Thomas Wright, MD

A skilled and compassionate surgeon can perform an EVLT without much discomfort. Phlebectomy can be a bit more uncomfortable. I would recommend discussing your concerns with your surgeon they may be able to offer Nitrous Oxide or laughing gas or other medication to help with pain.

Dr. Thomas Wright has been performing lipedema reduction surgery for nearly two decades. He is one of the most experienced lipedema surgeons in the US and world and as published his surgical outcomes in PRS global Open. His paper of lipedema reduction surgery showing improved mobility, knee mechanics and quality of life won the award for Best reconstructive paper in 2023. Dr. Wright has trained with numerous German surgeons over the years, and also has collaborated in research with leading researchers in the field of lipedema. Dr. Wright performs a specialized type of lipedema liposuction for considerably less than what is charged on the east and west coasts. Currently, he charges $10,500 for a lipedema reduction surgery for patients with BMI over 35 and $8,500 for patients with BMI under 35. 

Thoughtful , thank you for sharing your photos. I can see you have some skin laxity and a lower abdominal roll. In my experience, Liposuction with Renuvion can improve the skin laxity and the roll significantly. It will probably not completely remove the roll, but in some case it can. In most cases you will still have little roll, but in a minority of cases like yours it can be eliminated.

Thank you for sharing your photos. I see some irregularities in the skin texture but this does not look like a" Botched " liposuction. Time may help as well as lymphatic massage and compression to realize smoother results.

Thank you for sharing your photo. Looking at the photo, you have pretty good but not great skin tightness. You could definitely get more muscle definition and skin tightening with Liposuction combined Renuvion or Laser Energy tightening. Obviously the tightest skin comes with arm lift but leaves a significant scar.

The honest answer is that your legs and symptoms maybe lipedema, but without a full history careful exam that involves feeling texture of the skin for nodule and softness. Please know that if you have lipedema it can be effectively managed with non surgical measures such as an active lifestyle, an anti-inflammatory low refined carb diet and compression. Surgery can be helpful for symptoms not controlled by the conservative measure. Be careful of surgeons who are over eager to diagnose and perform surgery because although it can be helpful it does not cure lipedema. Wishing you the best of health.

From your description and your photos, it is possible but not that likely that you have lipedema as you don't report symptoms. Proper diagnosis of lipedema requires a detailed history and specialized focused exam by a physician with experience diagnosing lipedema. However, your concerns about ankles, calves, and knee could certainly be treated by a surgeon who is experienced and expert with calf and ankle liposuction. Knee, Calf and ankle liposuction requires a special set of skills. Only a few surgeons specialize in knee, calf and ankle liposuction because it requires extensive knowledge of the lower extremity anatomy and in inexperienced hands complications can occur.

Gentle thank you for sharing your story. From your photo and the description of your symptoms, it is very likely that you have lipedema. Lipedema is a subcutaneous adipose tissue disease and although there is no cure it can be effective managed with a combination of non-surgical and surgical treatments. I have published an important paper on the benefits of lipedema reduction surgery using a specialized type of liposuction. In the paper, published in PRS in 2023 we reported significant improvements in pain, mobility, knee function and range of motion. In addition, patients reported improved quality of life after the surgery. I recommend you treat your lipedema comprehensively with an anti-inflammatory low refined carb diet, medical grade compression and consult with a surgeon who has years of experience treating lipedema. You may want to ask your surgeon for outcome of patients similar to you.

Lipedema can not be diagnosed by looking at photos. Lipedema is diagnosed by the presence of specific symptoms, and history consistent with it, and the presence of multiple physical signs on exam. Looking at your photos, I do not appreciate any sign of cuffs or disproportionate shape that would be consistent with lipedema. In summary I do not suspect you have lipedema but only a proper exam with a physician experienced in diagnosing lipedema could be sure.

Thank you for sharing your photo. I have been treating enlarged rope hand veins for 20 years and have consistently good results without complications. However, this is a treatment I most doctors do not have the training or skills to do. There are always some risks. There are very specific safety protocols to follow. If the protocols are followed by a skilled physician, the risk of clots or other complication is very small.