Lipedema Treatment

Consultations offered at our seven convenient locations in Manhattan New York City, Princeton New Jersey, Scarsdale, Woodbury Long Island, Southampton, Smithtown and Boca Raton, Florida

A woman sitting with crossed legs and hands on the floor, showcasing smooth, toned legs, representing successful lipedema treatment at Greenberg Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology in New York.

Lipedema is a chronic condition that is often mistaken for obesity and usually affects women. Approximately 11% of women struggle with the disease which leads to excess, painful fat accumulation on the legs. (1) In some instances, it can also develop in the arms. A lipedema treatment reduces chronic fluid retention and lower body fat. If you have bilateral weight gain in your lower body, your skin often bruises, and you are unable to eliminate excess fat with exercise, lipedema treatment can provide relief.

At Greenberg Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology, we have helped thousands of patients restore their figures. Dr. Jacqueline Ross, Dr. Stephen T. Greenberg, M.D., F.A.C.S, Dr. Jason M. Weissler, and Dr. Stephanie A. Cooper can help you regain your mobility and quality of life. With liposuction, we can remove excess fat, reduce fluid retention, and help you achieve a slimmer figure.

Contact our office to learn more about how lipedema treatments can provide relief:

About Lipedema Treatment

Lipedema often causes painful excess lower abdominal fat and fluid retention in the legs that feels uncomfortable when touched. Colloquially known as a “tree trunk” effect, the condition can cause the arms, legs, and hips to swell. Although the cause of the disease is unknown, it is tied to genetics and hormonal changes. Women often experience it with puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. A lipedema treatment can help you find relief from various stages of the condition.

Mild Lipedema

Lipedema is often mistaken for weight gain due to fluid retention. However, patients are unable to achieve a slimmer figure with consistent exercise or a healthy diet. For mild lipedema, a liposuction procedure can reduce your fluid retention and alleviate discomfort before your symptoms become so severe that they affect your mobility.

Moderate Lipedema

The moderate stage of lipedema is characterized by sensitivity to touch and weight gain that begins to affect mobility and quality of life. Some patients also have numbness or a cold sensation in their limbs at this stage. Fatty nodules that look like cellulite can develop in the arms, trunk, and legs. The uneven texture of the skin is often a sign that the disease is progressing. Liposuction removes excess, painful fatty nodules to help you find relief.

Severe Lipedema

In severe cases, excess fat and fluid begin to impede mobility, and patients have difficulty with any physical activities. At this stage, lipedema begins to affect quality of life and self-confidence significantly. Patients can also start to experience issues at work and life-altering chronic pain that can affect their ability to participate in their daily activities, including work.

Treatments for Lipedema

Liposuction

Liposuction reduces excess fat with gentle suction that preserves the surrounding tissue for a smooth, natural result. Surgeons performed approximately 491,000 liposuction procedures in 2021 to help patients contour their bodies. (2) The type of liposuction we perform will depend on your body type, aesthetic goals, and the severity of your condition:

  • Tumescent liposuction is a procedure that removes excess fat with tumescent fluid– a solution that reduces pain and causes your fat cells to swell for easy removal.
  • External ultrasound-assisted liposuction (EUAL) breaks up fat cells with gentle vibrations in tumescent fluid– a process called emulsification. VASER is a form of ultrasonic liposuction that emulsifies fat to highlight muscle definition for a more athletic look.
  • Power-assisted liposuction (PAL) provides gentle mechanical vibrations that break up pockets of excess fat and preserve the surrounding tissue.
  • Lipo360 is a laser-assisted form of liposuction that seals off the blood vessels for less bleeding and bruising.

We can perform liposuction on the arms, legs, and abdomen if you are suffering from lipedema-related fluid retention in these areas. Arm liposuction is specifically designed to sculpt your arms for increased mobility and improved quality of life. If you have excess skin that was stretched by fat and fluid, we can combine the procedure with an arm lift.

Liposuction vs Combined Decongestive Therapy (CDT)

Combined Decongestive Therapy (CDT) is a series of massage treatments that drain fluid from the arms, legs, and abdomen. This method of treatment helps lipedema patients reduce fluid, but it is not a long-lasting solution and patients may need multiple appointments to see results.

With liposuction, we can eliminate the fluid, and if you wish to seek CDT therapy as well, it will be easier to maintain your figure.

