Why lipoedema occurs remains a mystery, although genetics is thought to play a part. It tends to exclusively affect females and usually first appears when there is a hormonal change such as at puberty or pregnancy or even the menopause.
What is the difference between lymphoedema and lipoedema?
It helps to compare the two conditions in order to understand the differences:
Lipoedema
– Swelling of the lower limbs, and sometimes arms, which is symmetrical on the body
– General body shape is usually disproportionate
– The swelling is usually soft and often comprises of loose, floppy, connective tissue and fat
– Often a pad of fat just under the knees and hips
– Feet or hands are usually not affected, making ankles and wrists look a little like bracelets
– Firm pressure on the skin leaving obvious indentations is absent
– Pain in the joints, especially the knees
– Tenderness of the tissues
– Limbs will often bruise easily and through no apparent cause
– Risk of infection in affected areas no greater than normal
– The affected skin condition is usually soft and supple and not thickened
– Affects females only
– Losing weight will not improve the affected areas, however being overweight does not help
– There is often a family history of the condition
Lymphoedema
– Swelling may be unequal on each side of the body, with one thigh larger than the other, for example
– Feet are frequently affected
– Pressure on the skin will leave an indent, especially in the early stages of the condition
– No pain is felt if pressure is applied to the skin, but tissues will feel tight
– Limbs do not bruise easily
– Increased risk of infection (cellulitis) in affected, swollen areas
– Can affect females and males of any age
– The affected skin is often thickened and may have other features such as warty change or papillomatosis
– Losing weight usually has a beneficial effect on the swelling
– There is a family history of the condition in 20% of cases
How is it possible to mix up lymphoedema and lipoedema?
Lipoedema is often inaccurately diagnosed or even misdiagnosed and mistaken for other conditions, particularly lymphoedema, as well as obesity.
This happens most frequently in the later stages of the disease when the fat obstructs the lymphatic drainage leading to a mixture of lipoedema and lymphoedema, sometimes called lipo-lymphoedema. In this instance, patients may be offered treatment for lymphoedema, but the underlying lipoedema can often be missed.
Lymphedema treatment
There’s no cure for lymphedema, instead, treatment focuses on reducing the swelling and controlling the pain through exercising, compression garments, massage, and other non-surgical forms of compression
Lipoedema treatment
Each individual sufferer presents a different issue, making the condition debilitating and frustrating to manage. As a result, any treatment must take the form of specialist planning, with careful consideration of the time between sessions and any other ongoing medical issues. For such a sensitive condition it is imperative patients are cared for by a specialist such as Dr Gupta, who has extensive experience in treating lipoedema.
Dr Gupta has helped many people with lipoedema through tumescent liposuction (microlipo) and VASER lipo surgery.
Given the sensitivities of the condition, microlipo is widely considered to be the safest and the most appropriate method for managing and ease the strain of the symptoms.
Taught by the creator of the technique, Dr Gupta is one of only a handful of experts in Europe with the necessary skills to perform microlipo. Microlipo uses tumescent local anaesthesia instead of general anaesthesia, and the surgery is performed with very small instruments (cannulas) to remove fat, guaranteeing smooth and natural results.
The procedures are done step-by-step, usually starting with the outer thighs, and split over a timeframe of up to about six weeks.
Dr Gupta only works with clients who he feels will benefit from a liposuction procedure.
No client is the same and it is only after the consultation that Dr Gupta can gauge suitability and then suggest a cost for the procedure.
Contact the clinic today for a consultation:
https://www.drpuneetgupta.co.uk/book-a-consultation/ 
