What treatment helps with lipedema?

Women who are suspected of having lipedema or who have already been diagnosed usually want quick help in the form of therapies. The focus is on relieving pain, itching, tenderness and bruises, but also on the desire to restore an aesthetic body shape.

Below, we would like to give you an overview of the benefits of lipedema treatment.

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What methods are available for treating lipedema?

Many women who have lipedema suffer a lot from the condition. Whether it is due to pain, sensitivity to pressure or the self-perceived aesthetic imperfection, the desire for effective treatment is enormous.

Although at first glance there is a strong resemblance to being overweight or obese (it is not uncommon for doctors to misdiagnose this condition), exercise and dieting are not effective in treating lipedema; even slim people can be affected by the condition.

It is also important to note that lipedema is not treatable with medication. Diuretic medications should be strictly avoided, as they worsen the course of the disease, among other things, by causing congestion and hardening of the fat. Also, dehydration can have exactly the opposite effect and increase water retention after stopping the medication.

At LIPOCURA^®, we have specialised in the holistic treatment of lipedema in order to put an end to the often years-long suffering of our patients. We endeavour to achieve the following treatment outcomes:

Alleviation of the symptoms up to and including elimination
Stopping the progressive course of the disease
Avoidance of lymphoedema formation
Nearly complete removal of abnormal fat cells

A significant reduction in symptoms, or even complete freedom from symptoms in some cases, can be achieved with conservative treatment options as well as liposuction.

Conservative treatment options for lipedema symptoms

There are several ways to alleviate the symptoms of lipedema and thus relieve affected women in their everyday lives. The following measures are mainly aimed at counteracting water retention and stimulating lymph flow. The goal is to reduce the swelling in the arms and legs and give patients back some of their freedom of movement.

Ketogenic diet

The ketogenic diet is an effective tool for combating being overweight and obesity. Since lipedema often occurs in conjunction with obesity, the ketogenic diet is particularly suitable as preparation for possible liposuction.

The idea is quite simple. It provides for a low-carb, high-fat diet

The fat metabolism is stimulated by the reduced intake of carbohydrates. Fat deposits are also reduced for the production of ketone bodies, which supply the body with energy.

We would be delighted to discuss with you in a personal consultation whether this type of diet is suitable for you.

Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD)

The most important goal of conservative treatment for lipedema is to reduce the water stored in the tissue as much as possible – in other words, to decongest the tissue. One helpful method is lymphatic drainage.

The principle of lymphatic drainage is based on stimulating the lymphatic outflow mechanism. The lymph vessels can increase their activity and accordingly remove the tissue fluid more rapidly if they are stimulated to do so by lymph drainage.

During lymph drainage, the areas of the body affected by water retention are massaged in circular motions. Unlike a conventional massage, the treatment is carried out with extremely gentle and soft hand movements. In the end, a bandage is applied and left on overnight so that the effect of the lymphatic drainage lasts longer. The decongestion therapy temporarily causes a slight reduction in the circumference of the treated body part. In many cases, this also leads to a reduction in pain.

Lymphatic drainage for lipedema should be carried out once or twice a week (before liposuction). Manual lymphatic drainage can be accompanied by sports activities such as swimming, aqua-jogging and aqua-gymnastics. Due to the water pressure, the lymph fluid is gently decongested.

However, for long-term pain relief and to give you back your original body shape, liposuction is the only helpful method.

For more information and an individual consultation on lymphatic drainage, the lipedema specialists at LIPOCURA^® at our treatment locations will gladly assist you. Simply make an appointment for consultation at our clinic.

Compression care

To support the lymphatic drainage, we will also provide you with compression garments, which in the case of lipedema, correspond to flat-knit compression (in contrast to round-knit compression for venous diseases).

The compression garment increases the pressure on the tissue and ensures that less fluid from the blood capillaries enters the tissue. In addition, the function of the lymph valves and the flow conditions of the lymph vessels are improved. The pressure on the existing oedemas distributes them over a larger area and facilitates drainage or removal of the lymphatic fluid from the connective tissue. In the final step, the distance between cells and blood vessels is reduced, allowing them to be better supplied with nutrients and cleared of waste products.

Compression garments are customised for you in a medical supply store according to your measurements and the costs are usually covered by the statutory health insurance funds.

Different types of compression garments are available:

Tights
Stockings
Compression tights
Compression armsleeves
Compression boleros

It is especially important that the compression garments fit perfectly; otherwise, they will cut into the skin and not be fully effective. Compression garments should be worn at all times except at night and while swimming.

Liposuction – the lipedema surgery for permanent removal of abnormal fat cells

Conservative treatments such as decongestion or exercise therapy usually only bring temporary relief of the symptoms. In contrast, liposuction for lipedema (fat removal) can achieve lasting success. With this procedure, the fat cells can be carefully, gently and, above all, sustainably suctioned out. Many patients experience a completely new, self-confident body sensation as a result of liposuction. They wear short skirts again and enjoy the summer in the outdoor swimming pool – with significantly less pain or even no pain at all.

It is important to know that conservative therapy is always the first step in alleviating the symptoms of lipedema. At the moment, health insurance only covers costs for patients with stage III lipedema, which is why compression treatments, a ketogenic diet or manual lymphatic drainage are preferred at first. If there is severe obesity in addition to lipedema, weight loss is recommended first.

As part of our holistic treatment at LIPOCURA^®, our patients also have the option of undergoing subsequent skin tightening after liposuction in order to remove excess tissue that cannot regress on its own.

We would be delighted to give you a closer look at the liposuction procedure at LIPOCURA^® in Munich and Münster. You can find all the information you need about the procedure, how it works, aftercare, risks and much more on our liposuction service pages and in a personal consultation with our specialists.

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Ist lipoedem heilbar?

Can lipedema be cured?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for lipedema yet, as the exact cause has not been definitively resolved. However, there are good chances of alleviating or completely eliminating symptoms with holistic treatment, so you can live with the condition.

Conservative therapy can help patients for a short time. In best case scenarios, the disease does not progress further with conservative measures, but there is no lasting improvement in the symptoms. It does not actually reduce fat cells, but rather only decongests as a result of improved lymph flow.

The goal of liposuction, on the other hand, is to remove pathological fat cells. Liposuction does not cure lipedema, but the removed fat cells do not grow back in the places where they were removed. Thus, this procedure offers very good results – psychologically and physically as well as aesthetically.