How do you know if you have lipedema?

People suffering from lipedema often have more accumulation of Fat on the thighs and lower legs, ankles and feet also differ in thickness. In addition, the touch of the skin is sensitive and you bruise more quickly. There is often loss of strength in the arms and legs. Also, the limbs feel painfully heavy. Typically, with weight loss, you can easily see this in the face, breasts and torso, while the volume of the legs (and possibly arms) decreases little or not at all. Do I have lipedema? Do the Lipedema self-test right away and get an instant result →

Can lipedema be cured?

Lipedema is a disorder in the production of fatty tissue. It is a chronic disease that unfortunately does not cure itself. Lipedema needs a multidisciplinary approach. This means that, for optimal results, several aspects of lipedema must be addressed. Liposuction under local anesthesia is one of them. Edema therapy and compression therapy have a very important role in the treatment of lipedema. In most cases, mist properly performed, it reduces pain and heaviness. Often the size of the tissue also decreases somewhat. This is due to improving fluid and lymph drainage, reducing inflammation and improving blood flow. It is likely that this therapy, if prolonged, will slow the worsening of lipedema.

What can I do myself to reduce lipedema symptoms?

A stable weight and diet applied to lipedema is important. A dietician can support you in this regard. You can also get a lot of information from our nutrition plan . Whatever volume is added to the lipedema tissue is difficult to remove. A low-carb diet is often advised nowadays. Adequate edema therapy supports lymphatic tissue function, can reduce pain symptoms. It can also inhibit the progression of lipedema. Find more information on the lipedema diet page →

What characteristics are typical of lipedema?

Lipedema is characterized by a disproportionate accumulation of fat, usually in the legs, hips and sometimes arms, with the feet and hands often unaffected. Typical symptoms include pain, tenderness, bruising with no apparent cause and a feeling of heaviness or tightness in the affected areas. It is common in women and worsens without treatment. Learn more at ResculptClinic .

Recognizing lipedema? Complaints and symptoms

Lipedema

Recognizing lipedema is difficult and complex. If you can answer "yes" to the following questions, then your symptoms may fit the condition "lipedema.

Are your legs fat, but your waist and feet slim?
Does your skin feel lumpy and uneven?
Is touching your skin often sensitive or painful?
Do you bruise your legs easily?

Do I have lipedema?

The diagnosis of lipoedema cannot be confirmed with certainty without the intervention of a specialist. ReSculpt Clinic in the treatment of lipoedema, which means that our doctors can diagnose lipoedema in you.

Would you like more certainty? Then you can take our 'do I have lipoedema' test. This online test gives you clear answers and can help answer your question.

Take the online test "Do I have lipoedema?" →

Information

Complaints & Symptoms

Lipedema complaints and symptoms

Lipedema complaints and symptoms are often difficult to recognize. It is a serious chronic condition involving abnormal Fat and fat distribution.

This increase in Fat usually occurs from the hips and thighs down to the ankles. This creates a disproportion between the lower limbs and the upper body. Lipedema can cause both physical and emotional symptoms.

How exactly do you recognize lipedema?

Lipedema is difficult to recognize and is often confused with obesity or cellulite. With lipedema, the upper and lower body can differ by two or three clothing sizes. Lipedema is a common condition among both men and women around the world. One in ten women experience lipoedema symptoms.

Many people who suffer from lipoedema find that their skin is sensitive to touch and bruises easily. They experience a loss of strength in their arms and legs, which feel painfully heavy. Lipoedema is often accompanied by obesity, poor physical condition and fatigue.

Difference

What is the difference between lipoedema, cellulite, cellulite, and obesity?

There is often confusion about the difference between Lipedema, Cellulite and Obesity. But what exactly is the difference? And how do you recognize the differences?

Lipedema

Lipedema is a chronic condition in which there is improper fat cell buildup in the legs, thighs and buttocks. The onset of lipedema occurs around or after puberty and is a medical problem. The skin in lipedema looks like orange peel, similar to cellulite. The difference is that with lipedema, it feels painful when touched and bruising occurs quickly. This is not the case with cellulite. Lipedema needs multidisciplinary treatment.

