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La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre
9850 Genesee Ave Suite 130
La Jolla, CA 92037
Call: (858) 452-1981 Text: (858) 203-2944
Monday–Friday: 7:30 a.m.–6 p.m.
Lipedema Treatment in San Diego
Women with lipedema are often misdiagnosed as obese, when in fact, they have a distinct medical condition characterized by symmetrical swelling of the legs and sometimes arms due to painful fat deposits. Lipedema surgery can improve your mobility and overall quality of life.
Compassionate Care
At La Jolla Cosmetic, we understand that living with lipedema is not only a physical challenge but also an emotional journey. We approach each case with a deep sense of compassion, recognizing that your experience is unique and deserves personalized care. We are committed to providing a compassionate environment where your concerns are heard, your feelings are validated, and your health is restored.
Our team is here to listen, support, and walk with you every step of the way towards finding relief. With specialized liposuction techniques, we aim to reduce the pain and swelling associated with lipedema, and help you regain control and lead a happier, more comfortable life.
What Is Lipedema?
Lipedema is a condition that causes abnormal fat buildup in the lower part of your body, most often involving your butt, thighs, and calves. Some people have it on their hips or upper arms, but It doesn’t affect the hands or feet. It occurs almost exclusively in women and often develops during puberty, pregnancy, or other times when hormones fluctuate. The fat is not only cosmetic but also painful and tender, distinguishing it from typical obesity. Over time, lipedema can lead to mobility issues, pain, and lymphatic dysfunction.
What Causes Lipedema?
It isn’t clear what causes the condition. Many people diagnosed with lipedema have a family member or members who also had the condition, so you may have inherited it. Hormonal changes are also thought to be involved because the condition often emerges during puberty, pregnancy, or menopause.
How Is Lipedema Diagnosed?
There isn’t a single test that can confirm a lipedema diagnosis. Instead, your doctor can diagnose it after taking your medical history and conducting a physical examination, which may include assessing the texture and tenderness of the affected areas. Advanced imaging technology can also help diagnose lipedema by excluding other causes of swelling in the limbs, such as lymphedema.
How Is Lipedema Treated?
We recommend treating lipedema non surgically before progressing to surgery. Nonsurgical treatment options include manual lymphatic drainage, compression therapy, and nutritional changes to manage symptoms. These treatments do not reduce fat deposits caused by lipedema.
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Reducing fat deposits in the affected areas can help manage lipedema symptoms more effectively than what can be achieved through non surgical treatments. We use different liposuction techniques for lipedema patients.
Tumescent Liposuction
During tumescent liposuction, the surgeon saturates the treatment area with a solution that includes a local anesthetic and epinephrine, causing the fat to become firm and swollen (tumescent). This reduces bleeding and makes it easier for the surgeon to manually break up and remove the fat cells.
Power-Assisted Liposuction (PAL)
This option is useful for patients with advanced stages of lipedema when the fatty tissue is more fibrous. After injecting the tumescent solution, the surgeon inserts a thin, vibrating cannula that breaks up the fat without the vigorous movement required in manual liposuction. This vibration enables the surgeon to target tough, dense fat deposits, loosening them so they can be suctioned from the body more effectively.
The gentler nature of PAL reduces bruising and often results in a faster recovery and better outcomes.
How Much Does Lipedema Surgery Cost?
Our affordable payment plans make it easy for you to get the physical and emotional relief you deserve with lipedema surgery. Your procedure could start at just $243 per month over 60 months with a down payment of $5,000 and average credit. If you’ve got above average credit or a larger down payment, your payments could be even lower.
Keep in mind that your price may vary depending on the complexity of your lipedema surgery and the extent of correction required. Get full fee ranges and all the details you could possibly need on our pricing page.
We make applying for plastic surgery financing convenient and easy. You can do it online, or we can explore cost-effective options during your consultation.
Recovery After Lipedema Surgery
Post-surgical care is key, and includes compression therapy, continuing nutrition counseling, and physical therapy to ensure successful outcomes and minimize complications. Patients typically notice an improvement in symptoms and a reduction in pain and swelling post-surgery.
Skin Tightening Treatment
The stretched skin often doesn’t shrink to fit the treatment area’s new contours after liposuction. Renuvion is a minimally invasive, FDA-cleared treatment to tighten loose skin after liposuction. Renuvion’s advanced technology uses radiofrequency (RF) energy combined with helium plasma to stimulate skin contraction. Because it’s minimally invasive, the recovery is relatively quick.
Learn more about your lipedema treatment options by requesting a free consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon using the online form. Or call us at (858) 452-1981 to schedule an appointment.
Last reviewed by a La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre Editor on June 12th, 2024. Meet Our Medical Editors
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Since 1988, more than 36,000 patients have had safe, successful procedures at La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre
