Lipoedema
Why can’t I lose weight in my legs?
Female, or gynoid, fat under the navel, on the buttocks, hips, and thighs gives women their attractive curves. Gynoid fat increases during puberty and is smooth and soft in texture. But not all gynoid fat is the same. When it is not possible to loose gynoid fat with strict eating and an intensive exercise regimen, the fat continues to grow and become painful and bruised This type of fat is called “lipoedema,” meaning fluid in the fat, and is well-known to remain unresponsive to lifestyle changes.
What is lipoedema?
Lipoedema is a condition of fat deposition which is well known to be unresponsive to lifestyle change. It usually develops in females but males can be affected. Lipoedema is most common in the legs. Fat deposition is usually deposited from buttocks to the ankles. The feet are spared causing a shelf of tissue at the ankle and narrow feet. The fat can continue to grow and tissues become soft, tender and bruise easily.
Stages of lipoedema
Lipoedema fat develops in stages, though many women stay within stage 1 or 2 and do not progress to stage 3.
Stage 1
The skin looks normal, but the amount of lipoedema fat is increased.
Stage 2
The fat contains larger mounds of fat that can be lipomas or in some cases, lipomas filled with blood vessels called angiolipomas.
Stage 3
The fat cause large deformations especially on the thighs and around the knees. Lymphoedema, where lymph fluid leaks from lymphatic vessels can develop in stage 2 or 3 and is called lipo-lymphoedema. In later stages lymphoedema may develop in hands and feet.
How can lipoedema be managed?
Treatment of lipoedema is focused primarily on decreasing fluid in the tissue by:
PLEASE NOTE: The text and photographs on this website must not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written the permission of the copyright holder Cardiff Lymphoedema and Therapies. Whilst every attempt has been made to ensure the complete accuracy of the information given on this website, neither Cardiff Lymphoedema and Therapies nor the website hosts can accept liability for errors or misinterpretation resulting from its use. June 2013 ©
Female, or gynoid, fat under the navel, on the buttocks, hips, and thighs gives women their attractive curves. Gynoid fat increases during puberty and is smooth and soft in texture. But not all gynoid fat is the same. When it is not possible to loose gynoid fat with strict eating and an intensive exercise regimen, the fat continues to grow and become painful and bruised This type of fat is called “lipoedema,” meaning fluid in the fat, and is well-known to remain unresponsive to lifestyle changes.
What is lipoedema?
Lipoedema is a condition of fat deposition which is well known to be unresponsive to lifestyle change. It usually develops in females but males can be affected. Lipoedema is most common in the legs. Fat deposition is usually deposited from buttocks to the ankles. The feet are spared causing a shelf of tissue at the ankle and narrow feet. The fat can continue to grow and tissues become soft, tender and bruise easily.
Stages of lipoedema
Lipoedema fat develops in stages, though many women stay within stage 1 or 2 and do not progress to stage 3.
Stage 1
The skin looks normal, but the amount of lipoedema fat is increased.
Stage 2
The fat contains larger mounds of fat that can be lipomas or in some cases, lipomas filled with blood vessels called angiolipomas.
Stage 3
The fat cause large deformations especially on the thighs and around the knees. Lymphoedema, where lymph fluid leaks from lymphatic vessels can develop in stage 2 or 3 and is called lipo-lymphoedema. In later stages lymphoedema may develop in hands and feet.
How can lipoedema be managed?
Treatment of lipoedema is focused primarily on decreasing fluid in the tissue by:
- manual lymph drainage
- low impact exercise exercise including,walking, cycling, swimming, water based exrecise and yoga. High impact exercise can cause destabilization of the knee causing degenerative knee changes.
- compression garments that keep the fluid at bay and assist the sluggish lymphatic flow
- tumescent liposuction
- sometimes multilayered bandaging to reduce the lymphoedema element
PLEASE NOTE: The text and photographs on this website must not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written the permission of the copyright holder Cardiff Lymphoedema and Therapies. Whilst every attempt has been made to ensure the complete accuracy of the information given on this website, neither Cardiff Lymphoedema and Therapies nor the website hosts can accept liability for errors or misinterpretation resulting from its use. June 2013 ©
