(4) Conclusions: Preliminary results indicate that compression therapy, combined with exercises, could improve the quality of life and decrease the severity of lipedema symptoms. Further studies on a large clinical group are advisable.
Compression or compression therapy is used to manage symptoms such as pain, inflammation, and fluid accumulation (oedema) in people with lipoedema. This includes stockings, arm sleeves, tights, leggings, adjustable wraps, and sometimes bandaging.
Compression garments reduce lipoedema or at least keep it constant. In stage 1, seamless, round knit compression stockings in CCL 2 or CCL 3 can often be used. But experts recommend flat knit compression care in most cases.
Liposuction is the only treatment available to lipedema patients that eliminates the troublesome fat deposits from the legs, hips, buttocks, stomach, and/or arms. Liposuction enables doctors to improve the look of the legs and restore better mobility for the long-term.
Unlike obesity, lipedema tissue does not respond well to diet or physical exercise alone. Therefore, in this review we discuss the effect of various dietary supplements that, along with diet and physical exercise, cause fat burning and weight loss, and which could potentially be important in the treatment of lipedema.
A 2017 study found that manual lymphatic drainage massage combined with vibration therapy can effectively treat lipedema. Learn how to perform a lymphatic drainage massage here.
Treatments for lipoedema
The main treatments are: eating healthily, doing more exercise and trying to maintain a healthy weight. wearing compression stockings or bandages to reduce pain and discomfort, and make it easier for you to walk.
While surgical intervention remains the dominant therapy option for long-term successful lipedema control, both cosmetically and medically, regular sessions of lymphatic drainage massage in conjunction with wearing compression garments have proven beneficial for many.
Compression garments reduce lipedema or at least sustain it where it is. In stage 1, seamless, round-knit compression stockings in 15-20, 20-30, or 30-40 mmHg can often be used. But experts recommend flat-knit compression care in most cases.
The tissue tenderness that is characteristic of lipedema can be checked with the pinch test, which is often felt as very unpleasant in the affected areas but causes no pain elsewhere. Increased capillary fragility manifests itself in spontaneous hematoma formation.
Unlike normal fat accumulation, fat areas resulting from lipedema tend to be very tender if you apply pressure and may be easy to bruise. The fat deposits can also hurt for no apparent reason, and the skin can become less elastic feeling.
Compression may help to stop your lipoedema getting worse, even if it can't reduce the size of your limbs. But if you have advanced lipoedema (called lipo-lymphoedema), there may be fluid collecting as well. If so, compression therapy will help to reduce that.
Lipedema is a chronic condition with no cure.
Avoid Alcohol, Caffeine and Diuretics
Does drinking water help with lymphedema? Absolutely! Because the body is more prone to hold onto excess liquid when it feels dehydrated, drinking enough water is especially important for those with lymphedema so they can maintain a healthy fluid and chemical balance.
The question of, “Why lipedema fat is hard to lose with lifestyle changes while non-lipedema fat can be lost?” remains unanswered. One theory is that size of the fat cells and the geloid layer of hyaluronic acid and water move the fat cells farther away from blood vessels and therefore slow the release of fat.
Ultimately, wearing compression garments helps prevent lipedema from progressing to later stages by helping the lymphatic and vascular circulation. It is important to strike a therapeutic balance between the amount of SAT, severity of swelling, and degree of compression, in order to maximize comfort in garments.
Treating Your Lipedema
As mentioned, dry brushing and whole body vibration are just a few of the several different therapies that are effective in reducing your symptoms of lipedema. Pain and swelling from lipedema can become almost unbearable without the proper treatment in place.
Using hands-on, manual techniques to reduce tissue fibrosis seems to help with the pain. We also use tools, such as cupping, and the use of IASTM (Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization) to soften up and loosen fibrotic tissue or nodules. Reducing nodular tissue seems to have a positive effect on pain.
Causes. The exact cause of lipoedema isn't known but it may be caused by changes in your hormones: during puberty. when you're pregnant.
If they have lipedema, they might receive a recommendation for the RAD diet, or rare adipose disorders diet, which involves low consumption of pasteurized dairy, animal protein, fats, simple sugars, carbohydrates, and salt.