Lipedema Liposuction Treatment Cost & Recovery in 2024

Some fat buildups are formed out of proportion to the rest of the body and resist conventional weight-loss techniques. These fat buildups are often attributed to a problem called lipedema, which causes uncomfortable fat deposits to accumulate on the arms or legs, and mostly affects women.

It has no known cure, unfortunately, but therapies including physical therapy, a healthy diet, and in certain situations, cosmetic surgery, can help control the symptoms.

Certain women may find relief from lipedema with liposuction, which is a surgery more commonly connected to cosmetic body sculpting. The surgery can remove extra fat, enhance the area's look, and reduce discomfort. This is how it operates.

What Is Lipedema?

Increased fat reserves in the legs and buttocks are the defining feature of lipedema. “Lymphedema” is another condition that develops in more severe lipedema instances.

A significant quantity of subcutaneous fat in the upper and lower legs (due to combined hyperplasia and hypertrophy) is what sets lipedema apart from other issues.

It differs from normal weight gain or obesity in that the lower body has a disproportionate build-up of adipose tissue, or fat, while the upper body remains unaffected. It's so rare for lipedema to spare the feet. Although the exact origin of lipedema is unknown, the problem is commonly misdiagnosed or incorrectly identified as lymphedema or just obesity.

What Is Liposuction?

Liposuction is a very common and popular plastic procedure among both men and women. For many, it’s the golden standard to reduce fat in selected body parts. 

Using a straw-like tool called a “cannula”, the surgeon applies a local anesthetic (both water-assisted and tumescent) before removing adipose tissue during the procedure.

The cannula is attached to a vacuum device at one end and is introduced via a tiny skin incision at the other end to remove fat through aspiration. While liposuction cannot reverse the effects or signs of lipedema or lymphedema completely, it can reduce the volume of the affected limbs and alleviate associated pain and suffering.

Related Article: Cost of Liposcution

Lipedema Liposuction

According to many experts, the best method for removing the fatty tissue is a surgery called “tumescent liposuction”. Indeed, many consider it the only method available to treat and remove the adipose tissue associated with lipedema.

However, not everyone agrees as some claim that there isn't any credible medical research that supports this. Indeed, there is a lot of false information on the optimal strategy to deal with lipedema on the internet.

In any case, symptoms such as pain and bruising improve after lipedema liposuction according to the results of a recent study. Experts in lipedema emphasize the importance of giving liposuction enough attention as the results of this procedure can in fact last for five years.

Two liposuction procedures can be performed safely to treat lipedema, but the surgeon should be skilled in avoiding lymphatic damage. Tumescent liposuction and water-assisted liposuction are the two methods that surgeons with extensive expertise in treating lipedema find to be the safest and most efficient.

These are just the two surgical treatment methods for lipedema that have been supported by research. However, many lipedema patients frequently have compromised lymphatic function, therefore more caution is necessary to prevent harm in these cases. Those with lipo-lymphedema, an advanced form of lipedema in which extra fatty tissue and lymphatic fluid accumulate, can benefit from nonsurgical therapy.

Fat Reduction by Liposuction Lipedema

The maximum amount of fat that can be removed at once during liposuction is determined by laws and regulations in each country. Although hospitals and medical centers typically set the limit at 5000 mL (five liters). However, there are no official limits in many countries when it comes to treating lipedema through liposuction.

This includes the tumescent fluid that is expelled along with the fat that has been removed. Because of this, many surgeons can remove more fat in a single treatment session by being extremely cautious with the amount of tumescent fluid they employ. More fat removal is usually possible when an anesthesiologist is involved in the surgery alongside an experienced surgeon.

Other Treatments for Lipedema

Lipedema develops (almost exclusively) in females, particularly following major hormonal changes or events like pregnancy or menopause. To fight lipedema, some experts recommend hormone treatment or herbal supplements. This could increase the efficacy of other concurrent lipedema treatments.

Consult a trained healthcare provider for a diagnosis if you think you may have lipedema. A more effective treatment strategy relies on early diagnosis, which can quickly reverse or reduce the disease's course.

A multifaceted strategy is usually used to treat lipedema, combining conservative therapy with surgery, when necessary. Typical conservative treatment choices include things like:

• Better nutrition or diet
• Exercise or mild physical activity
• Compression clothing
• Manual lymphatic drainage
  

Difference Between Lipedema & Lymphedema

Although lipedema and lymphedema have similar names and symptoms, they differ greatly in terms of their etiology and features. Both sexes can develop lymphedema, which can affect any area of the body, including the face, arms, legs, and abdomen.

The swelling associated with lymphedema is brought on by obstructions in the lymphatic system, as opposed to the uncomfortable fat deposits that produce lipedema. Swelling results from the fluid accumulation in the lymphatic channels caused by these obstructions, which hinder the lymph fluid from draining properly.

Primary lymphedema arises from birth defects, whereas secondary lymphedema is caused by harm to the lymphatic system, such as radiation, infection, surgery, or trauma. Unlike lipedema, which is usually bilateral, swelling can be restricted to a single limb or area of the body, depending on where the lymphatic drainage is blocked.

Lipedema Liposuction Cost

The cost of the procedure involves different nuances. For instance, some people may need more than one procedure to solve the problem. Others may need to try different liposuction techniques, especially if their case is complicated in nature. 

In any case, the cost of the liposuction procedure isn't always the same. In Turkey, the procedure could cost something between 1700-3000 USD. In other countries, the procedure could reach up to 5000 USD.