June is Lipedema Awareness Month, and we want to provide our readers with some important information about just what lipedema is and about lipedema treatment.
What is Lipedema?
Lipedema is a potential serious condition that affects that fatty tissues. It usually occurs in the legs; however, there are some cases where it does occur in the arms. The condition causes an accumulation of fatty tissues. Some of the characterizations of this disease include:
• Usually exclusive to women
• May be an inherited condition
• Causes excess fat deposits with unusual patterns
• Can happen in all sizes of people, not just those who are overweight
• Cannot be reduced through exercise and/or diet
It is especially important to note that lipedema is not the same as obesity and that it is often incorrectly diagnosed as obesity.
Symptoms of Lipedema
The main symptom of lipedema is column-like legs that are usual larger in the bottom half. The area may also be tender and bruise easily. Patients suffering from lipedema often have bodies that have a normal size top half, with larger bottom halves.
Lipedema that progresses can cause the fat deposits to grow and the body to become even heavier. As we stated, lipedema is often misdiagnosed as obesity. Additionally, it can also be misdiagnosed as lymphedema, which usually only affect a single limb. This is one of main reasons it is important to get a proper diagnosis.
Lipedema Treatment
If you are suffering from lipedema, there are some things that can be done to control and/or reduce its appearance, such as:
• Maintain a healthy diet that eliminates sugars, fast food, processed foods, unhealthy oils, and other similar foods.
• It is important to maintain a regular exercise routine to keep the lipedema under control. Some good exercises are walking, cycling, and swimming.
• Manual lymph drainage has been shown to be very effective in battling lipedema. This is a specific massage technique that opens up the lymphatic vessels to allow natural drainage of the fluids.
• Wearing compression garments to help reduce swelling, especially in combination with lymph drainage massage.
Dr. Thomas Wright, medical director of Laser Lipo and Vein Center says, “The correct diagnosis is very important so that the best course of treatment can be implemented. This is because if lipedema is left untreated, it can lead to other more serious medical conditions
If you are concerned about lipedema, or wish to know more about lipedema treatment please contact us at the St. Louis Liposuction Center to schedule a consultation.
