June 30, 2023 // 2:00 pm CEST // 90 min

Unlocking New Dimensions in Lipedema Treatment: A Multidisciplinary Approach

Join us in this captivating MOH Talk as we dive into the realm of lipoedema and embrace the immense potential of a multidisciplinary approach in diagnosis and treatment, led by esteemed experts from Brazil and USA. Discover the synergistic collaboration between surgical interventions with lipoedema patients and an enlightening study on the efficacy of compression products. Attendees can expect an immersive experience where expert perspectives converge, unveiling the strength of an integrated approach.

The briefly summarized insights from the discussion

It is vital to take a multidisciplinary approach; this heavily involves trying to change the lifestyle of the patients, ensuring that the swelling, bruises, heaviness, inflammation, and pain can be reduced.
Compression plays a crucial role in managing lipoedema. It involves the application of pressure through compression bandages or garments to promote fluid movement, prevent reaccumulation, and provide support to the affected area.
An endocrinologist can aid with the patient’s hormonal issues, which is vital in tackling lipedema.
Vascular surgeons can aid in carrying out the surgery, it should be noted that 80% of lipoedema patients have varicose veins.
The development of lipedema involves a combination of factors, including genetic predisposition and hormonal changes.

See also the extensive summary created by Wound Masterclass.

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Take home message

When treating lipedema, more emphasis should be placed on reducing the pain experienced by the patient, rather than reducing the fat volume. More fat removed does not equivalate to the success of improving the life of the patient. Pain does not depend on the size of the fat volume.
The most important mission is to create better worldwide awareness about lipoedema. It is essential to transform the reality of the treatment. Since it is not well known by health professionals, the aim is to provide more quality knowledge and training for healthcare professionals. This is vital due to the feelings of hopelessness patients have in the situation.
Another aim is to democratize the access to the treatment. Institutions such as NICE have also noted on the requirement to conduct more research into this field. Many UK patients go abroad due to lack of access to the required procedures.
This disease should be treated comprehensively, with diet, compression, and surgery. It requires a multidisciplinary approach from a community of experts: nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, and nutritionists. With these treatments, we can significantly improve the quality of life for these individuals.
The ultimate goal in treatment of lipoedema patients is lessening the symptoms and reducing the pain. This can be achieved via compression, MLD and nutrition, essentially a comprehensive approach.
There should also be appropriate and adequate counselling regarding the nature of the disease; mental health should be equally considered as much as physical health due to the stress of patients.
Understanding the difference between this chronic disease and obesity can aid in this, as well as providing the patient with comfortable compression that they can feel cosmetically happy in.
There is hope for the patients: More technologies, more studies and more doctors dedicating their time upon this chronic disease will improve it. There will be new discoveries and new developments enabling a completely new situation for lipoedema patients.

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Speakers

Multidisciplinary approach to lipedema

Dr Fabio Kamamoto, Brazil

He was resident in General Surgery and Plastic Surgery at the Hospital das Clínicas de São Paulo. He received his Master's Degree in Plastic Surgery from the Department of Plastic Surgery, School of Medicine, USP (2006) and PhD in the area of healing at the Hospital das Clinicas, School of Medicine, USP (2017). He has experience in Plastic Surgery, with emphasis on healing, working mainly on the following topics: breast reconstruction, healing, keloids and surgical treatment of lipedema. He is a full member of the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery. He has a postgraduate degree from the Plastic Surgery Division of the Hospital das Clínicas, FMUSP, whose master's thesis was "experimental models for scarring studies" and a PhD in Sciences from USP.

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Benefits of compression treatment of Lipedema

Dr Thomas Wright, USA

Medical director of Laser, Lipo and Vein Center, USA. He is one of the first two hundred plus surgeons in the nation to become a diplomat of the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine. Dr. Wright brings a multidisciplinary, comprehensive approach to treating causes of edema from treating venous insufficiency with saphenous ablations to managing lymphedema and lipedema. His comprehensive approach is to first evaluate the venous and lymphatic system with a physical exam and Venous Doppler Ultrasound, which provides invaluable information on the presence of extremity edema and its cause. He has authored and presented several scientific papers on new surgical techniques for the treatment of venous insufficiency and has received several awards and honors for his original research in the treatment of venous insufficiency.

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Panelists

Dr. Gabriele Faerber, Germany

Doctor Faerber completed her medical studies in Heidelberg, Freiburg in Germany, and South Africa with scholarships from the German National Academic Foundation and the City of Mannheim. She has gained experience in various medical fields including general medicine, psychiatry, and phlebology through her residency in Baden-Baden and Freiburg. Currently, she works as a general practitioner in both rural and urban settings, having practiced in Kaiserstuhl, Freiburg, and now in Hamburg. With over 20 years of expertise, she is a respected speaker at national and international conferences, specializing in topics such as sclerotherapy, thrombosis, lipedema, lymphedema, and obesity. Additionally, she actively contributes to medical education as a lecturer and has been appointed to the Guidelines Commission of the German Society of Phlebology for the revision of guidelines on lipedema.

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Dr Pavithra Reddy, India

She has completed her Bachelor's of Physiotherapy (BPT) from RV College of Physiotherapy, Bangalore after which she pursued Masters in Obstetrics and gynaecology physiotherapy from Manipal University, Udupi and graduated top of her class. Dr. Pavithra is also certified in Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) for upper and lower extremity lymphedema and advanced lymphedema management for patients with head and neck lymphedema. She has been successfully treating several patients with lymphedema since 2019. She is currently a private practice owner of RAKSHA, a centre for lymphedema and women's health physiotherapy, in Bangalore. She has an expertise in the field of lymphatic studies, women's health physiotherapy, manual therapy.

Moderators

Dr. Mohamed Omar Elfarok, EGY

M.Sc, FRCSEng, FRCSEd, IME, Consultant Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon Royal College Of Surgeons Of England Examiner.

Tracy Green, UK

Clinical Manager at SIGVARIS GROUP Britain

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