There are both surgical and non-surgical treatments for lipedema. Non-surgical options include wearing compression garments and having manual lymphatic drainage massages. Doctors also recommend making lifestyle changes such as getting more exercise. These treatments help bring short-term relief. However, surgery is the longest-lasting treatment for lipedema.

Why Choose Non-Surgical Treatments for Lipedema?

After receiving a diagnosis of lipedema, sufferers can choose between surgical and non-surgical treatments. Some prefer to opt for conservative treatments to treat their symptoms.

The conservative treatments for lipedema include wearing compression garments and having manual lymphatic drainage massages. Sufferers must also make lifestyle changes, exercise, and eat healthily.

Some sufferers choose not to have surgery because they are afraid of having liposuction. They may also worry about possible complications or scarring after surgery. Another reason why some sufferers opt to forgo surgery is because their doctor says they should try conservative treatments first.

Liposuction is the gold-standard treatment for lipedema available today. It offers many benefits to sufferers and produces long-lasting results, something conservative treatments cannot do. However, liposuction is a procedure patients should not undertake for lipedema without considering more conservative treatments first.

Can Non-Surgical Treatments Cure Lipedema?

Unfortunately, experts and medical professionals have not yet found a cure for lipedema. In fact, experts have overlooked the condition for decades. It's only recently that experts have started to research the disease. Neither surgery nor conservative treatments can cure lipedema.

Non-surgical or conservative treatments address only the symptoms of lipedema. They address the pain and swelling associated with the condition. Treatments involve having manual lymphatic drainage massages and wearing compression garments. They bring short-term relief but don't stop the progression of lipedema. The condition continues to worsen over time. Sufferers must also use conservative treatments on an ongoing basis to maintain relief from symptoms.

Surgery, on the other hand, addresses the cause of lipedema, the abnormal fat. Liposuction removes the lipedema fat permanently, producing long-term relief for patients. Surgery also slows down the progression of lipedema significantly. Many patients enjoy years of relief with minimal return of symptoms.

What Does Surgery for Lipedema Involve?

The surgery for lipedema is liposuction. Essentially, the procedure is the same as liposuction for cosmetic purposes. For example, the instruments the surgeons use are the same. However, the aim of the surgery is different.

Patients undergo cosmetic liposuction to achieve their aesthetic body contouring goals. They expect a flawless result afterward. Lipedema liposuction, on the other hand, has a different aim. Patients undergo lipedema liposuction to relieve their pain and improve their mobility. As an added advantage, lipedema liposuction helps restore a more proportionate body appearance. That helps patients feel more positive and confident about themselves.

Also read - Is There an Alternative to Surgical Lipedema Treatment?

Yet the aim of the procedure is not to achieve a flawless physique. After liposuction to treat lipedema, patients may still have some cosmetic imperfections. Nevertheless, patients are usually very happy with the outcome.

Surgery for lipedema requires surgeons to take a more cautious approach to treatment. They must avoid damaging the patient's lymphatic system while performing liposuction. That is less of a concern during standard cosmetic liposuction.

Surgeons carry out surgery for lipedema with the patient under local anesthetic. They make tiny incisions in the areas they intend to treat. They then pass a cannula into the incisions, break the fat up, and remove it via suction.

Afterward, patients experience some bruising, swelling and pain. Those symptoms subside after some days or weeks. Patients must adhere to their surgeon's advice after their procedure. They must wear compression garments all the time after surgery to improve the outcome and promote good recovery. It will take several weeks or months to see the final outcome of the procedure.

Will Surgery Cure Lipedema?

Unfortunately, surgery cannot cure lipedema, but neither can conservative treatments. But even though surgery isn't a cure, it's the gold standard treatment available right now. Liposuction offers a wealth of benefits for lipedema sufferers. As liposuction removes the abnormal fat, it also eradicates the symptoms that the fat causes. With the diseased fat gone, patients experience less pain and better mobility. Liposuction also restores a more proportionate body shape. That helps patients to feel less self-conscious about their physique and boosts their emotional well-being. With less heavy, painful limbs, they can exercise more and live a more active life. As a result, their quality-of-life increases. Surgery produces long-lasting outcomes and significantly slows down the condition's progression.

To ensure the best outcomes from liposuction surgery, it's crucial to choose the right surgeon. The best surgeon will be an expert not only in undertaking liposuction but also in treating people with lipedema. Dr. Su at ArtLipo in Tampa, Florida, is your top choice for liposuction if you suffer from lipedema. Call the ArtLipo team to arrange a consultation and to find out more about the benefits of surgery.