Doppler ultrasound: an essential examination before and after lipedema surgery

Patients with lipedema generally consult anangiologistas a first step.

In fact, the symptoms experienced may suggest a vascular problem: pain, heaviness, and bruises that sometimes appear spontaneously…

A Doppler ultrasoundof the lower limbs is then usually performed.

Some angiologists who are familiar with this condition can make the diagnosis, but this is not always the case.

Doppler ultrasound can reveal superficial or deep vascular insufficiency, bilateral or unilateral, associated or not with lipedema. As this disease is still poorly understood in France, even by healthcare professionals, not all angiologists are able to diagnoselipedema. In this case, we invite you to make an appointment withDr. Nicolas Zwillingerfor a diagnosis.

People affected by lipedema do not necessarily have vascular disorders.

What is a lower limb Doppler ultrasound?

Venous Doppler ultrasound of the lower limbs is a medical imaging technique that uses ultrasound waves. During this examination, a probe is placed on your lower limbs after applying a water-based gel. Light pressure is then applied to certain areas in order 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 many times as necessary.

This examination may revealsuperficial and deep venous insufficiencyand sometimesvaricose veinsrequiring treatment prior to any possible intervention. In this particular case, the varicose veins must be treatedbeforethe lipedema surgery usingWAL liposuction, and a minimum of two months must elapse between the two procedures.
Phlebitis canbe detected using this test, particularly during the post-operative Doppler ultrasound recommended by Dr. Nicolas Zwillinger. In this specific case, anticoagulant treatment will be recommended, combined with post-operative compression. Please feel free to consult ourarticle on this subject.
Doppler ultrasound can also detectan angioma: a benign lesion of the vascular system, with no consequences for possible intervention.

This examination lasts an average of thirty minutes. The practitioner begins the appointment by asking you about your medical history, current treatments, and symptoms, then the examination itself begins. The healthcare professional will then share their observations with you and give you a report, which should be brought to your first consultation withDr. Nicolas Zwillingeror to a subsequent consultation if the examination is carried out at a later date.

We invite you to readour interview with Dr. Michèle Cazaubon, an angiologist practicing in Paris who campaigns for greater awareness of lipedema among healthcare professionals.

Preoperative Doppler ultrasound

Dr. Nicolas Zwillinger recommends undergoing a Doppler ultrasound scan one year prior to WAL liposuction surgery.

In some patients, so-called "diseased" fat compresses the vascular system, which can lead to venous insufficiency or varicose veins. The results of this preoperative examination will allow us to monitor the evolution of your vascular network following surgical treatment of lipedema.

Postoperative Doppler ultrasound

A prescription for a Doppler ultrasound will be given to you on the day of your surgery. It should be performed approximately 15 days after the surgery.

Indeed, following WAL liposuction of the lower limbs—the only treatment for lipedema to date—walking will be reduced due, among other things, to significant edema. Given this reduction in walking, the risk of phlebitis is increased, so it is important to control this risk by performing this examination of the vascular system.

Where can this vascular examination be performed?

A venous Doppler ultrasound can be performed by a vascular doctor: an 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 be used to diagnose lipedema, it does provide a clearer view of your venous system, which may be affected by this condition that is not well known in France. It is also a necessary examination for proper post-operative follow-up after WAL liposuction of the lower limbs.

Doppler ultrasound: an essential examination before and after lipedema surgery

What is a lower limb Doppler ultrasound?

Preoperative Doppler ultrasound

Postoperative Doppler ultrasound

Where can this vascular examination be performed?

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