Can Surgery Get Rid Of Lipedema?
Lipedema Surgery is an effective treatment for lipedema, but it cannot get rid of the condition completely. Nevertheless, it is the best treatment option available at the present time. Surgery addresses the cause of the disease, which is abnormal fat. By removing the fat, surgeries can improve the symptoms of lipedema significantly. However, surgery is not a cure for the condition.
Is There a Cure for Lipedema?
Unfortunately, experts have not yet found a cure for lipedema. However, there are treatment options available for patients. Doctors usually recommend that patients try conservative treatments first. These involve wearing compression garments and having regular manual lymphatic drainage massages. Doctors also recommend that patients make lifestyle changes which could include starting healthy eating habits and gently exercising.
While conservative treatments help to bring temporary relief to sufferers, they don’t address the cause of the disease. They only address the symptoms. Therefore, the condition continues to get worse over time. As the relief is only temporary, patients must continue having massages and wearing compression garments in the long term. That can be time-consuming, stressful, and inconvenient.
There is an alternative to conservative treatments that is a far longer-lasting solution. Surgery for lipedema is the gold standard treatment available at the present time for this condition.
Also Read – Is Surgery the Best Treatment for Lipedema-related Venous Insufficiency?
What Does Lipedema Surgery Involve?
Surgeons perform liposuction to treat lipedema patients. The procedure is the same as that used for cosmetic patients. Nevertheless, the purpose of the surgery is different, and the outcome may not be as flawless.
It is important for lipedema sufferers to understand that they may not achieve perfection after surgery. The point of lipedema liposuction is to improve the patient’s quality of life by removing the diseased fat. The aim is to reduce the patient’s pain and improve their mobility. Unlike cosmetic liposuction, its purpose is not to create a flawless silhouette. While the final outcome may not be perfect, patients usually enjoy improved self-esteem, though. The surgery restores more proportion to their lower body, giving them greater self-confidence.
Surgeons perform liposuction on lipedema patients under a local anesthetic. They make tiny incisions in the affected limbs, passing a narrow cannula through. After using the cannula to break up the diseased fat, they suction it away. Afterward, the patient’s limbs are smaller and less heavy. As the surgery removes the abnormal fat, patients also experience less pain and improved movement.
Who Can Have Lipedema Surgery?
To have lipedema surgery, patients must meet the surgeon’s criteria. Essentially, they must be in good overall health to have liposuction. As long as the surgeon deems the patient fit for surgery, it’s possible to treat patients at any lipedema stage.
Patients at the earliest stages of lipedema experience the best outcomes from surgery. They may need only a single surgery to produce the desired result. Unfortunately, though, due to the difficulty of receiving a lipedema diagnosis, early treatment is relatively rare. Most patients are at stage two or three when they receive their diagnosis. In such cases, surgery is still beneficial, although it isn’t as quick or easy. Those at a later stage of the disease may need multiple surgeries to achieve the best outcome.
How Does Surgery Help Lipedema Sufferers?
Surgery is very beneficial for lipedema sufferers, as it improves their quality of life overall. Surgery eliminates the abnormal fat that causes patients pain and discomfort. It also reduces bulk so movement becomes easier and less painful. Many lipedema patients find walking difficult due to fat accumulation around their thighs and knees. Liposuction removes that fat, allowing patients to move freely once more.
Not only do patients experience better physical health after surgery, they also experience better mental and emotional well-being. Surgery restores a more proportionate appearance to their limbs, which helps patients feel less self-conscious and improves their self-esteem.
After surgery, patients find exercising is easier, and due to improved mental health they are less likely to resort to binging or turning to food for comfort. As a result, they can minimize their chances of developing secondary obesity and other associated health conditions.
Who Can Perform Liposuction Surgery?
There are many cosmetic surgeons today offering liposuction surgery to lipedema patients. Unfortunately, though, not all produce equally good results. Treating lipedema patients is a specialist skill. Therefore, it’s important to seek out a specialist to treat you if you’re a sufferer. A specialist has the right skills, knowledge, and expertise to produce optimal results without causing more problems for the patient.
Dr. Su at ArtLipo is a leading liposuction surgeon in Tampa Bay, Florida. Unlike many other cosmetic surgeons, he specializes in liposuction and has pioneered his own effective techniques. Take a look at ArtLipo’s before and after image gallery to see the impressive outcomes he achieves for lipedema patients. To find out more about lipedema liposuction and to arrange a consultation, call Dr. Su at ArtLipo 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.