Can People With Lipedema Be Skinny?
Many adults believe that people with lipedema cannot be skinny. However, that is a common misconception. Lipedema and obesity are not the same thing. Lipedema can affect people of all shapes, sizes, and ages. While some lipedema sufferers are also obese, obesity and lipedema are two separate conditions. Lipedema can equally affect extremely slim people.
Are Obesity and Lipedema the Same?
Obesity and lipedema are two different conditions. Unfortunately, they present with similar symptoms, so many people struggle to tell the difference. Even doctors struggle to diagnose patients with lipedema, especially in its early stages.
Lipedema fat and regular fat have different structures. Lipedema fat contains nodules and is denser and more fibrous than regular fat. The areas of the body across which lipedema distributes itself are also different. Someone who is obese has excess fat all over their body. Meanwhile, someone with lipedema may have a slim upper body but large legs. Lipedema primarily affects the lower limbs, leaving the upper body unaffected, although sometimes lipedema affects the arms, too.
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Another difference between lipedema fat and regular fat is how they each respond to changes in lifestyle. Although regular fat responds to healthy eating and doing more exercise, lipedema fat does not.
I Am Underweight, Can I Still Have Lipedema?
There is a common misconception that someone suffering from lipedema must be overweight. That is not always the case. Lipedema isn’t caused by a poor diet or lack of exercise. Indeed, many people suffering from lipedema are also obese. However, underweight women may still experience this condition. There are even women who have anorexia who have lipedema. A sufferer may have an extremely thin upper body but noticeably larger hips, thighs, and legs. This discrepancy between areas of diseased fat and areas without fat can be a problem if a sufferer drastically reduces their food consumption in an attempt to lose weight.
Will I Inevitably Become Obese if I Have Lipedema?
Many people suffering from lipedema are obese, but it is not inevitable that you will develop obesity as a sufferer. Unfortunately, though, as lipedema progresses, it is more likely that secondary obesity will develop. Exercise is challenging because it becomes more difficult to stay mobile due to the pain and swelling. When the legs get larger, they rub against each other, causing pain and making additional movements challenging. Furthermore, emotional and mental health problems due to low self-esteem and ongoing pain can contribute to comfort eating. That only exacerbates the problem and leads to further weight issues.
Is the Treatment for Lipedema the Same Regardless of My Size?
No matter your size, the treatments available for lipedema are still the same. There are two options for lipedema sufferers. You can either opt for a conservative approach to treatment or undergo surgery.
Conservative treatments for lipedema involve a combined approach. Sufferers switch to a healthier diet and try to take more exercise. Wearing compression garments and having regular manual lymphatic drainage massage are also part of the approach. All of these treatments are available, whatever your size.
While some sufferers prefer the conservative approach as they are worried about undergoing surgery, these treatments are limited. They only address the symptoms and not the cause of the condition. That means they help temporarily relieve pain and swelling, but they won’t stop the disease from progressing.
The only way to address the cause of lipedema is to have lipedema surgery. Lipedema surgery involves undergoing liposuction of the affected areas. Although there is no cure for lipedema at the present time, liposuction is the next best option. It produces visible positive effects, and it is a long-lasting treatment. That is because it addresses the cause of the condition – the lipedema fat.
When lipedema patients undergo liposuction, their mobility improves, and their pain levels are reduced. As their appearance improves, they enjoy better self-esteem and an improved quality of life overall.
Surgery is an option for lipedema sufferers of any size as long as they’re in good health. The surgeon must deem them suitable to undergo surgery. It is important to note that slimmer patients may require fewer surgeries. That is because there may be less fat to remove overall. Patients with a lot of excess fat may require further treatments over time to produce the best result.
If you decide to opt for lipedema surgery, it is imperative to choose the right surgeon. Not all surgeons have experience in treating lipedema sufferers. That is why you need to seek out a professional who is an expert in the field. Dr. Su at ArtLipo is leading the way in the field of liposuction. He regularly treats lipedema sufferers and produces excellent outcomes. His patients enjoy an improved physique as well as a better quality of life. To find out more about liposuction for lipedema patients or to arrange a consultation, call the ArtLipo team today.
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.