What is Type 4 Lipedema, and How is It Treated?

Type 4 lipedema is one of the types of this poorly understood condition. There are five different types of this disease, and each one affects different areas of the body. To further confuse matters, there are also various stages of this condition. Here, look closely at the stages and types of lipedema and the treatments available.

Types of Lipedema

There are four different types of lipedema that sufferers may suffer from. Each one affects a distinct area of the body:

• Type 1 – Excess fat develops between the hips and navel. It is especially prevalent on the hips and buttocks, causing saddlebags.
• Type 2 – Excess fat develops between the knees and pelvis with excess build-up to the back of the knees.
• Type 3 – Excess fat builds up and extends from the ankle to the pelvis.
• Type 4 – Excess fat affects the arms and the lower body. It builds up between the wrist and shoulder.
• Type 5 – Excess fat develops between the ankles and knees, causing the lower legs to look especially swollen.

Also read – What is the Best Treatment for Lipedema in Its Early Stages?

How Can I Get a Type 4 Diagnosis?

If you believe you suffer from Type 4 lipedema, you need to get a diagnosis before you can get treatment.

The signs and symptoms of Type 4 lipedema include a disproportionately large lower body with large arms too. The affected areas may feel tender or painful when moved or touched. They may also bruise easily. You may feel nodules beneath the surface of the skin of all the affected areas too. These could be as small as grains of rice or as large as walnuts. If you are at a later stage of the disease, you may notice lobules of fat on your upper arms. These are hanging lumps of fat that change the silhouette of your body.

It isn’t always easy to get a diagnosis of lipedema. Many doctors fail to spot the signs of the disease, especially in the early stages. Therefore, you need to find a specialist in this field. An experienced surgeon can examine you and assess whether you have lipedema and which type you suffer from. They can then offer you suitable treatment. Dr. Su at ArtLipo specializes in diagnosing and treating lipedema patients.

What Treatments Are Available for Type 4?

There are both conservative and surgical treatments available to address Type 4 lipedema. The conservative treatments include making lifestyle changes such as eating healthy foods and exercising more. They also include wearing compression garments and having manual lymphatic drainage massages. These treatments help to relieve the symptoms temporarily, but the relief is only short-lived.

The surgical option to treat Type 4 lipedema is liposuction. It involves a surgeon making incisions in the affected areas and passing a cannula through to suction out the fat.

Liposuction addresses the cause of lipedema and not only the symptoms. That is why it’s the most effective treatment available today. Afterward, patients experience less pain and benefit from improved mobility. As liposuction restores a more proportionate body appearance, sufferers also enjoy improved self-esteem. Surgery is the longest-lasting solution and enhances the patient’s quality of life overall.

To find out more about Type 4 lipedema and how to treat it, contact Dr. Su at ArtLipo today.