Lipoedema (2024)

FAQs

Lipoedema? ›

Lipoedema is a long term (chronic) condition of fat and connective tissue which builds up in your legs, hips, bottom and sometimes arms. It affects both sides of the body equally. It's more common in women and only very rarely affects men. It's not the same as obesity.

If you are affected by lipoedema: your legs appear symmetrically swollen – swelling can occur from the hips down to the ankles and your legs appear column-like; the feet are not usually affected. affected areas feel 'spongy' and cool, and the skin is generally soft and may appear dimply.

There's currently no cure, but there are things that can help and stop it getting worse. Your treatment will depend on how severe your symptoms are and how they're affecting you. The main treatments are: eating healthily, doing more exercise and trying to maintain a healthy weight.

What causes lipedema? The exact cause of lipedema is unknown. But the condition runs in families in 20% to 60% of cases, so you may inherit it. The condition occurs almost exclusively in women and people AFAB.

Lipedema doesn't have a cure, but treatment can help improve symptoms. Exercise and a healthy diet. Lifestyle changes, such as a heart-healthy or anti-inflammatory diet, may help. Certain types of exercise can help increase lymph flow.

A person's skin appears normal and is smooth to touch. The person will have nodules of enlarged fat present underneath the skin. A medical professional can feel these nodules during an examination. A person with stage 1 lipedema may experience some pain and easy bruising.

However, the underlying cause of lipedema remains largely unknown. Symptoms usually first begin to arise around the time puberty, but can also occur after pregnancy or during menopause, or during another life event that triggers significant hormonal changes and/or fat accumulation.

A helpful diagnostic tool to distinguish lipedema from lymphedema is to pinch the skin over the dorsum of the base of the second toe (Stemmer sign); thickened skin that is difficult to lift off of the underlying tissue is considered diagnostic for lymphedema.

The lipedema fat itself is not smooth but feels like gelatin with small pea-sized nodules like foam balls in a bag. The excess fat growth on the buttocks, hips and legs gives a distorted pear shape to the body where the lower body is clearly out of proportion to the upper body (Figure 2).

It is thought guaifenesin may be working as a muscle relaxant effect that occurs in these conditions. Mucinex / guaifenesin may help pain or it may work as an expectorant in lipedema tissue and thin out extracellular proteins.

Do I have lipedema or just fat legs? ›

Pain and tenderness: Lipedema often causes pain and sensitivity in the affected areas, while fat legs due to obesity are typically painless. Swelling: Lipedema causes disproportionate swelling in the legs, whereas fat legs from obesity generally have more uniform fat distribution.

While a healthy lifestyle can help keep lipedema fat and inflammation at bay, lipedema cannot be addressed by losing weight alone. The only two lipedema treatments that exist at this time are Combined Decongestive Therapy and liposuction.

The best exercises for lipoedema are non weight bearing. Things like swimming, cycling, yoga and stretching. Yoga can be chair based if this suits you better. Walking and Nordic walking (where you walk with sticks for a full body work out) are great low impact options.

Lipedema is not just a cosmetic issue; it's a painful condition often accompanied by significant inflammation. This inflammation can exacerbate the pain and swelling associated with lipedema. Ozempic's anti-inflammatory properties might help reduce this condition, relieving many sufferers.

To perform the Lipedema pinch test yourself, gently pinch the skin and underlying tissue of the affected area—often the thighs or lower legs. The aim is to assess how the tissue feels. Lipedema often changes the texture and pliability of the affected regions.

Pain and tenderness: Lipedema often causes pain and sensitivity in the affected areas, while fat legs due to obesity are typically painless. Swelling: Lipedema causes disproportionate swelling in the legs, whereas fat legs from obesity generally have more uniform fat distribution.

“Lipedema may be mistaken for lymphedema, weight gain, and obesity,” said Aaron Mason, MD, FACS, FAAP, an aesthetic and reconstructive surgeon with Banner – University Medicine North. “Diet and exercise are generally not effective in preventing nor treating it.”

However, there is a stark difference between cellulite and lipedema. Lipedema is a medical condition that can result in pain, bruising, and swelling. On the other hand, cellulite is purely cosmetic and doesn't result in pain or require treatment.