Advice from Lipedema Surgeons About Managing Your Condition

Lipedema is an often misunderstood and misdiagnosed condition. Many women struggle to get the help they need from their doctors. Although there are several possible treatments to help the symptoms of lipedema, there is no cure yet. Despite this, there is one treatment that has had long-term effectiveness: liposuction. For patients with lipedema who are keen to learn more about how lipo can help, lipedema surgeons have the answer. 

If you have recently received a diagnosis of lipedema or suspect you’re a sufferer, getting answers is key. You need to be aware of the best ways of managing your condition to minimize your suffering. Here, you can find some expert advice to help point you in the right direction. 

Lipedema – The Basics

Scientists only discovered lipedema in the 1940s. It is a chronic condition that causes pain and unsightly fat accumulation. Lipedema primarily targets women. Scientists believe it may be because of hormonal changes or genetics. Sufferers find that fat accumulates in certain areas of the body. It mainly affects the lower body – the legs and hips. As the disease progresses, it causes a disproportionate appearance of the body. 

Unfortunately, doctors have misdiagnosed many sufferers as being merely overweight. They advised these people to diet and exercise to shed the pounds. However, as any lipedema sufferer will testify, eating healthily and working out will do nothing to help. Also, the condition will continue to get worse every year without treatment. 

By the time many women finally receive a diagnosis and seek treatment, their conditions have progressed substantially. This means that their long-term outcomes are poorer. Therefore, seeking help as soon as you detect the condition is the best course of action. This ensures that you act at as early a stage as possible. This will prevent the condition from worsening at such a rapid rate. 

Since late-stage lipedema can cause severe pain and mobility problems, it’s best to seek help immediately. Patients who are in Stage 1 or Stage 2 of the disease can achieve the best outcomes. 

Which Treatments Are Available?

Most doctors will recommend patients try conservative treatments first. These involve the use of MLD therapy. MLD or manual lymphatic drainage is a special type of massage. It helps to move the lymphatic fluid around the body more effectively. This reduces the swelling and helps to decrease the pain associated with this condition. 

While MLD is effective, it’s not a long-term solution. It’s also time-consuming since it requires numerous sessions. Usually, doctors recommend this treatment in conjunction with the wearing of compression garments. Sufferers must wear these close-fitting garments for extended periods. They press down on the skin to reduce swelling and pain. While compression garments can prove to be helpful, again, they aren’t a long-term solution. They can prove to be very restrictive since they can be hot and uncomfortable to wear. 

Another conservative treatment that is available to manage lipedema is eating healthily. This helps to maintain an appropriate body weight. If you can stay at a healthy weight, you can minimize the pain and mobility problems that you experience. Unfortunately, it cannot prevent the disease from progressing further. 

The only known treatment that can produce long-term results is liposuction. While many people think of lipo as purely a cosmetic procedure, it can also have surgical benefits. In the case of lipedema sufferers, it can prove especially helpful. 

How Does Liposuction Help to Manage Lipedema?

Liposuction is a procedure that permanently removes fat cells. Since lipedema is a condition characterized by the accumulation of fat cells, it’s an effective treatment. When lipedema patients undergo lipo, the surgeon sucks out the problematic fat from the body. This not only restores a more proportionate appearance, but it also reduces the pain associated with the fat.

Liposuction for lipedema helps to improve the quality of life of patients who are suffering from it. It can help to restore self-esteem – something that can be very helpful for lipedema sufferers. Many women with lipedema suffer from self-confidence issues because of the appearance of their bodies. When they have liposuction, they feel more confident about the way they look. This, in turn, helps them to enjoy their lives more. This is why you should seek out a skilled surgeon with specialized expertise in this area.

Seeking Help for Lipedema

If you have received a lipedema diagnosis, it’s important to seek help as quickly as possible. When you have lipedema liposuction at an early stage, you can enjoy better outcomes. Yet, getting help from a specialist is imperative to enjoy the best results. Dr. Su at Artistic Lipo and Plastic Surgery is one of the top lipedema surgeons in Florida. If you are looking for liposuction for your condition, he can help. Contact us today.