Self-love and self-care are at the centre of this blog post, as we are addressing a topic that affects many women but often remains hidden: lipoedema. This chronic Fat distribution disorder can cause not only physical but also considerable psychological stress. However, there is hope and possibilities for treating lipoedema and making life with this condition easier. What you can do yourself and how we can help you in our Acura clinic in Weert can help, we explain below.
What is lipoedema?
Lipoedema is a chronic fat distribution disorder that mainly affects women. In this disease, an unnatural amount of fatty tissue accumulates in certain areas of the body. This accumulation of fat is often disproportionate to the remaining body weight and leads to characteristic symptoms. These include
- Pain
Those affected experience pain or an unpleasant feeling of pressure in the affected areas. - Swelling
The lipoedema regions can swell and also show fluid accumulation (oedema). - Sensitivity
The skin over the affected areas can be sensitive. Bruising or haematoma can occur quickly. - Touch sensitivity
The skin may feel sensitive and painful to the touch or under pressure. - Unevenness
Lipoedema usually causes uneven skin, which those affected initially "only" classify as cellulite. You can also read our blog post "Lipoedema or cellulite? How the two conditions differ"
Lipoedema is not the same as being overweight or obese. The exact cause of lipoedema is not yet fully understood, but it is assumed that hormonal changes and genetic factors may play a role.
On which parts of the body can lipoedema occur?
- Thigh
This is one of the most common areas where lipoedema occurs. The thighs can be severely affected. They typically show a disproportionate accumulation of fatty tissue. - Lower leg
In this case, the lipoedema, including swelling, pain and uneven skin, can even extend to the ankles. Please also read our blog post: "Lipoedema on the calves" - Hips
In some patients, lipoedema also manifests itself on the side hips and causes typical "riding breeches". - Buttocks
Fat deposits can also form on the buttocks, leading to an uneven appearance. - Upper arms
In some cases, lipoedema can affect the upper arms, leading to a disproportionate accumulation of fat in this area. - Forearms
In some cases, the fat distribution disorder also affects the forearms and results in a disproportionate appearance. You can find more information on this in our blog post: "Lipoedema on the arms"
What stages of lipoedema are there?
There are different forms of lipoedema, which can be categorised into stages based on their severity and symptoms:
Type I lipoedema
This is the mildest form of lipoedema. At this stage, the symptoms are generally less pronounced. The fat deposits are evenly distributed and result in a slightly enlarged but still proportionate silhouette.
Type II lipoedema
At this level, the symptoms are already more noticeable and visible. There is an uneven distribution of fat in the affected areas. These areas look thicker and already stand out from the rest of the body. They disrupt the basic body proportions.
Type III lipoedema
This degree shows a stronger manifestation of lipoedema and is often referred to as a mixed form. In this case, the symptoms are particularly pronounced in the thighs, but can also extend to the lower legs and sometimes the arms.
Type IV lipoedema
This is the most severe form of lipoedema. It not only affects the legs and arms, but can also extend to the entire body, including the trunk, face and neck. This degree can cause significant physical discomfort and often requires more intensive treatment options.
The classification of lipoedema is not only based on external appearances, but also on the subjective symptoms experienced by patients, such as pain, swelling and sensitivity to touch. You should always seek the correct diagnosis and treatment from a specialist who will take into account your individual needs and the severity of the condition.
Treating lipoedema: When does therapy make sense?
You should enquire about treatment options at the latest when your fat distribution disorder causes symptoms that regularly impair your quality of life.
This means that if the lipoedema causes recurring pain that affects your everyday life and mobility, treatment is advisable. You should also have your lipoedema treated if the swelling and fluid accumulation associated with lipoedema becomes more severe, causes discomfort and impairs circulation. The fat deposits are often accompanied by restricted mobility. Those affected are often handicapped and have difficulty walking, standing or exercising.
Lipoedema can also be psychologically stressful and lower self-esteem. Quite a few patients become depressed as a result of this chronic condition. In these cases, treatment can be helpful both physically and emotionally.
Treating lipoedema: Basic tips
Treatment for lipoedema aims to relieve symptoms, improve quality of life and slow the progression of the condition. The choice of treatment options depends on the severity of your lipoedema, your individual symptoms and your needs. Basic tips and options for treating lipoedema include
- Manual lymphatic drainage
This special massage technique aims to reduce fluid accumulation in the affected areas. Lymphatic fluid and swelling are drained through gentle, rhythmic movements. This can help to alleviate pain and improve mobility. - Compression clothing
Compression stockings or tights with a pressure that is precisely tailored to your condition can also help to treat lipoedema. Compression garments can reduce the accumulation of fluids and swelling and support and relieve the affected areas. - Physiotherapy and exercise
Targeted exercises and physiotherapy can help to strengthen the muscles, improve mobility and relieve pain. The right exercise can promote lymph flow and alleviate the symptoms of lipoedema. - Diet and lifestyle
A healthy diet and maintaining a normal body weight can help to slow down the progression of lipoedema and control the symptoms.
Treating lipoedema: When does it require surgery?
Lipoedema surgery may be necessary if the fat distribution disorder causes symptoms that severely impair your quality of life and conservative treatment measures are not sufficiently effective. If there is severe pain, extremely uncomfortable swelling and fluid retention, your mobility is severely restricted and the whole situation is psychologically stressful, then we can help you at our Acura Clinic in Weert.
Treating lipoedema: Liposuction at the Acura Clinic in Weert
The Liposuction is a surgical procedure that is suitable for the treatment of lipoedema. You will be given a general anaesthetic for liposuction. Before the procedure, we will take photographs for your medical file. The areas to be treated are then marked.
The actual liposuction process begins with the creation of small incisions of around 4 mm in length. To loosen up the fatty tissue, we inject a special anaesthetic fluid. After your tissue has absorbed this fluid, we use the sound waves of the Vaser system to liquefy your fatty tissue. We remove the dissolved fat using small suction needles. This step is usually virtually painless.
Once the liposuction is complete, we close the small incisions. We bandage and protect the treated area. Compression garments are used to prevent bruising and swelling. The duration of the procedure varies depending on the treated area and its size, but usually takes between 1 and 2.5 hours. In some cases, where only a limited amount of anaesthetic fluid may be administered, two separate treatment sessions may be required.
Lipoedema surgery in Weert (Netherlands)
Do you have worsening lipoedema and suffer from this situation? We are very experienced in the Lipoedema treatment and have already been able to relieve many patients of this burden. We are also happy to be there for you - just contact us!
© Photo "Plus size woman wearing lingerie standing in front of the window" by Yakobchuk Olena | stock.adobe.com
© Photo "Lipedema vector stages and symptoms" by KAMAKSI | stock.adobe.com