Cellulite

Cellulite is an infection of the connective tissue caused by bacteria. So it is also a medical condition, but cellulite treatment is different from lipedema treatment. Both involve orange peel or pitting of the skin. The inflammation must be corrected by treatment from a medical specialist (or doctor).

Cellulite

Cellulite is a cosmetic condition. Cellulite occurs when the connective tissue strands in the subcutaneous connective tissue are pulled downwards like small strings. This causes the "orange peel" effect. As soon as the Fat increases, this bumpy structure can worsen. Cellulite is easy to treat.

Would you like more information about cellulite treatment? Read more on our page Cellulite treatment with Cellfina, for long-lasting results.

Obesity

The term obese is called when your BMI is greater than or equal to 30. Related terms for obesity are obese or overweight. The skin of the buttocks, thighs and legs resembles the skin in cellulite and lipedema. The difference between obesity and lipedema is that in obesity, the skin does not feel painful and fat distribution takes place all over the body. Obesity and lipedema do have in common that they are both chronic diseases. Both conditions require proper treatment and therapy for.

Would you like to know if you have lipoedema?

Take the online test "Do I have lipoedema?" →

Lipedema

What is lipedema?

Lipedema causes swelling of the subcutaneous fatty tissue, resulting in an increase in volume. Lipedema only occurs in women. The exact cause of this condition is still being investigated, but genetic predisposition, hormone balance, abnormalities in blood vessels and lymph vessels at the level of the fat cell complex, and inflammation certainly play a role.

To properly answer the question, "Do I have lipoedema?", a visit to one of the medical specialists at ReSculpt Clinic is ReSculpt Clinic . The treating physician can then determine whether your symptoms and physical characteristics are consistent with lipoedema.

Cause

Lipedema cause - When does lipedema start?

The cause of lipoedema has not yet been scientifically established. Lipoedema usually develops during or shortly after puberty. Some women experience symptoms around the time of pregnancy or even at the onset of menopause.

Although lipoedema is not currently considered a hereditary condition, the familial nature of the condition suggests that lipoedema may have hereditary factors.

Would you like to know more about the cause of lipoedema?

Then take a look at our page Lipedema causes →

Characteristics of Lipedema

Lipedema is another word for fat accumulation or fat swelling. People with lipedema experience swelling in their legs, but their buttocks, arms, and abdomen may also be affected. A characteristic feature of lipoedema is the symmetrical distribution of Fat your legs and/or arms, but your hands, feet, torso and face do not become thick.

The skin may look like orange peel and be painful or sensitive to touch, pressure or impact. Lipoedema also causes you to bruise more easily and your legs to feel heavy and tired.

Lymphedema and thick legs

Another reason for thick legs is lymphedema. This is a disorder of the lymphatic system that causes fluid and protein to accumulate in the legs. This can also cause your legs to become thicker. This disorder does not always occur in both legs and is therefore not always symmetrical.

The doctors at ReSculpt Clinic help you distinguish between lipoedema and other conditions. Incidentally, lipoedema always involves lymphoedema at a microscopic level.

Lower quality of life due to lipedema

People with this condition often have severe symptoms and experience a lower quality of life. This affects their physical, emotional, and social functioning. Lipedema is a chronic condition and can have a major impact on the lives and mental health of people with this condition.

Quality of life can be affected by reduced physical functioning and associated conditions such as obesity and secondary lymphedema.

Would you like more information about what lipoedema exactly entails?

Complaints

Physical complaints in lipedema

Lipedema causes physical symptoms as well as mental health issues. It is often caused by a combination of factors. Lipedema in the legs causes a heavy feeling in the legs. Fat accumulation Fat the inside of the knees changes the walking pattern, which can eventually lead to knee problems.

