Lipedema - much more than just thick arms and legs
Lipedema usually makes its first appearance during puberty. In a highly sensitive phase, in which self-perception, self-image and self-confidence can be influenced and shaken by nuances.
During this time, the legs and perhaps also the arms begin to grow uncontrollably, they become thicker and plumper. The typical lipedema pain often appears much later. One could say: in the early days, it is not yet possible to guess what lipedema has in store for its patients.
Each patient knows how to write her own formative story. Chapters that tell of discrimination, disregard, disrespect, blaming and self-reproach, fueled by one's own ignorance and that of the environment. Because no one tells you that it is a disease and you are not to blame... This pain is usually more unbearable than the physical one.
Depression, body image disorders, isolation, addiction, sports and diet crazes. Do you know what I am talking about? But even excessive dietary measures have little or no effect on lipedema. The legs/arms are and remain disproportionate.
What we do know is that lipedema continues to grow if left untreated. Sometimes faster, sometimes slower. Which "lipedema career" you will face without treatment can only be guessed at. But many lipedema patients still have the exact image of their grandmother in their minds, whose thick legs with hanging skin flaps they could no longer wear...
Lipedema - what do we know about it?
The words "lip" (Greek for fat) and "edema" (accumulation of fluid in the tissue) do not adequately describe the clinical picture! Because not every patient, especially not the young lipedema patient, has edema.
The leading characteristic of this disease, which affects almost exclusively women, is a symmetrical disproportionate distribution of fat on the legs and arms as well as on the abdomen and back. In phases of hormonal changes, there is often a relapsing aggravation. But factors such as stress can also trigger spontaneous growth. Hands, feet and torso are excluded from the painful proliferation of fat, which increases the visual disproportion. And this body scheme massively collides with the socially accepted ideals!
Lipedema affects the body, soul, self-esteem and quality of life!
A genetic component and a hormonal trigger are thought to be causative for the disease. However, we do not know anything more precise. We are not even able to distinguish a healthy fat cell from a lipedema fat cell microscopically. There is no simple blood test that can not only detect lipedema, but rather prove it. Thus, the disease is often misdiagnosed as obesity or lymphedema. About a quarter of patients do not receive their diagnosis until after 30 years. These women are deprived of the chance of adequate treatment, a loss of life and quality of life!
Lipedema is not necessarily related to obesity. However, it often accompanies it. This is understandable, because frustration and disappointment are constant companions in the life of a lipedema patient. Lipedema cannot be influenced significantly or even sustainably by strict dietary measures and targeted exercise. The development of lymphedema is not inevitable if left untreated, but it is possible. Due to years of untreated or incorrectly treated disease, the lymphatic system can decompensate and edema develops. These are further aggravated by an additionally existing obesity.
How do I recognize lipedema?
Possible signs of lipedema include:
- Your torso and legs/arms do not match. Classically, you need a larger clothing size at the bottom. Pants often need to be altered
- When you apply cream, they feel nodules under the skin. Your skin appearance is not smooth, but dimpled and wavy
- You get bruises easily
- You don't like being touched on the arms and legs, having a child on your lap or being poked by your dog
- After a long day or a hike, you feel like your legs are heavy as lead. This still affects you the next day
- When climbing stairs, your front thighs burn like fire and you think you are just untrained
- You are ashamed of your legs because they have no defined shape and look columnar. And this despite the fact that you regularly go to the gym
- Because you hate your thighs rubbing together - especially in the summer - you've adopted a wide-legged gait and your legs develop a knock-kneed deformity
- The feet and hands are typically slender. But anklets and bracelets do not fit you
Once you get your diagnosis, one thing will happen: You will see a great many women with lipedema, while walking, on the way to work, in the supermarket. And maybe even talk to them. This is the only way to grow awareness of this disease!
What stages of lipedema do we know? And does lipedema really only exist on the arms and legs?
The classification of lipedema into stages and types, which is still widely used, is merely descriptive and, in our opinion, does not do justice to reality. It does not take into account an essential aspect: pain. For example, we often observe that lipedema patients in low stages describe pain that is sometimes disproportionately high. One question that has not yet been clarified is whether lipedema also exists on the abdomen. Here, too, the scientific findings to date (there are about 10,000 times more publications on breast cancer than on lipedema) are of no help. The fact is that some patients present a similar knotty, pressure painful tissue on the abdomen (especially lower abdomen) as on the rump and flank area. We believe: lipedema does not respect any anatomical boundary in the middle of the body in such cases.
After liposuction on the legs, there may be redistribution of fat on the abdomen, back, chest, chin and neck. This is a phenomenon we know. This is a phenomenon we hate. Because we cannot adequately explain it or even prevent it. Often the total weight even remains stable. If the affected regions cause discomfort that limits you in your everyday life or even visually disturbs you, we will again advise and accompany you competently. I am pleased to be able to confidently hand over these hitherto aesthetic follow-up treatments to my esteemed colleague Dr. Dabernig.
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