Lipedema Awareness Month is an international awareness campaign every June to increase understanding and recognition of this often misdiagnosed condition. Lipedema is a chronic condition that causes abnormal fat accumulation in the legs, hips, and sometimes arms. It is estimated to affect up to 11% of women, yet many medical professionals are still unfamiliar with the condition. That’s why Lipedema Awareness Month is so important.
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Lipedema Awareness Month was first established in June 2014 by the Lipedema Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding of lipedema. Since then, the campaign has grown to include events and activities worldwide, including online support groups, educational resources, and fundraising events.
Lipedema Awareness Month is important because it helps to increase understanding and recognition of this often misdiagnosed condition. Many women with lipedema are told that their symptoms are due to obesity or are dismissed altogether, leading to frustration and delays in treatment. By increasing awareness of lipedema, we can help more women get the diagnosis and treatment they need.
What is Lipedema?
Lipedema is a fat disorder that mainly affects women and causes enlargement of both legs due to fat deposits under the skin. It’s characterized as a “progressive disorder,” meaning it worsens over time. In severe and more progressive cases, the trunk and upper body may also be affected, including the arms and upper back, and it’s often misdiagnosed and incorrectly treated as general obesity.
Lipedema is a disease that leads to the excessive buildup of fat cells, primarily in the arms and legs. Going far beyond the appearance of extra pounds, those who suffer from Lipedema often have large pockets of fat on their limbs that appear disproportionate compared to the rest of the body. Medical professionals often misdiagnose and dismiss lipedema as simple obesity, leaving affected women with an endless cycle of disappointment, frustration, and pain. Lipedema does not respond to a diet and exercise routine, yo-yo dieting, or juice cleanses.
Women suffering from Lipedema often report the disease associated with painful symptoms that trigger difficulties in dealing with everyday activities. Excessive swelling often comes with pain, numbness, and bruising. In its advanced stages, Lipedema can impact mobility and provoke vascular and lymphatic swelling, leading to further medical complications.
Living with Lipedema: Managing Your Symptoms
There is currently no cure for lipedema, but there are a variety of treatments that can help manage symptoms.
Lipedema Compression Treatment
Compression garments can help improve circulation and reduce swelling in the affected areas. These garments are typically worn daily and should be appropriately fitted to ensure maximum benefit. Some people may also benefit from nighttime compression garments.
The goal of compression therapy in lipedema is:
- Compression has been shown to reduce discomfort, aching, and limb heaviness, as well as support the health of the tissue.
- Compression helps to streamline uneven or distorted limb shapes and improve movement.
- Compression helps to reduce edema by reducing interstitial fluid formation and encourages venous and lymphatic return in lipedema.
All three goals are critical for the management of lipedema. Compression is the cornerstone on which all other treatments for lipedema are built as it is the only treatment that has been shown to benefit every patient with lipedema. Studies have shown medical grade graduated compression is the most universally applied effective treatment for reliving limb heaviness, tenderness, and leg cramping, and it should be the first line of treatment for lipedema as it is an extraordinarily low-risk and relatively low-cost and readily available treatment. Compression, with or without other lymphatic stimulating treatments, is an effective first line of therapy for managing lobules, wrist, and ankle cuffs that occur with lipedema.
Other treatments for lipedema may include manual lymphatic drainage, exercise, and weight management. These treatments can help improve circulation, reduce swelling, and improve overall health.
Dry Brushing Technique for Lipedema
Because the lymphatic system lies just below the skin’s surface, dry brushing has been considered an effective treatment for lipedema. The benefits of dry brushing have been shown to provide :
- Help move the venous blood
- Stimulate the lymph system
- Strengthen the immune system
- Improve surface circulation
- Exfoliate the skin
- Improve the look of the skin to produce a healthier feel
The dry brushing technique is performed with a brush, either with a handle or a strap, that has soft bristles. As the name says, the brush is used dry and without water. You will not get the same results if the skin or brush is wet. With long, gentle, firm strokes, go over your entire body (except the face). The strokes should move the skin toward the heart and neck. Start with the feet and brush upward to the knees, groin, abdomen, and chest. Then brush the hands and arms to the armpits.
