Home / What's going on? / Lipedema
Ongoing lymphatic care · South Berkeley
You cannot diet or exercise lipedema away.
Lipedema is an abnormal distribution of abnormal fat cells, now classified as a connective tissue disorder. It mostly affects women, it usually runs in families, and it is not something willpower touches. Most doctors were never taught about it, which is why so many women are told for decades to simply eat less and move more.
- What it is
- A connective tissue disorder
- Often
- Genetic, runs in families
- I can help with
- Fluid, comfort, surgery recovery
- First step
- A free phone call with me
The question I always ask
Did your mother or grandmother have big legs?
There is a genetic component to lipedema, so I ask. And people say oh yes, all the women in my family have big legs, that is just how we are built. That is what they called it. Big legs.
Think about how hard it is to get diagnosed now, and then think about how hard it was for your mother, or hers. They did not know they had a medical condition. They did not know compression would have helped. They were told they were fat, and they believed it, and so did everyone around them.
That is why I would rather someone came in unsure than stayed home certain that nothing could be done. Sometimes what people need is a pair of eyes and hands and someone to point them in the right direction. I cannot diagnose, but I can give you my honest opinion and tell you who actually knows about this.
It is not the same as being fat. It never was.
What I can and cannot do
Being clear about this from the start.
Lymphatic drainage does not remove lipedema fat. Nothing conservative does. What it does is help you feel considerably better.
Fluid and heaviness
In more advanced lipedema the lymphatic system becomes involved too, and drainage helps keep things moving.
Pain and tenderness
Lipedema tissue can be painful, and hard nodules can form. Gentle work often eases that.
Pointing you somewhere real
Dr. Stanley Rockson at Stanford and Dr. Karen Herbst are the two most prominent doctors in the United States for this. Dr. Amron in Los Angeles is another name that comes up.
Before surgery
There is a specialised form of liposuction for the right candidates. The technique began in Germany. Preparing beforehand is worth doing.
After surgery
Post-operative drainage after lipedema surgery is substantial work and I have done a lot of it.
Sorting truth from selling
A great deal is sold online for lipedema. Some contains genuinely good herbal ingredients. None of it is a cure, and almost none of it has been tested.
Diagnosis
Where to actually start.
If you already have a diagnosis, good. Bring me what you know and we will work from there.
If you suspect lipedema but nobody has confirmed it, that is a common place to be and not a reason to wait. Come and talk to me, and I will help you work out who to approach and what language to use, because getting taken seriously is half the battle.
If you are considering specialised surgery, come before it if you can. Recovery from lipedema liposuction is significant, and having the plan and the appointments in place beforehand makes a real difference.
Worth saying plainly
What I will not tell you.
That drainage removes lipedema fat
It does not. Nobody conservative can, and anyone claiming otherwise is selling something.
That a supplement will fix it
Some of these use ingredients that are genuinely good for the lymphatic system. That does not make them a cure and mostly there is no testing behind them.
That I can diagnose you
I cannot. I can give you my honest opinion and point you toward people who can.
That you should have done something differently
You did what you could with what you were told, which for most women with lipedema was very little and much of it wrong.
Before you call
Questions I get asked.
What is the difference between lipedema and lymphedema?
Lymphedema is chronic swelling caused by a damaged lymphatic system. Lipedema is an abnormal distribution of abnormal fat cells, now classified as a connective tissue disorder. It mostly affects women, often runs in families, and cannot be dieted or exercised away. In advanced lipedema the lymphatic system can become involved as well.
Can lymphatic drainage cure lipedema?
No. It helps with fluid, heaviness, pain and tenderness, and it is genuinely useful before and after surgery. It does not remove lipedema fat.
Who diagnoses lipedema?
Very few doctors are well informed about it. Dr. Stanley Rockson at Stanford and Dr. Karen Herbst are the two most prominent in the United States. On the call I can help you work out who to approach and what to ask.
Is there surgery for lipedema?
Yes, a specialised form of liposuction, for people who are the right candidates. The technique originated in Germany and a number of surgeons in the United States now perform it. It is not a decision to make quickly.
Do the supplements sold for lipedema work?
They are not cures. Some use herbal ingredients with a long history of supporting lymphatic drainage, which is fine, but there is generally no testing behind the specific products and they will not change the underlying condition.
I think I might have lipedema but I am not sure. Can I still come?
Yes, and many people arrive exactly that way. I cannot diagnose you, but I can give you an honest opinion and help you work out where to go next.
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The next step
Tell me what is going on.
Fifteen free minutes on the phone with me. Whether you have a diagnosis or only a suspicion, tell me what you are noticing and I will give you my honest read and point you toward people who know this properly.