Lipedema is challenging to diagnose. Usually, sufferers need to find a specialist to get the diagnosis they need. A specialist knows the signs and symptoms to look for to diagnose lipedema accurately. They are also able to offer the right treatments as quickly as possible. That ensures the patient can have minimal discomfort and enjoy the best possible quality of life.
Why Is It Difficult to Get a Lipedema Diagnosis?
Getting your lipedema diagnosis is often surprisingly challenging. This is because lipedema remains poorly understood as a medical condition. Some doctors remain unaware of its existence or don’t know what symptoms to look for. That’s why so many physicians only spot the signs once the disease has progressed significantly.
A lot of patients report that their doctors misdiagnosed them as simply being obese. Their physician told them to go home to diet and exercise more – a solution that always fails to work, because lipedema is progressive. Lipedema doesn’t respond to low-calorie diets or exercise. That delayed their treatment and led to their conditioning worsening over time. Not only that, but it also negatively affected their mental and emotional well-being, as well as their physical health.
Why Is It So Important to Get a Speedy Diagnosis?
The reason that getting a speedy diagnosis is so essential is that lipedema is chronic and progressive. If you get no treatment, it’ll continue to worsen as time goes on. Lipedema goes through several stages, and it’s often challenging to spot during the first two stages of the disease. If doctors don’t know which signs to look for, it’s easy to misdiagnose patients as obese. However, if a patient can get their diagnosis at Stages One or Two, they can get their treatment immediately. That helps to stop the problem from becoming worse and causing the patient even more pain and distress. Although treating this disease at its later stages is certainly possible, delayed treatments are less effective and more intensive. Therefore, the sooner the patient gets their diagnosis, the sooner they get the help they need to slow the progression.
Can My Family Doctor Diagnose Lipedema?
Some family doctors can recognize the signs of lipedema in patients. Unfortunately, a surprising number cannot as they lack the specialist knowledge of the condition they need. When family doctors do spot the symptoms of the condition, it’s typically only at a later stage. That’s why it’s a better idea to seek out a specialist in the field. Dr. Su at ArtLipo is an excellent choice, thanks to his years of expertise.
How Can I Get a Diagnosis?
If you suspect you’re suffering from lipedema, you may already be struggling to get your diagnosis. The best course of action is to look for an experienced, reliable surgeon with years of expertise in working with sufferers. You can book your consultation so your surgeon can go over your medical history with you. They’ll also physically examine you to identify the signs and symptoms of lipedema. As they’ll have a clear understanding of what to look for, they’ll have no difficulty diagnosing you. Once you’ve received your diagnosis, your surgeon can then discuss treatment options with you. You’ll then be able to commence your treatment plan and start seeing results.
Can I Get a Diagnosis If I Live Out of State?
For many lipedema sufferers, finding a suitable specialist is an issue. There are few specialists in this field in some areas of the country. You may live some distance from a surgeon you can rely on. Luckily, the latest technology means that remote consultations are possible. You can receive your diagnosis remotely via the internet. Doctors can evaluate your condition using photos of your affected limbs sent via email.
Dr. Su at ArtLipo regularly carries out remote consultations for his lipedema patients. His innovative process involves drawing on your photos the results he expects to achieve for you with surgery. It’ll help you visualize how you’ll look once your treatment is complete and ensure your expectations are realistic.
All you need to do is take photographs of your legs from the back and front, from feet to hips. You can then email them to ArtLipo with your basic information. That includes your weight, height, age, and contact information. Within around a week to ten days, you’ll receive a response from your surgeon. You’ll be able to see their drawings on your images, along with quotes and any concerns your doctor has. The next step is to arrange a call to discuss any queries and to book your surgery.
If you need a lipedema diagnosis, Dr. Su at ArtLipo in Tampa, Florida, is a trusted and reputable choice. You can see the excellent results he achieves for patients in the before and after images gallery.
Get in touch today to find out more and to arrange your Lipedema consultation.