Vibrotherapy Treatment for Lipedema
The best study to apply to lipedema was published in 2007 by Dr. Lowman on the effect of whole-body vibration on skin blood flow. The study examined lower frequency vibration’s effect on laser Doppler-measured skin blood flow. The pulse significantly increased blood flow to the skin after three minutes on a vibration plate. Interestingly, simultaneous isometric exercise on the scale blunted the increased blood flow. The study used a 30 Hertz cycle of horizontal pivot vibration, much like a teeter-totter. In other studies, using a higher vibration frequency and a vertical vibration has also shown changes in skin blood flow.
Ten years later, another study on vibrotherapy furthered our understanding of vibration treatment and its effect on lipedema symptoms. This study maintained that Manual lymphatic drainage is the gold standard for conservative treatment, yet its efficacy can vary greatly depending on the severity and medical history of the individual. Low-frequency vibrotherapy considerably improves its effectiveness.
Methods: Thirty female patients with lipedema stages 2-3 referred for physiotherapeutic treatment were randomly split into two groups. One group received six MLD treatments, while the other received a combination of MLD and vibrotherapy treatments. The outcome parameters were the lipedema volume at four locations in the lower extremities ( n = 29) or the upper extremities ( n = 1), and quality of life.
Findings: The combined treatment showed highly superior effectiveness. The reduction in lipedema size ranged from 1.1 d to 3.2, and the quality of life was significantly better ( d = 1.0). Conclusions: Combining MLD with vibrotherapy treatment considerably enhances the effectiveness of treating lipedema.
What Is the Best Vibration Frequency?
What does the literature say about the frequency of vibration? There have been multiple studies showing that vibration in the range of 10 to 30 Hertz is likely the most effective for changing blood flow and, indirectly, lymphatic flow. Some studies show high-frequency vibration, such as plates vibrating at 80 Hertz or higher, is associated with complications such as Raynaud’s symptoms.
Lipedema Diet: Anti-Inflammatory Foods & RAD Diet
Dr. Wright recommends following a Rare Adipose Disorder (RAD) diet, a modification to a standard Mediterranean diet that helps you maintain a low glycemic index to limit the number of occurrences and levels your blood sugar spikes through the day. In order to do this, it is recommended that you avoid any refined or processed starches and sugars. These are usually found in pasta, rice, bread, corn, and potatoes. Avoiding processed food – especially processed carbohydrates – will keep your insulin levels low and provide you the best chance at limiting inflammation.
Interestingly, Lipedema experts also report that avoiding starches alone will not prevent symptoms from flaring up. It is also recommended that individuals with lipedema may want to reduce their gluten intake as much as possible. Gluten is typically found in wheat, rye, and barley. Instead of gluten, make sure your diet focuses on foods high in omega-3 fatty acids and are also high in fiber to assist your body in burning fat and fighting inflammation. Focus on colorful foods like nuts, beans, fish, and whole grains.
Supplements for Fighting Lipedema Swelling
Another tool in your toolbox to help the fight against edema is ensuring you have a regular and robust vitamin supplement alongside the RAD diet. These vitamins and supplements can be found at your local drug store and are an inexpensive way to help.
Vitamin D3: Lipedema patients are typically deficient in Vitamin D, an essential supplement that plays a critical role in your immune system. It also helps your bone, muscle, and nervous system health. It is recommended that lipedema patients who are deficient in Vitamin D take up to 4 times the Recommended Daily Allowance, or RDA.
Selenium: A supplement that can aid with your daily metabolism is Selenium. It has been known to help reduce lipedema swelling that is often painful and continuous. While supplemental pills can be hard to find you can find them in brazil nuts; eating just 2 of these nuts per day should be enough to notice a difference.
Diosmin: Perhaps the most effective supplement to take is Diosmin, a bioflavonoid that is commonly found in citrus fruits. They can have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and lymph-tonic properties that will help with your symptoms of lipedema.
