Can you tell if I have Lipedema? What would the price be for a surgery to fix this? (Photo)

Question

I've tried everything to reduce my thighs. From diets, exercises, starvation, injecting myself. Nothing works. I can lose weight above the waist, & be a "normal size", but my lower half never responds. My thighs are painful, I cannot lay on my sides. Last week I ran across an article about Lipedema & felt like this could be what I have & would like some clarification? I live in a small rural areas without any specialist in this area. Any info or doctor suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

David Amron, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. It is a little difficult to tell from the photos you provided to determine if you have lipedema. There is more information that would be necessary to obtain. To begin with, I’d like to see better photographs of you that show the entire ankle area. Secondly, I’d like to understand the symptoms that you may or may not be having such as pain, swelling or increased bruisability. Third, do the types of legs you have tend to run in your family? Based on the photographs I am seeing, at a minimum, you have profound disproportion primarily in your outer thigh and buttock area. If I saw better photographs, I could get a better sense of whether that area itself should be targeted by itself or whether you should have the entire thigh area done circumferentially. If this is lipedema, that would be my preference as I have developed a circumferential approach to the legs in lipedema patients that I believe is better for a disease treatment standpoint as well as a cosmetic standpoint. If you don’t have lipedema and your primary disproportion is your outer thigh area, then that is the area to focus on with liposuction. My own fees are based on how long each surgery takes me. When I do an area of the outer thigh and buttocks, it is approximately is one hour surgery that is $5,000 surgeon’s fee. If I am doing the entire circumferential thigh area, one must understand that this is a very complicated way of approaching it as well as a long surgery, because of the surface area involved. This surgery typically takes me 4 hours and my fee for the surgery is currently $15,000. Please remember to seek a board-certified surgeon for your medical needs, especially when seeking treatment for this disease. I wish you the best of luck and please feel free to contact us for more information. Thank you.

Tania Medina de Garcia, MD · Answer

Hello dear, thanks for your question and provided
information as well.. This is the surgical
procedure that revolutionized cosmetic surgery becoming one of the most
performed cosmetic procedures. Subcutaneous tissue or fat is removed in order
to contour the body in a way that is harmonious and pleasing to the senses. It
can be performed in almost all regions of the body such as the neck, chin,
abdomen, back, buttocks, thighs, arms and ankles. Usually done through a small
incision in the skin through which a cannula connected to a vacuum is applied,
it can be performed alone or in combination with other procedures. After
liposuction your body is going to be really swollen for at least 2 to 4 months
after your surgery. It is important for you to wear your compression garment
for at least 6 months, the first 3 months 24/7 and then the last 3 months at
least 12 hours per day for your body get use to not having the faja for so many
time. When you remove it, your body can get swollen and also you can have pain.
Remember to also compress your body to prevent a seroma which is an
accumulation of liquid that has to be drained, it is hard to touch and also
really painful. Bruises are completely normal for almost 3 months from surgery,
that’s why is better for you to use a bruising cream and apply it all over your
body 3 times a day. To prevent bad circulation and swollen legs, use
compression socks. Brazilian butt lift can be performed with the same procedure
and for a month it will be swollen and it will drop a little bit without losing
it’s shape if you use your garment.. If you’re going to perform liposuction on
your inner, outer, anterior, lateral, postetior thighs, be careful and consult
with your surgeon what’s best for you, sometimes we have more extra skin than
fat, that can cause severe sagginess on our legs, which can be only be reversed
performing a thigh lift…

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

If it is lipedema or just fat, it can be treated with liposuction. You would have to be seen in person to be properly evaluated.

Karol A. Gutowski, MD, FACS · Answer

It may be lipedema ir normal fat deposits. Either way, it can be treated with liposuction. See link below for examples.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Lipedema is often underdiagnosed. The condition varies substantially in how it affects people.Most patients with Drew lipedema have a slightly different for distribution then your own.Generally more fat is seen on the lower part of the thigh and on the knees.  It often down to the ankles.regardless the treatment is liposuction.Lipedema typically worsens with age and with weight gain.If you have two lipedema then you could potential he have a worsening condition with or without treatment.Consults a board-certified plastic surgeon to find out what your best options are.Best,Mats Hagstrom M.D.

Can you tell if I have Lipedema? What would the price be for a surgery to fix this? (Photo)

Answers (5)

Answer: Can you tell if I have Lipedema? What would the price be for a surgery to fix this?

Answer: Can you tell if I have Lipedema? What would the price be for a surgery to fix this?

Answer: Do you have lipedema?

Answer: Do you have lipedema?

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Lipedema Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

Can you tell if I have Lipedema? What would the price be for a surgery to fix this? (Photo)

Answers (5)

Answer: Can you tell if I have Lipedema? What would the price be for a surgery to fix this?

Answer: Can you tell if I have Lipedema? What would the price be for a surgery to fix this?

Answer: Do you have lipedema?

Answer: Do you have lipedema?

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Lipedema Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.