Lipedema is a long-term disease that causes abnormal fat accumulation in various body areas. These areas are mostly legs, thighs, and arms. It mainly affects women, as this condition is rare among men. This abnormal fat buildup does not go away with dieting or exercise. Besides this, people who suffer from lipedema experience pain, swelling, and bruising. It also starts affecting mobility and quality of life. Though compression therapy, diets, and other therapies help manage symptoms, it does not work against the excess fat. At this point comes liposuction surgery. Liposuction removes stubborn fat deposits from the tissues of the body through surgery. This treatment also helps to improve mobility in patients suffering from lipedema.
However, not all techniques of liposuction work similarly for lipedema. Specialized methods are needed to avoid complications
Liposuction
The extraction of fat from different parts of the body by surgical procedure is called liposuction. And this surgical procedure is mainly performed for aesthetic purposes, not for weight loss. For lipedema, however, liposuction has the medical aspect of removing diseased fat, causing pain and swelling. Normal liposuction is not sufficient for lipedema.
The doctors have particular techniques for treating lipedema. These procedures protect the lymphatic system of the patients. The ideal liposuction method can minimize pain, enhance mobility, and prevent the condition from getting worse.
Liposuction techniques used for Lipedema
Not every liposuction technique is best for lipedema. Below are the advanced techniques that surgeons employ for lipedema treatment.
1. Tumescent Liposuction
The tumescent liposuction is also known as “local liposuction”. Tumescent liposuction is performed in the case of lipedema. For this treatment, the fatty areas are injected with a special saline solution. After injecting, the surgeon waits for 15 minutes. During this time, your body absorbs this solution. A saline solution is used to swell fats and make them firm, mainly preparing them for surgical removal. A thin tube called a cannula that is connected to the vacuum-like machine is inserted into the fatty layer. This tube is mainly used to remove fats. The removed fats are then collected into the sterile collection system.
Tumescent liposuction surgery causes less swelling and pain generally. Surgeons can perform it without general anesthesia. The recovery happens peacefully through this method. Tumescent liposuction treatment is completely safe for patients as the surgeon takes care to save lymph nodes during surgery. This treatment is effective for lipedema patients.
2. Water Assisted Liposuction
This technique is also known as “hydro liposuction”. It involves the pressurized spray of saline solution to remove fats from various areas of the body. This pressurized solution will separate fat cells without causing any damage to the surrounding tissues. Finally, a suction device removes the fat using the least force.
This approach is a bit gentler than traditional liposuction procedures.
The patient’s lymphatic system remains safe with this technique. Moreover, it results in less swelling and bruising after surgery. You can get satisfactory results in a short time.
3. Power-assisted liposuction
This method of Liposuction employs a mechanical cannula that breaks fat with tiny vibrations. This facilitates controlled and easier fat extraction. Hence, the technique demands less physical effort from the surgeon and works very well for larger, stubborn areas of fat.
Another big advantage of this technique is its efficiency. The surgeon can remove large volumes of fat with greater speed. The method also injures less tissue than previous techniques. This means less pain and faster recovery for patients.
4. Laser Assisted Liposuction
This technique utilizes beams of laser energy concentrated into the body by a surgeon to melt fat within the patient’s body. The fat cells are then liquefied by heat as a result of direct exposure to a beam of laser energy. This allows the surgeon to suck them out easily. This technique is valuable for its minor invasiveness. However, it is not the primary choice for lipedema.
Doctors sometimes combine laser liposuction with other techniques. The heat from the laser can tighten the skin slightly. Yet, if not done carefully, there is a great risk of burns or uneven results. Usually, recovery is rapid. However, swelling lasts for a prolonged time. Surgeons must perform liposuction carefully. For this reason, many surgeons mostly opt for the tumescent and water-assisted technique.
5 Key Benefits of Liposuction
1. Reduce pain
Liposuction reduces pain among affected lipedema patients. It removes abnormal fat that surrounds and pressures nerves and tissues. This pressure causes continuous pain and swelling in the affected areas. Often, recovery is quick after surgery. Most surgeons will advise a patient on aftercare after surgery to get a speedier recovery and avoid complications.
2. Enhance Mobility
Fats in the legs make movement difficult. Lipedema affects walking and sometimes even standing for a long time. Liposuction can remove excess fat so that it can be much more balanced in the body.
Patients feel that they can move more freely after treatment. Their legs don’t rub together as much as before. Many can exercise lightly again, which improves mobility. Some even resume activities they had previously stopped, like dancing or hiking. Though results vary, movement in daily lives improves significantly for most people. Physical therapy after surgery also strengthens the muscles as well as improves flexibility.
3. Prevents Progression
Lipedema continues to progress with time if not treated. Continuous fat accumulation causes more pain and swelling. Liposuction, therefore, halts this cycle by permanently removing diseased fat cells.
Severe swelling occurs when fat obstructs lymphatic flow. However, reducing fat early avoids this problem. Thus, doctors recommend early intervention. Delaying the treatment makes the situation more difficult. While liposuction does not cure lipedema, it can control the progression of the condition.
4. Improved Quality of Life
Lipedema impacts confidence, self-esteem, and daily functions. Clothes don’t fit well, and pain prevents activities. Liposuction helps reset the body into an organized shape.
Patients feel more secure when they recover. They can wear fitted clothes without discomfort. Suddenly, the most trivial activities become pleasurable again- walking along the streets, shopping, or going out for dinner. They can walk, go shopping, and have dinner without the feeling of any judgment. Many also feel less fatigued with removing extra fats. There is also an emotional relief. Feeling good about oneself positively affects daily life.
Conclusion
Liposuction transforms lives for people suffering from lipedema by offering great mobility and pain-free fat removal. It also stops the condition’s progression. Specialized techniques such as tumescent and water-assisted liposuction provide the best and safest results.
All in all, the side effects of the procedure are not very severe. You should select an experienced surgeon for your surgery. One can enjoy long-lasting relief and a better life with great aftercare.
Consult your doctor if you have lipedema and are suffering from pain or mobility issues. Your better life awaits you, and maybe it’s just a surgery away.