The most common physical symptoms of lipedema are:

Tired legs
Restriction in movement
Limbs feel heavy and swollen
Legs and/or arms are painful when touched, pressed or bumped
Bruising occurs quickly

Mental symptoms in lipedema

Lipedema has a huge effect on patients' lives both physically and mentally. Most mental symptoms in lipedema include:

Lack of self-confidence
Low self-esteem
Depression
Social disorders
Low libido

Do you recognize any of these symptoms and want to know if you have lipedema?

Then take the lipoedema online self-test →

IMPORTANCE

Importance of lipedema treatment

Do you suspect you have Lipedema symptoms? It is very important to know in time if you have Lipedema. Failure to treat Lipedema can lead to infections, delayed wound healing, movement restriction and lymphedema. However, problems such as:

Obesity
Faster progression of lipedema
Development of scar-like tissue
Hardened skin in the legs
Decline in mental health

The medical specialists at ReSculpt Clinic; Dr. Hajo Bruining and Dr. Jonathan Kadouch both specialize in the field of Lipedema and can help you with this. Through their knowledge and expertise, they will guide you through the entire process.

Request a consultation →

TREATMENT

Treatments for lipedema

ReSculpt Clinic the Dutch center of expertise for Fat ! The treatment of lipedema is one of our key areas of focus.

We treat lipedema by removing as much of the abnormal lipedema tissue as possible using tumescent liposuction, while also taking the overall aesthetic appearance into account.

Special Lipedema Treatment

This special lipoedema treatment reduces volume, almost always eliminates the pain associated with lipoedema, and makes your legs (and other areas affected by lipoedema) fit your body better again. You will literally feel better in your own skin.

You can see how this works in the following video.

Would you like more information about lipoedema treatment?

Then read more on the Lipedema page →

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions - Lipedema complaints and symptoms

Not everything is yet known about the exact cause of the condition lipedema. Several factors may influence it. Most likely, female hormones play a role because lipedema often develops during or just after puberty and only in women.

There are also factors at the level of small blood and lymphatic vessels in the affected lipedema adipose tissue. In addition, low-grade inflammation (low grade inflammation) plays a role.

People suffering from lipoedema often have more Fat accumulation Fat their thighs and lower legs, and their ankles and feet also differ in thickness.

In addition, your skin is sensitive to touch and you bruise more easily. You often experience loss of strength in your arms and legs. Your limbs also feel painfully heavy.

Typically, with weight loss, you can easily see this in the face, breasts and torso, while the volume of the legs (and possibly arms) decreases little or not at all.

Could I have lipoedema?
Take the lipoedema self-test and receive the results immediately →

Lipedema is a disorder in the production of fatty tissue. It is a chronic disease that unfortunately does not heal on its own. Lipedema must be approached in a multidisciplinary manner. This means that, for optimal results, multiple aspects of lipedema must be addressed. Liposuction under local anesthesia is one of them.

Edema therapy and compression therapy play a very important role in the treatment of lipedema. In most cases, when performed correctly, it reduces pain and the feeling of heaviness. Often, the size of the tissue also decreases somewhat.

This is the result of improving fluid and lymph drainage, reducing inflammation, and improving blood flow. It is likely that this therapy, if continued over a long period of time, will slow down the worsening of lipoedema.

Maintaining a stable weight and following a diet tailored to lipoedema is important. A dietitian can help you with this. You can also find a lot of information in our nutrition plan. The volume gained by lipoedema tissue is difficult to lose. A low-carbohydrate diet is often recommended these days.

Adequate edema therapy supports the function of the lymphatic tissue and can reduce pain symptoms. It can also slow down the progression of lipedema.

Find more information on the lipedema diet page →

Lipedema is characterized by disproportionate fat accumulation, usually in the legs, hips, and sometimes arms, with the feet and hands often unaffected.

Typical symptoms include pain, sensitivity, bruising without any obvious cause, and a feeling of heaviness or tension in the affected areas. It is common in women and worsens without treatment. You can find more information on the page with more information about lipoedema symptoms →

Download the Lipedema brochure (EN)

Download the Lipedema brochure (english)

Recognizing lipedema

the complaints and symptoms associated with lipoedema

How can you recognize lipedema?

Lipedema

Do I have lipedema?