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.

You can also download our self-assessment form and use it to record details of what is important to you to share with your doctor or other health care professional.

What is considered when making a diagnosis of lipoedema?

Further down this page you will find a video of a doctor examining two people with lipoedema.

Here are some signs that a doctor or health professional may look for in making a diagnosis:

• Disproportionately larger legs and hips compared to the upper body
• Symmetrical enlargement of the legs, buttocks and arms
• Fat deposition at the knees, buttocks and sparing of the feet.
• Hands and feet are usually not affected by fat deposition
• Loss of ankle shape
• Affected areas are often soft and cold to the touch
• Tenderness, pain or hypersensitivity when pressure is applied to the affected tissue
• Loose, floppy connective tissues around the knee joints
• Easy or spontaneous bruising to the affected tissue
• People may report increased swelling in hot weather