For women who have just received a diagnosis, questions about how to treat lipedema are, no doubt, paramount. Unfortunately, lipedema remains a poorly understood condition. This means that when women receive their diagnoses, they may be confused about the way forward. Yet treating the condition as early as possible is the best course of action. With early treatment, patients can enjoy much better outcomes, both mentally and physically.
The Benefits of Getting an Early Diagnosis
The main problem women encounter when suffering from this condition is getting a diagnosis in the first place. Sadly, many women find it difficult to convince doctors to carry out further investigations into their problems. Too many times, doctors tell sufferers that they are obese and should diet. But, of course, as sufferers soon discover, all their dieting and exercising efforts will be to no avail. Moreover, Their condition is a progressive one, so their symptoms will continue to worsen over time. In the meantime, their physical and mental health will continue to suffer. Therefore, getting an early diagnosis is so important.
Many women do not get a diagnosis until they have reached the third or even fourth stage of lipedema. By the time their symptoms have worsened to such a degree, they are already suffering considerably. If you can obtain a diagnosis while at Stage 1, you will benefit from rapid treatment.
How Do I Get an Early Diagnosis?
As we have already stated, the biggest challenge for sufferers is getting an early diagnosis in the first place. If you believe that you suffer from lipedema, you should seek help from a specialist. A specialist in the field will have the necessary expertise and knowledge to give you the early diagnosis you require. Unfortunately, many family physicians lack the experience necessary to diagnose lipedema in its early stages. It can be quite difficult to diagnose at Stage 1 for anyone who is not a specialist. Here at Artistic Lipo and Plastic Surgery, Dr. Su is a liposuction specialist and has in-depth knowledge of lipedema. He can offer you the early treatment you need to restore your self-esteem and improve your symptoms.
Which Treatments Can A Surgeon Offer at the Early Stage?
At the earliest stage of lipedema, you have two choices of treatment. Many doctors recommend the conservative route. This may be the preference of some women because it does not involve surgery. It does, however, involve a lot of time-consuming treatments. Conservative treatments also only address the symptoms and not the cause of the disease. Therefore, they cannot cure you and will only slow down the progression of lipedema.
The second option is a surgical solution. Although some sufferers are afraid of undergoing surgery, it is the best option to treat lipedema. Surgery cannot cure lipedema either. But it can address the cause of the condition – the problematic fat cells. This allows sufferers to enjoy a better quality of life for much longer. It also helps to improve mental health symptoms, as well as physical symptoms.
Conservative Treatment Options
Conservative treatments for lipedema involve wearing compression garments regularly. These can be uncomfortable to wear, especially in the long term. However, they will help to reduce the swelling and pain while a woman wears them. Surgeons also typically prescribe compression garments in conjunction with MLD. MLD or manual lymphatic drainage is a form of massage that moves the lymphatic fluid that contributes to swelling. MLD is effective, but you need to have regular massages to keep the unpleasant symptoms of lipedema at bay. Furthermore, your surgeon will probably advise you to change your lifestyle. For example, he or she will tell you to eat a healthy diet and exercise more to help slow the disease’s progression.
Surgical Treatment for Lipedema
The surgical treatment for lipedema involves having liposuction on the affected areas. Lipo can permanently remove the diseased fat cells that cause pain and discomfort. Although surgery will not eliminate or cure lipedema, it is a long-lasting solution. As a result, sufferers can enjoy a better quality of life for longer. Not only will they be in less pain, but they will also enjoy a more proportionate appearance. In addition, this will alleviate many of the mental health problems associated with this unpleasant condition.
Which Treatment Is Right for Me?
If you have recently received a diagnosis of Stage 1 lipedema, it is important to get treatment quickly. The sooner you have treatment, the slower the progression of the disease will be. If you suspect you are a sufferer but have not yet received a diagnosis, seek a specialist immediately. Contact Dr. Su at Artlipo today to find out more about getting the help you need. He can advise how to treat lipedema in its early stages in the right way for you.
Dr. Thomas Su, is the owner and cosmetic surgeon of Artistic Lipo. He has led our full-time clinic specializing in awake-only liposuction since 2007. Dr. Su began his medical career in internal medicine, practicing that until 2005, when he began to provide a full spectrum of non-invasive cosmetic procedures.
