Patients suffering from lipedema generally consult an angiologist as a first-line treatment. Symptoms may suggest a vascular problem: pain, heaviness, bruising, sometimes spontaneous… A Doppler ultrasound of the lower limbs is then generally performed.
Some angiologists with knowledge of this pathology can make the diagnosis, but this is not always the case. Doppler ultrasonography can reveal superficial or deep, bilateral or unilateral vascular insufficiency, with or without lipedema. As this condition is still poorly understood in France, even by healthcare professionals, not all angiologists can diagnose lipedema. In this case, we invite you to make an appointment with Dr. Nicolas Zwillinger for diagnosis.
People affected by lipedema do not necessarily have vascular disorders.
What is a Doppler ultrasound of the lower limbs?
Venous Doppler Ultrasound of the lower limbs is a medical imaging technique using ultrasound. During this examination, a probe is placed on your lower limbs following application of a water-based gel, and light pressure is then applied to certain areas to study the direction and movement of blood flow.
Venous Doppler Ultrasound is painless and harmless to the body, so it can be performed at any age and repeated as often as necessary.
- This examination can reveal superficial and deep venous insufficiency, and sometimes varicose veins requiring treatment prior to possible surgery. In this particular case, varicose veins must be treated prior to WAL li posuction, and a minimum of 2 months must elapse between the two procedures.
- Phlebitis can be detected with the help of this examination, particularly during the post-operative Doppler ultrasound recommended by Dr. Nicolas Zwillinger. In this particular case, treatment with anticoagulants is recommended, in conjunction with post-operative compression. Please see our article on this subject.
- Doppler ultrasound can also detect an angioma: a benign lesion of the vascular system, of no consequence for possible intervention.
The examination lasts an average of thirty minutes. The practitioner begins the appointment by asking you about your medical history, current treatments and symptoms, and then the examination itself begins. The health professional then shares his or her observations with you, and gives you a report which should be given to us at the time of your first consultation with Dr. Nicolas Zwillinger, or afterwards if the examination is carried out at a later date. We invite you to read our interview with Dr Michèle Cazaubon, an angiologist practicing in Paris and campaigning for greater awareness of lipedema among healthcare professionals.
Pre-operative Doppler ultrasound
Dr. Nicolas Zwillinger recommends a Doppler ultrasound the year before a WAL liposuction procedure. In some patients, the “diseased” fat compresses the vascular system, leading to venous insufficiency or varicosities. The results of this pre-operative examination will enable us to monitor the evolution of your vascular network following surgical treatment of lipedema.
Post-operative Doppler ultrasound
You will be given a prescription for a Doppler ultrasound on the day of your operation, which should be carried out around 15 days after the operation. Indeed, following WAL liposuction of the lower limbs – the only treatment for lipedema to date – walking will be reduced, due in part to the significant oedema. This reduced ability to walk increases the risk of phlebitis, and it is therefore important to control this risk by carrying out this examination of the vascular system.
Where can this vascular network examination be performed?
A venous Doppler ultrasound can be performed by a vascular physician: angiologist, vascular surgeon or radiologist. You can therefore make an appointment at an angiology or vascular surgery practice, or at a medical imaging center.
Although Doppler ultrasound cannot diagnose lipedema, it can nevertheless give you a clearer picture of the venous network that may be affected by this little-known condition in France, #jesuis11%. It is also a necessary examination for proper follow-up after WAL liposuction surgery of the lower limbs.
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