Is Sculpsure safe for lipedema patients?

Lipedema is a fat storage condition that is characterized by both fibrosis (scar-like changes) and an abnormal circumferential fat accumulation in the extremities. Although Sculpsure and Coolsculpting are effective noninvasive treatments for fat reduction and body contouring, these technologies won't be able to effectively address the fibrosis that is a large component of lipedema. These noninvasive body contouring devices are not as effective as power-assisted liposuction for the treatment of lipedema.

Coolsculpting and Sculptsure have not been studied or approved for the treatment of lipedema. Neither treatment addresses the adipose tissue fibrosis that is seen with lipedema. My recommendation would be to use Coolsculpting or Scultsure to treat lipedema. Wishing you the best of health,

Hello Jennifer, I don’t feel that SculpSure really has any role in lipedema patients. Once a person is diagnosed with lipedema, it should be treated by other modalities rather than non-surgical fat reduction. I have SculpSure in my practice, but I would never utilize it for my lipedema patients. It is not the proper therapy. To begin with, I don’t think it will do much in terms of improvement. Secondly, it’s really going to miss a lot of areas in terms of the proper treatment of lipedema. Lipedema should be treated with proper comprehensive lymphatic-sparing liposuction by a specialist and expert. To conclude, I don’t think SculpSure is going to do anything harmful, but on the other hand, I also don’t feel it plays any role in the therapy for lipedema patients. I wish you the best of luck with your care. If you have any questions, please contact my practice.

Thank you for your question. I suggest that you move forward and consult with a board certified facial plastic surgeon. 

Best wishes,

Lipedema is a problem of enlargement of fat cells, affecting 11 % of women, primarily the lower extremities or buttocks, that can result in swelling, pain and blockage of the lymphatics which can then result in the swelling known as lymphedema.Lymphedema is caused by obstruction of the lymphatics in an extremity, usually the arm or leg.  It can occur after lymph  node dissection after mastectomy or radiation.  It can be congenital, developmental or caused by infectious blockage of the lymph nodes. Sometimes there is massive swelling of the affected limb. It can occur in association with some cancers if there is obstruction of the veins and/or lymphatics of the legs or arms.The tissues are swollen with protein-containing fluid, and although there is a bulky appearance, it is not fat.SculpSure would be contra-indicated, should not be used, and standard medical treatment should be used, e.g., lymphedema pumps, compression sleeves or wraps, leg elevation, and for a subset of patients a microsurgical procedure that opens up blocked lymphatics.Since lymphedema is a different problem from excess fat, SculpSure is not effective and could potentially aggravate the swelling.For lipidema, its use is unknown and possibly harmful, if it caused more lymph fluid to be generated as the fat cells break down.

Lipedema is enlarge fat cells in disproportion.  Non invasive options are not practical.  They will not hurt but likely you will see very little changes and need many treatments making it financially not worth it.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Hi Jennifer,Thank you for your question. To my knowledge there has been no studies or clinical trials for SculpSure on lipedema patients. Due to the unknowns, I personally would not treat you for SculpSure.

To my knowledge, beyond their cosmetic approval,
neither fat reduction device has been investigated in a controlled clinical
study  for lipedema or any fat condition
that deviates from normal.

No. SculpSure would not be an ideal treatment for lipedema patients. It targets small pockets of fat -- not entire areas. I don't think that it would give you the results that you want and it would be extremely expensive. Hope this helps. 

SculpSure is generally best recommended for small, localized areas of fat that are resistant to diet and exercise.Although you certainly could undergo SculpSure for particular areas, it would not be the most optimum treatment for larger, more diffuse areas, and certainly not for total body treatment. It would not hurt you, but would require multiple treatments, such that the time and financial commitment would likely not be worth it.