Lipoedema diagnosis and treatment

Lipedema most often involves the buttocks, thighs, and calves. The upper arms can also be affected.  

Being relatively rare and often misdiagnosed, lipedema is an uncommon disorder characterized by localized deposition of adipose tissue in the lower extremities, often occurring in females with a family history of the condition. 

The adiposity extends from hips to ankles and is typically unresponsive to weight loss. In addition to the aesthetic deformity, women complain of pain in the lower extremities, especially with pressure and easy bruising.  On physical examination, the fatty hypertrophy seen in patients with lipedema is soft and doughy in consistency. However, some areas of the fat may be firmer in patients with long-standing lipedema. 

In the 4th webinar global event, MOH is approaching lipedema by defining the disease and shedding light on conservative treatment options through compressive garments. 

Prof. Stanley Rockson – Professor of Lymphatics Research and Medicine, University Medical Line – discusses how lipedema is now considered a lymphatic disease. The webinar ends with Susan Butcher proposing garment choices for lipedema.