Benefits of Lipedema Reduction Surgery
Lipedema reduction surgery is different from cosmetic liposuction. Studies have shown that women with Lipedema have impaired lymphatic function. Lymphatic fluid promotes the collection of fat cells, which can cause the obstruction of lymphatic capillaries (branch-like blood vessels). Extra care must be taken to avoid injuring the lymphatic system and making an already stressed system worse. Using blunt cannulas generous and special surgical techniques, studies have shown that lymphatic function can actually improve after this type of liposuction in women with Lipedema. The goal of lipedema reduction surgery is to remove the fibrous tissue and maximally reduce the lipedema tissue. It is a debulking surgery, not a cosmetic surgery.
Two specialized liposuction techniques have been shown in studies to benefit individuals with lipedema: water-assisted and tumescent liposuction. In addition to the surgical equipment used, it is important to choose a surgeon with experience and who is cautious when performing lipedema surgery. These factors can have an essential influence on protecting lymphatic flow and function.
No General Anesthesia
One of the most beneficial aspects of lymph-sparing liposuction is that the treatment does not rely on general anesthesia. While general anesthesia is used for various treatments, it can cause complications for individuals with lipedema. It can cause complications in as high as 0.3% of liposuction treatments when used. Instead, lymph-sparing liposuction uses tumescent anesthesia to avoid these unwanted complications. In fact, general anesthesia can cause serious complications even death in up to 0.3% of liposuction treatments when used. Patients are conscious for the duration of treatment, while the tumescent liquid acts as a local anesthetic to the treatment area. Patients take pain kills ahead of time to help with discomfort, and through the process feel little pain, and if anything, pressure in the area being treated.
Reduces Fat Tissue
Perhaps the most noticeable benefit to lymph sparing liposuction is how it is able to reduce the amount of subcutaneous fat tissue in the body. Lipedema reduction surgery not only significantly reduces fat tissue, but also removes fibrous tissue, making the limbs lighter, smaller, less tender, and smoother. It is critical to follow your physician’s guidelines to reduce any swelling and inflammation before the treatment. This is done by wearing compression garments and wraps along with receiving manual lymph drainage for several weeks following lipedema surgery and beyond. Patients wear medical-grade compression clothing for at least 8 weeks, and manual lymph drainage and massage are typically recommended as an ongoing and regular treatment.
Your tissue will be decongested, allowing your liposuction treatment to be as successful as possible. Some slight swelling and bruising may return immediately following the procedure, but this is expected and should subside over time. Some patients also report numbness as their nerves in the treated areas respond to treatment. Numbness may last for several months and up to one year, but compared to the reduction in fat tissue; patients still see this as a huge improvement. Compression is critical to be maintained after the lipedema surgery as well, as the lymphatics are re-established. The lymphatic function is often improved.
Reduces Pain Associated with Lipedema
By reducing the amount of subcutaneous fat tissue, you can reduce any pain that is associated with lipedema. Lipedema reduction surgery, which is sometimes referred to as Lymph sparing liposuction, will be able to help you increase mobility without having the pain you have been feeling with lipedema since it started. This is huge for women with lipedema, especially because the pain and bruising is the leading symptom of seeking treatment. Women report a significant improvement in their ability to move around more freely, exercise more regularly and enjoy day-to-day activities that were previously off-limits. Bumping into a chair or a corner no longer causes large bruises, playing with the family dog doesn’t cause pain when they jump, and everyday activities are no longer considered out of reach.
Lipedema Awareness Month Events and Activities
Lipedema Awareness Month includes a variety of events and activities around the world. These may include online support groups, educational resources, fundraising events, and more.
If you’re interested in getting involved in Lipedema Awareness Month, there are many ways to do so. You can participate in online support groups, share educational resources on social media, attend fundraising events, and more.
There are many resources available for those with lipedema, including online support groups, educational websites, and more. These resources can provide information on lipedema symptoms and signs, lipedema diagnosis, treatment for lipedema, and more.
Lipedema is a chronic condition that affects many women yet is often misdiagnosed or dismissed altogether. By increasing awareness and understanding of lipedema, we can help more women get the diagnosis and treatment they need. I hope these practical tips for managing symptoms during Lipedema Awareness Month are helpful to you. Remember, you’re not alone in this journey.
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