What Worsens Lipedema?
Lipedema is a progressive condition characterized by abnormal fat accumulation. Lipedema continues to develop over time, and primarily affects the lower body. At the present time, much remains unknown about the condition. Experts believe, however, that lipedema has a hormonal cause. Lipedema appears and worsens during times of hormonal change, such as puberty, pregnancy, and menopause.
What Causes Lipedema?
Lipedema is still a poorly understood condition, and much remains unknown about the disease. Although experts first identified lipedema in the 1940s, there has been limited research into it over the years. Recently, doctors have been carrying out more studies into the condition. They believe it has a genetic cause. That is because it seems to run in families. If you have a close relative with the disease, you have a higher chance of suffering, too. Also, it may have a hormonal link. Evidence shows it first appears at times of hormonal change. Hormonal fluctuations also cause the symptoms to worsen and the disease to progress. Many people develop symptoms of lipedema around puberty, pregnancy, or menopause. Also, almost all sufferers are female, which also suggests a hormonal cause.
Learn More – What Causes Lipedema?
What Are the Signs of Lipedema?
The early signs of lipedema are tricky to spot. They are similar to those seen in other conditions like obesity. For this reason, many people fail to identify the disease until a late stage. Even doctors frequently misdiagnose sufferers with obesity, recommending they diet and exercise more. That approach has no impact on lipedema fat. Therefore, patients continue to see worsening symptoms while also experiencing low self-esteem as they feel they’ve failed.
The symptoms of lipedema include abnormal fat accumulation on the lower body. Most commonly, lipedema affects the legs, hips, and buttocks, but in some patients, it affects the arms, too. The legs often have a column-like, symmetrical shape. The patient’s lower body may be several sizes larger than their upper body. Pain and tenderness in the limbs are another symptom, along with easy bruising.
The defining symptom of lipedema is the unusual texture found under the skin. While regular fat feels soft and relatively smooth, lipedema fat is different. It contains nodules that feel like grains of rice, peas, or even walnuts under the skin. Eventually, lobules of fat begin to form too around the knees and arms.
Learn More about Lipedema Signs – Is There a Test for Lipedema, or Do Doctors Rely on Lipedema Symptoms to Give a Diagnosis?
Does Lipedema Get Worse Over Time?
Lipedema is a chronic progressive condition that only worsens over time without treatment. It goes through three or four stages, each one worse than the last. The first stage of lipedema only displays minor symptoms that are easy to overlook or misdiagnose. When patients reach stage two, the symptoms are more obvious. There is a greater accumulation of fat on the lower body, and nodules begin to form under the skin. When patients reach stage three, the fat accumulation can become quite disfiguring. Lobules form, making movement painful and difficult and causing heaviness in the limbs. Some patients go on to develop stage four lipedema, with secondary lymphedema.
Even with treatment, lipedema symptoms continue to get worse. However, treatment slows the progression to varying degrees.
Is Lipedema Life-Threatening?
Many lipedema patients worry that the condition is life-threatening. It is important to understand that, in itself, the condition is not. However, it results in the development of secondary conditions that can be medically dangerous.
For example, many people with lipedema develop secondary obesity over time. Lipedema makes it difficult to exercise without pain and discomfort. Therefore, patients struggle to maintain a normal body weight. Obesity causes a range of other medical problems like heart conditions, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. These conditions can be life-threatening.
Furthermore, mental health problems are commonplace among lipedema patients. Sufferers often experience low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression due to the disease’s disfiguring effects. Mental health conditions can exacerbate obesity issues and cause further conditions to develop.
Does Lipedema Have a Cure?
Unfortunately, experts have not yet been able to develop a cure for lipedema. There are, however, treatments available for patients who receive a diagnosis.
Can Lipedema Be Treated?
There are conservative and surgical treatments available for lipedema patients. Conservative treatments include undergoing manual lymphatic drainage and wearing compression garments. Patients must also make positive lifestyle changes. These treatments address only the symptoms and not the cause of the disease. They produce temporary relief but can’t stop the disease from progressing.
Surgery is the best treatment for lipedema as it addresses the cause of the condition. It removes the diseased fat, reducing pain and improving mobility. Surgery is a long-lasting treatment for lipedema, producing results that are ongoing for many years.
Should I Have Lipedema Surgery?
The best way to decide whether to have surgery for lipedema is to speak to a specialist. Dr. Su at ArtLipo is a specialist in liposuction and can help patients make an informed decision. He produces impressive outcomes for his patients, even at later stages of the condition. To find out more, call ArtLipo today to arrange a consultation.
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.