Will I Need More Than One Lipedema Surgery?
Whether a patient will require multiple lipedema surgeries depends on several factors. Usually, if a patient is at an early stage of the disease, only one surgery is needed. However, if patients are at a later stage, they may need several surgeries. That is because they have more abnormal fat to remove. To produce the best result for patients, surgeons must remove as much fat as possible.
What Is Lipedema Surgery?
Liposuction is the surgery to treat lipedema. Patients undergo the procedure under local anesthetic. The surgeon makes incisions in the affected areas and passes a tube or cannula through. They carefully break the excess fat up so they can easily remove it. They then use suction to remove the fat from the body permanently.
Liposuction provides many benefits for lipedema patients. As it addresses the cause of the condition, the diseased fat, it relieves many of its symptoms. Afterward, patients experience less pain and better mobility. As their body has a more proportionate appearance after surgery, their self-confidence also improves. In general, post-surgery, lipedema sufferers have a far better quality of life.
Perhaps the greatest benefit of liposuction for lipedema sufferers is its long-lasting results. Patients usually experience years of relief from the condition’s symptoms. Surgery also significantly slows down the progression of the disease.
Is There an Alternative to Lipedema Surgery?
Many doctors advise that patients try conservative treatments before undergoing surgery. These conservative treatments address only the symptoms and not the cause of lipedema. They can help sufferers achieve short-term relief from pain and swelling. Unfortunately, though, the results are not long-lasting. The disease progresses and worsens over time. Also, patients must have regular ongoing treatments to continue to experience relief.
The conservative approach to treating lipedema includes wearing compression garments and undergoing manual lymphatic drainage on a frequent basis. Lifestyle changes, like exercising and eating more healthily also form part of the approach.
Should I Have Lipedema Surgery?
Some patients worry about undergoing surgery. However, it is important for lipedema sufferers to understand that surgery is currently the gold standard treatment. Although lipedema currently has no cure, liposuction is the best way to improve quality of life in the long term. After surgery, patients can benefit from a more proportionate body shape and thus better self-confidence. Also, as the surgeon removes a large amount of the diseased fat, the patient’s limbs are lighter. With the fat that causes pain gone, patients can move more easily and exercise more effectively. That makes it easier to avoid the development of secondary obesity and other related health conditions.
Who Needs Multiple Lipedema Surgeries?
In some cases, lipedema sufferers only require a single liposuction surgery. Those at stage one or perhaps stage two may fall into this category. As there’s only a small amount of abnormal fat, the surgeon has sufficient time to remove it in one surgery. However, in some cases, multiple surgeries will be needed.
Those at a later stage of the condition will probably require multiple surgeries. That is due to the volume of fat that needs removing. Surgeons can only safely remove a certain volume of fat at any one time. It would be dangerous for the patient if the surgeon removed large amounts of diseased fat at one time. Therefore, patients will probably return for further surgery at a later date. Patients at stage three or four may require several surgeries to achieve the desired outcome.
It is also important for patients to understand that the final outcome of these surgeries may not be flawless. Liposuction for lipedema involves the same procedure as liposuction for cosmetic purposes. Yet the key difference is the purpose of the surgery. For lipedema patients, surgeons aim primarily to remove the abnormal fat and improve their mobility. Their aim is not to achieve physical perfection for the patient. Nevertheless, following liposuction, lipedema patients are usually very happy with their outcomes.
Who Can Carry Out Lipedema Surgery?
Many cosmetic surgeons today offer liposuction to lipedema patients. But it’s important to understand that treating people with lipedema is a specialist skill. The surgeon must not only understand the liposuction procedure itself but also how to use it on lipedema sufferers. Therefore, choosing a specialist surgeon is crucial. It’s the only way to be sure they have the right skills to treat those with lipedema. It’s also the best way to ensure that you experience the very best results. Dr. Su at ArtLipo in Tampa, Florida, is a leading specialist in the field of liposuction. He has many years of experience in treating patients suffering from lipedema. If you visit the ArtLipo photo gallery, you can see the impressive results he achieves. His patients enjoy greatly improved lifestyles following surgery. To find out more 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.