Treating Lipedema – The Large Leg Disease
Lipedema, sometimes characterized as “the large leg disease,” is a commonly misdiagnosed condition. Even medical professionals often fail to recognize its symptoms. No wonder so many sufferers struggle to get the treatment they need. Lipedema causes legs to grow large because of diseased fat deposits. Lipedema fat is different from regular fat, and dieting and exercise cannot shift it. Women who receive a misdiagnosis of obesity, therefore, cannot reduce their leg size. The distress and low self-esteem they experience due to misdiagnoses only exacerbate the problem. Nevertheless, there is an effective treatment for lipedema. The key is to get help from a specialist in the condition.
Why Does Lipedema Cause Large Legs?
Lipedema is a condition that causes an unusual accumulation of diseased fat in the lower body. Unfortunately, no clear cause is yet known. However, it appears to have a genetic link. It is almost always women who suffer from this condition. Lipedema causes the build-up of fat deposits on the lower body and sometimes the arms. Often, the upper body remains slim, especially in the early stages of the disease. The legs, therefore, look disproportionately large when compared with the torso.
Also Read: Lipedema or Just Fat Legs – A Surgeon’s Guide
How Do I Get A Lipedema Diagnosis?
Unfortunately, your regular family doctor will probably be unable to diagnose lipedema. That is because many doctors are still unfamiliar with the condition. Those who are often cannot spot the signs, especially at its early stages. For this reason, patients often receive an incorrect diagnosis. Many sufferers receive a diagnosis of lymphedema (an entirely different medical condition) or obesity. They often have to wait until the condition is very advanced before finally receiving a correct diagnosis. Yet, getting an early diagnosis is essential. The earlier you receive treatment, the better your outcomes. Early treatment ensures the worst symptoms of the condition don’t appear. That is why seeking out a specialist is vital, as they know what symptoms to look for. They can give a correct diagnosis straight away so that treatment can begin at once.
What Is The Best Treatment For Lipedema?
Lipedema has conservative and surgical treatments to help with the condition. Sadly, there is currently no cure for this disease. Nevertheless, effective treatments exist and can improve quality of life significantly.
Many doctors recommend conservative treatments at first. These treatments include manual lymphatic drainage massage and the wearing of compression garments. These treatments only address the symptoms of lipedema and not its cause – the diseased fat.
Liposuction is the best treatment available at the present time. It addresses the cause of the condition at its source. By removing the diseased fat, liposuction reduces pain and improves mobility for the patient. It also slows down the progression of the disease, improves mental well-being, and improves a patient’s quality of life. As the surgery restores a more proportionate body shape, it helps patients improve their self-esteem too. For this reason, patients often find that liposuction is the solution they’ve been looking for.
To find out more about treating lipedema, the large leg disease, get in touch with ArtLipo today. Dr. Su is a leading specialist in this field and can offer a diagnosis and effective surgical treatment.