Lipedema Treatment Benefits

A lipedema treatment reduces excess fat that affects mobility for a smoother figure. With a lipedema treatment, we can:

  • Reduce pain
  • Restore sensory comfort
  • Improve mobility
  • Enhance your figure
  • Help you achieve a slimmer body
  • Increase self-confidence
  • Improve overall quality of life

Lipedema Treatment Candidates

A woman in a bikini lying on the beach, highlighting a slim and toned body after lipedema treatment at Greenberg Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology in New York.

The best candidates for lipedema treatments are nonsmokers who have significant weight gain and fluid retention in the arms or lower body. Candidates should not have pre-existing medical conditions that could affect their ability to recover from a lipedema treatment. If you are unable to lose weight from diet and exercise, we can use liposuction to help you reduce excess fat and fluid to restore your mobility. However, lipedema surgery is not a weight loss treatment. Contact our office to discuss your symptoms and determine if a lipedema treatment is a good fit for you.

Consultation

During your consultation, we will ask about your medical history, current medications, and lifestyle to determine the best treatment plan. Depending on your aesthetic goals we can use different types of liposuction to sculpt your body and reduce excess fat and fluid. Please come prepared to discuss your expectations for the procedure and your lifestyle.

How to Prepare for Lipedema Treatment

To prepare for a lipedema treatment, you will need to:

  • Stop smoking 6 weeks prior.
  • Cease blood thinning medications 1-2 weeks before.
  • Arrange for time off work.
  • Plan your meals ahead of time.
  • Ask an adult you trust to drive you home.

Lipedema Procedure

The procedure you have will depend on the type of liposuction you need for your aesthetic goals and whether or not you will need body contouring procedures in addition to liposuction. During a liposuction procedure, we will place you under local anesthesia with sedation and mark your skin for the procedure. Next, your surgeon will make a small incision near the treatment area to insert a thin cannula and tumescent fluid. The tumescent fluid prepares the fat cells for removal. We will remove the fat cells with suction and place sutures and a compression garment over the treatment area to help your body heal. The procedure can take 1-3 hours depending on the amount of excess fluid and fat you wish to remove.

Lipedema Treatment Recovery

After your procedure, you will return home to rest and recover. You will need someone to care for you for the first 24-48 hours. You should wear a compression garment for the first few weeks to help your body heal properly. After the first few weeks, any swelling or bruising you have will subside and you will notice improved mobility. You can enjoy the full results of the treatment 4-6 months after and we will discuss post-procedure care such as therapeutic ultrasound treatments to support your body during recovery.

Lipedema Treatment Results

After a lipedema treatment, you can enjoy long-lasting relief and improved mobility. Removing the excess fat and fluid in your body can reduce pain and sensitivity as well. With a healthy diet and exercise, you can maintain your results long-term. Since lipedema is a chronic condition, the fluid and fat will likely return over time and you will need an additional treatment. Our team can recommend additional therapies to help you maintain your results.

How Much Does a Lipedema Treatment Cost on Long Island?

The cost of your treatment will depend on the severity of your lipedema. We can provide an all-inclusive quote during your consultation. If you need additional body contouring procedures, we can discuss those as well. Contact our office to schedule a consultation and learn how we can improve your symptoms for a better quality of life:

FAQ

Is lipedema the same as obesity and lymphedema?

No, lipedema is not the same as obesity and lymphedema but it is often mistaken for them. If you exercise and diet regularly but have stubborn excess fat, fluid retention, and painful fatty nodules, you likely have lipedema. Lymphedema only involves the buildup of lymphatic fluid under the skin and lymph node blockage.

Will lipedema go away without treatment?

No, lipedema is a chronic condition that will not resolve on its own. Diet and exercise will not improve the condition. However, surgical intervention has helped thousands of patients achieve results that improve their quality of life.

Will I need multiple lipedema treatments?

You will likely need more than one treatment since lipedema is a chronic disease. However, lipedema treatments are long-lasting; after liposuction you can extend your results with massage and a healthy lifestyle.

References

  1. Christoffersen, Vilde, and Merete Kolberg Tennfjord. “Younger Women with Lipedema, Their Experiences with Healthcare Providers, and the Importance of Social Support and Belonging: A Qualitative Study.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 20, no. 3, 20 Jan. 2023, p. 1925, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031925.
  2. “Liposuction Complications in the Outpatient Setting: A National Analysis of 246,119 Cases in Accredited Ambulatory Surgery Facilities.” Aesthetic Surgery Journal. Open Forum, vol. 6, 28 Nov. 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10860384/#:~:text=Suction%20lipectomy%20(liposuction)%20is%20one, https://doi.org/10.1093/asjof/ojad107.