Do I have lipedema? Are there any specialists in NYC for this? (Photo)

yes you do have lipedema but you need more than just liposuction. you will need lifting of your thighs and heating of the inner and outerthighs with renuvion and/or body tite. you need to see an expert as this is something very specialized. liposuction alone will make you sag more and drop your buttock.

my whole practice is doing lipoabdominoplasty/lipo-skinremoval, or at least liposuction with internal heating (which is not the gold standard for skin tightening with body contouring).

You need a formal evaluation by an expert in body shaping and contouring to determine what is best.  Traditional liposuction awake and smart liposuction are old methods and do very poorly for tightening skin or significant skin tightening or contouring.  Small problem areas can be improved slightly by these methods.  The best in body contouring not only removes fat with energy devices like VASER ultrasound but also internally heat the skin with radio-frequency devices such as J PLASMA/RENUVION, InMode BodyTite, ThermiRF to heat the under surface of the skin and tighten it at the same time as fat removal. These combinations are called 4D HIDEF VASER contouring and can only be done by a well . trained body contouring specialist. At the same time fat should be harvested, PRP and stem cells added and injected into muscles or indentations/cellulite to get body shaping and contouring.  This is known as a Brazilian butt lift when you inject the fat to the buttock for contouring and lifting, but fat can also be used in areas such as the chest/breast, arms/shoulders, calves and face.  Cellulite should also be treated with cellfina, sculptra, subcision and/or fillers such as bellafill, renuva synthetic fat, or sculptra.  If skin is very loose before surgery then it will need to be removed such as lower abdominal skin (tummy tuck/abdominoplasty), breast skin (breast lift), arm skin (brachioplasty).  Overall you need a full assessment, but simple liposuction alone will not tighten skin and needs a combination of various methods -- fat removal, skin tightening, defining, fat grafting, skin removal -- to get the best in body contouring and body sculpting.  Dr. Emer.

Lipedema is an subcutaneous adipose tissue disease that causes disproportionate accumulation in the extremities. The subcutaneous tissue is characterized by a nodular feeling and is painful or tender. There are signs of inflammation in the tissue, which is why the adipose tissue is relatively resistant to weight loss. The only way to know for sure if you have lipedema is to have a clinical evaluation with a physician experienced the physical diagnosis of lipedema. I don't know any doctor in the NYC area that are specialized in the treatment of lipedema. We do see people at my clinic from the NYC area. Wishing you the best of health.

I appreciate your concerns and frustrations, however physical examination would be needed to confirm your diagnosis. Lipedema and lipodystrophy are commonly used interchangeably, which is incorrect. Lipedema Is symmetrical deposits of fat beneath the skin which is usually genetic and usually associated with pain. Lipodystrophy, is much more common, and associated with areas of well defined fat unresponsive to diet and exercise. Liposuction is extremely effective in treating lipodystrophy and modestly effective in treating lipedema because swelling is also a trait of this syndrome.
Traditional liposuction is still the gold standard, as other sexier sounding machines are no more effective and in many cases, result in worse results. The most important aspect of a liposuction procedure is the expertise and experience of the board-certified plastic surgeon using the machine. Consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon in our area to explore the best options for you. Good luck.