Lipedema is a little-known disease, both in Spain and worldwide. It is a progressive disorder of adipose tissue that affects almost exclusively women and is characterized by a pathological accumulation of fat predominantly in the arms and legs. Patients often experience frustration when they see that they do not lose volume no matter how many diets they follow, but the worst consequence of this disease is undoubtedly pain. We speak with Dr. Ana Margarita Torres about this condition and one of the ways to treat it, the WAL technique.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized lipedema as a disease. Dr. Ana Margarita Torres Maczassek, a specialist in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery at Clínica Teknon and director of the Dr. Ana Torres Institute, describes it as a “rare, chronic and painful disease of the subcutaneous adipose tissue of the extremities, characterized by a pathological thickening of fat tissue in the legs and arms.” It is estimated, given the difficulty of diagnosis, that between 5% and 10% of women suffer from it, although they may not be aware of it, and that “it usually begins at puberty,” they explain. Although its origin is not clear, it appears to have a genetic component—20% of cases are hereditary—and a hormonal component, as alterations in estrogen receptors in adipose tissue are observed, especially in the post-pubertal stage, after pregnancy, and during menopause.
The main consequences of lipedema are chronic inflammation, pain, increased capillary permeability, microangiopathy and capillary fragility, subcutaneous fat nodules, and hypertrophic lobules of skin and fat in the knees and ankles. Symptoms that may indicate the condition include symmetrical limb deformity, disproportion between the trunk and the extremities, lack of response to diet or exercise, tenderness to pressure, spider veins and bruising, heavy legs syndrome, knock-knee deformity, early osteoarthritis, eczema and skin erosions due to friction or progressive lymphedema. In addition, none of these symptoms are observed in the ankles or wrists, as lipedema does not affect these areas.
There are conservative treatments to alleviate the discomfort caused by lipedema, but the most definitive approach is the removal of the diseased fat cells. For this, the most advanced and tissue-sparing technique is WAL liposuction. Dr. Torres answers some questions for EME about this technique.
Question: Does this condition have a cure?
Answer: Yes, lipedema can be cured. Removing the pathological fat tissue with the WAL system (Water-Assisted Liposuction) in one to three sessions relieves patients of pain and heaviness and allows us to reshape the affected legs and arms.
Q: Who is responsible for diagnosing lipedema?
A: Lipedema requires a clinical and ultrasound diagnosis. Vascular surgeons are usually the specialists responsible for diagnosing the disease.
Q: Why the WAL technique (water-assisted liposuction) instead of other liposuction techniques?
A: WAL liposuction allows fat tissue to be removed without damaging the lymphatic vessels, which could be affected with conventional liposuction, potentially leading to lymphedema and clearly worsening the condition.
Q: What other advantages does it have?
A: The Water-Assisted Liposuction system is fast and practical and allows patients a quicker recovery.
Numerous articles and experience in countries such as Germany with the WAL system show that this is the best system for treating lipedema.
Dra. Ana Torres
Q: How is the procedure performed?
A: The procedure is performed in the operating room under local anesthesia and sedation. It usually lasts between 2 and 3 hours. After infiltration with a local anesthetic solution, a brief tumescence is performed, and then aspiration is carried out using the action of water.
Q: What other procedures exist and why are they not as advisable?
A: We have seen that some surgeons perform the procedure using conventional liposuction devices and tumescent technique, but numerous studies and experience in countries such as Germany with the treatment of lipedema using the WAL system show that this is the best system for treating the disease.
Q: At this moment, they are preparing the first International Lipedema Congress in Spain. Could you tell us more about it?
A: It is a very exciting project; we have been preparing it for a year. It is a multidisciplinary symposium that will bring together all specialists involved in lipedema: vascular surgeons, plastic surgeons, physiotherapists, and nutritionists. We have chosen Clínica Teknon in Barcelona as the venue for the symposium, and we are very excited about it.
A: I would like to thank the Quirón Group, Clínica Teknon, and the Teaching Department for all the support we are receiving. Our idea is to repeat the Symposium every year to share information about ongoing research and advances in this disease, and to establish consensus treatment guidelines among all the specialists involved.
We would also like to thank the company UpViser, distributor of the WAL system by Humanmed in Spain, because it has sponsored the Symposium and made a tremendous effort to bring the best European specialists in the diagnosis and treatment of lipedema to Barcelona.
Q: What would you like to say to the medical community about this condition?
A:
I would like to say that lipedema is a disease that requires a certain level of knowledge. Early diagnosis can, in many cases, prevent its progression to more advanced stages and therefore reduce associated comorbidities. It is therefore everyone’s responsibility to help affected individuals with early detection and treatment so that the disease does not progress.
What did you think of the article? Remember that if you are also affected by lipedema (or think you might be but have not yet been diagnosed), you can contact us: At the Dr. Ana Torres Institute we guarantee that you will have access to a highly specialized and experienced medical team, with safe and effective procedures such as WAL liposuction, and with leading surgical facilities (Clínica Teknon).
Book your appointment to learn more about lipedema in Barcelona at the Dr. Ana Torres Institute. We will be happy to help you.
We hope you found this article useful. Thank you very much for reading and see you in the next post!
