Experts say that to treat lipedema, liposuction is the best treatment. Without treatment, lipedema is a painful and unpleasant condition. However, some sufferers are anxious about having surgery to treat their problems, and they wonder whether an alternative to surgery may help. Many people suggest surgery alternatives such as dry brush massage and whole-body vibration therapies. So, could they be an equally good solution to treat lipedema?
How Does Dry Brushing Help?
The body’s lymphatic system is just underneath the surface of the skin, which is why dry brushing may be a way of treating lipedema. Dry brushing may:
- Help to move blood around the veins
- Strengthen immunity
- Stimulate the body’s lymphatic system
- Boost surface circulation
- Improve the skin’s appearance and make it feel healthier
- Exfoliate the skin
To dry brush the skin, you use a soft-bristled brush with a strap or handle. You don’t need any water. You use gentle, firm, and long strokes to go over the whole body (but not the face). Each stroke needs to move the skin towards the neck and heart. You begin with your feet, brushing up to the knees, then the abdomen, then on to the chest. Finally, you brush up the hands to the arms and armpits.
How Does Vibration Treatment Help?
No studies look directly at how vibration devices help with lipedema. Studies for different purposes have, however, shown that these devices help to maintain and build muscle mass. People with lipedema often have lower muscle mass, which affects their quality of life and mobility. A vibration frequency of between 10 and 30 Hertz can boost blood flow. This indirectly improves lymphatic flow, which helps treat the symptoms of lipedema.
Can These Treatments Replace Liposuction?
Vibration treatment and dry brushing can help relieve some of the symptoms of lipedema, but they cannot address the cause of the condition. The cause of lipedema is an accumulation of abnormal fat. Neither of these treatments removes those fat cells. Therefore, the fat cells will continue to cause problems despite these treatments. If you want to try a conservative lipedema treatment approach, you can add vibration and dry brushing into your regime. They may be helpful alongside other treatments, but they won’t resolve the problem.
Liposuction Is The Best Treatment
You can’t cure lipedema, but you can treat it. Liposuction is the best treatment for lipedema. However, won’t completely resolve the problem. Liposuction permanently removes the problematic fat cells, which gives the patient relief from pain and mobility problems for a longer period. After liposuction, patients can move more easily and will experience less pain. They will also have a more proportionate lower body appearance, which will boost their self-confidence and self-esteem. They will also enjoy a better quality of life for longer.
Although the idea of having liposuction may be worrying, it’s the best way to treat lipedema. You can find out more about what lipedema liposuction involves by contacting the ArtLipo team today. We can give you expert advice and arrange a consultation for you with our skilled surgeon.
Dr. Thomas Su, is the owner and cosmetic surgeon of Artistic Lipo. He has led our full-time clinic specializing in awake-only liposuction since 2007. Dr. Su began his medical career in internal medicine, practicing that until 2005, when he began to provide a full spectrum of non-invasive cosmetic procedures.
