About Lipoedema
Lipoedema is a condition of the fat and connective tissue. It mainly affects women, and often starts to develop around late childhood, puberty or times of hormonal change. Most people first notice changes in the shape of their legs and ankles.
Some possible signs of lipoedema:
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Fat tissue changes affecting the legs, buttocks, hip, tummy (abdomen) and/or upper arms
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Fat ‘bulges’ developing around the knees or at the hips for example
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Changes are usually equal on both side of the body
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Body may look out of proportion; the upper body is smaller than the lower body
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Waistline may be narrow in comparison to hips
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Feet and hands may not be affected
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The area may bruise easily, with broken blood vessels, and/or varicose veins.
Lipoedema comes in all shapes and sizes.
"Stages" of Lipoedema
Although many articles talk about the "stages" of lipoedema, it is unlikely that everyone will naturally progress through these steps. Some people find that their lipoedema does not change at all over the years.
We suggest that the following system may be useful to explain the "stages" but it is important to remember that everyone's experience is different.
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Stage 1 (mild lipoedema): there is the classic shaping, with fat deposition and disproportion between upper and lower body. Lower body is most frequently affected. Ankle shape is often lost, but feet are spared. Tissues may be sensitive to pressure.
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Stage 2 (moderate lipoedema): fat bulges or lobes are more obvious at the knees and may influence gait. Arms and abdomen may be affected. Lipomas (small nodules) may be felt in the fat. Chronic pain may develop. Some oedema fluid may be present.
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Stage 3 (severe lipoedema): shape changes are emphasised, fat bulges or abdominal ‘apron’ cause difficulties with walking; general weight gain has complicated lipoedema. Fluid may persist in the tissues (secondary lymphoedema), including foot swelling. Chronic pain may be more problematic.
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Some people with long term severe lipoedema also develop fluid in the tissues (oedema) and this can lead to secondary lymphoedema. It appears that the lymphatics that drain the body of excess fluid, and deal with infection, may become overwhelmed when the fat tissue expands. Fluid then builds up in the tissues and they can become discoloured, hardened and the skin may break or leak.​
Getting a Diagnosis
Getting a correct diagnosis for lipoedema is the first step to understanding that you have a recognised health condition. It can help you to move forward and live well with lipoedema. Some people find it embarrassing or difficult to talk to their doctor about their symptoms, particularly if the other person does not understand lipoedema. Some health professionals are not familiar with lipoedema, so it can take time to find someone who can make the diagnosis.
Having a diagnosis of lipoedema ensures that you get the right treatments and support with caring for yourself. This can help to reduce the risk of lipoedema becoming worse. It can also make a real difference in how you, your GP, and other healthcare professionals manage your symptoms, and deal with the long-term effects of lipoedema.
Sadly, lipoedema is commonly mis-diagnosed as obesity or lymphedema. However, as awareness for the condition increases, so does the numbers of correct diagnosis.
Find out more about Lipoedema
Lipoedema in Scotland Report
Talk Lipoedema recently completed a project looking at lipoedema in Scotland, supported by the Scottish Government. If you would like to read more about our findings, you can download our Scoping Report.