (fat) + edema (swelling). It’s characterized by the buildup of abnormal fat, alongside a persistent inflammatory and swelling component.
There’s a reason lipedema is dubbed ‘the disease they call fat.’ Lipedemous fat differs from adipose tissue based on how and where it accumulates – which is disproportionately in the lower body with a normal sized torso. Areas of lipedemous fat do not budge with dieting and exercise. They're hypersensitive, inflammatory and bruise easily. As things progress, added fat puts strain on veins and lymphatics causing swelling. It’s believed hormonal events (puberty, pregnancy, menopause) trigger lipedema. There is likely a genetic predisposition too.
Health history, family history and a physical exam help determine lipedema. The level of swelling and nature of the fat deposits (distribution pattern, texture, size) further clarify what’s happening. Lipedema symptoms are calmed and swelling effectively managed with a combination of lymphatic massage, decongestive therapy and compression garments.
Benefits of care:
- ease pain and tenderness
- lower inflammation
- reduce swelling and its symptoms
- improve limb shape and appearance
- uplift skin tone and feel
- increase circulation
- slow disease progression
- move more freely and with less pain
Some have liposuction surgery to remove lipedemous fat. This reduces limb size, lowers joint stress and improves quality of life for those with advanced lipedema. MLD therapy with compression garments before and after liposuction is the standard of care.
While obesity and lipedema are two different health conditions (with differing diagnostic criteria, symptoms and care needs), they frequently occur together. GLP-1 type medications like Ozempic help lower blood sugars and promote weight loss for those with Type 2 diabetes and obesity. It's hoped GLP-1 drugs may also decrease lipedemous fat and research to determine efficacy is underway.
stages of lipedema
Treatment at all stages eases pain, controls swelling and slows disease progression. Not everyone will experience all stages.
benefits of lymphatic massage for lipedema
Lipedema types and stages
Lipedema type is indicated by where fat accumulates. Presentations do differ and merge. Stage is based on disease progression defined by fat and swelling increases. Type and staging, as well as your lived experience, inform our clinical impressions and guide treatment recommendations.
