My legs are disproportionate and heavy, is this lipedema?

Question

I diet and exercise. My upper body is normal but my legs are disproportionate and feel very heavy

David Amron, MD · Answer

Hello there,To diagnose lipedema, there are two factors that are most important. It is a clinical diagnosis and there are no blood tests for lipedema. It is based on two things, the pattern of distribution of the fat and secondly, the symptoms that go along with it. The pattern of distribution tends to be a circumferential pattern that goes all the way around and gives a column-like looks to the legs, that goes from the groin all the way to the ankles even to the calves and ankles. It also can be in the upper arms. The more important component is the symptoms that comes along with that which is pain, swelling and easily bruised. We look for family history as well, we call is autosomal dominant, an inheritance pattern which is passed on from parents to their children. In your particular case, you do have mild fullness of the entire leg from the groin area to the ankle area. It does look like this fat circles the entire legs all the way around. Your thighs are full as well as the anterior thighs as well as some cellulitic changes to the posterior thigh compartment. Your calves and ankles look like they have fullness all the way down also. The pattern of distribution of fat does seem consistent with lipedema and you would have very mild, early stage 1 lipedema. If you do have any of the symptoms, then it looks like you have stage 1 lipedema. I wish you the best of luck with your care. If you have any questions, please contact my practice.

Robert M. Tornambe, MD · Answer

sss920. Physical exam would be optimal, but there appears to be small pockets of fat of your posterior thigh region that may be amenable to Micro-Liposuction. Very small cannulas  are key in your case because there is little residual fat of the surrounding regions, and this allows the surgeon to sculpt the region more accurately without leaving skin irregularities. Be sure to consult with a board certified plastic surgeon. Good luck!

Jan Hochtritt, BSc, MD · Answer

Thank you very much for your question. If the demand is a condition that is constituted of swelling of the skin and subcutaneous tissue . The first stage is swelling of the skin that is reversible when the legs are elevated.  The feet are never affected. Do you feel painful lumps under the skin? There are also other conditions that can make your legs feel heavy. From the photos that you provided I can surely tell you it is not a higher grade lipedema. To rule out a stage one or 2I would advise you go to a center, or experienced practitioner for a consultation. Have a wonderful rest of the day and greetings from the beautiful island of Jamaica

Boris Volshteyn, MD, MS · Answer

If you are otherwise in good shape, and you have leg pain that is not easily explained, if you have easy bruising, if you have a weird or unusual sensitivity to touch, there are chances you might have a lipedema, even if you were very slim. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to treat it. Eventually, most ladies decide to either live with it or have liposuction. If you are thin, vaser assisted, Lipedema liposuction can be beneficial in improving your symptoms. Please remember that Lipedema is a lifelong disease, and with any additional hormonal changes, you may experience significant changes and even worsening, even if you have liposuction.

Windell C. Davis-Boutte, MD (license suspended) · Answer

Judging from the photograph, it does not appear to be anything to be concerned about. There is some cellulite, and this may simply be genetic as well as age related.

My legs are disproportionate and heavy, is this lipedema?

Answers (5)

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