I turn 40 tomorrow... And I would love to be back in 1994 and say to that 14-year-old girl: "It's not your fault, we can help you!"
Testimonial from Chloé
, one of our patients
Testimonial from Chloé, one of our patients who kindly agreed to talk about her surgery
and tell us about her experience with lipedema.
How did you discover the "disease" of bow legs?
One of my Instagram followers told me to watch the famous interview withYouTuber Emmy, who herself suffers from lipedema. In 2015, after my first pregnancy, I opened an Instagram account to share my physical progress and motivate myself.
I had started exercising, but nothing was changing in my lower body. Despite my determination, motivation, and consistency, all my efforts had no effect on my legs.
I watched this video, and it was a shock! I thought I heard myself speaking...
I then researched this condition. And it confirmed that I hadlipedema.
Did you suffer physically and psychologically from this illness? How did you feel?
I began to suffer psychologically from this illness. I was 14, the age of puberty. The time of first boyfriends... It was very difficult for me.
I thought I was fat because of my "deformed," "enormous" legs, even though the upper part of my body was very thin. I remember during the long summer vacations, when it was very hot, I would stay in my jeans...
Never shorts, skirts, or short dresses. I did everything I could to hide my legs because I was so ashamed of them. As I got older, it didn't get any better.
Every year, as summer approached, I would set my mind on losing 10 pounds to try to slim down those pesky legs! I spent a lot of money on miracle creams and pills, on massages at beauty salons... But of course, nothing changed. Except that I developed an eating disorder and lost a lot of money. I tried every diet possible, even going so far as to eat only one coffee and one apple a day!
The stares from others were unbearable... To me, they were only looking at my legs and judging me as fat and not making any effort to lose weight. I had no self-confidence.
Going shopping after successfully losing those famous 10 kilos, weighing only 45 kg, trying on that pretty little short dress and still finding myself fat was really painful and became incomprehensible! I'll spare you the details of trying to find boots that would close, or ski boots...
What a shame in front of the salespeople, who also didn't know what to do for me...
From the age of 25 onwards, the pain became increasingly frequent. My second pregnancy in 2017 made my lipedema worse. The fat increased again around my knees and the pain became a daily occurrence (sharp pains, heaviness, heat, swelling, etc.).
Some nights, I even had great difficulty sleeping because my legs were so hot.
How did you hear about Dr. Nicolas Zwillinger?
I got toknow Dr. Nicolas Zwillingerthrough social media. I was following someone who was also complaining about their bow legs. It caught my attention, and then one day, they announced that they were going to have surgery performed by Dr. Nicolas Zwillinger. At the same time, I learned that I also had this condition. And I decided that I too would go ahead and have surgery. So I made an appointment with him.
Can you tell us about the treatment process? (steps, duration, procedures, etc.)
Everything happened very quickly once I learned about this disease in May 2019. I didn't want to waste any more time. I had already lost enough... I was diagnosed by an angiologist, then quickly met with Dr. Nicolas Zwillinger in June 2019. After our consultation, I took some time to think it over and we agreed on a date for the operation four months later.
Before my surgery, I started manual lymphatic drainage with a physical therapist. I resumed treatment about ten days after the operation, undergoing sessions two to three times a week for three months to reduce the swelling.
I also took the initiative to see a psychologist before the procedure. I wanted to arrive on the big day feeling ready and strong to face this step. I wanted to get rid of any negativity or burdens that would hinder the aftermath.
How long did the operation take?
I went into surgery at around 3:30 p.m. and was back in my room by around 6:30 p.m. I don't know exactly how long my operation lasted. I was very confident and calm. I was determined and sure of my choice.
Did you have any apprehensions?
I was just worried because I was aware of the risks I was taking by undergoing surgery.
Post-operative: how long did it take for the results to become visible?
The first visible results were the morning after my procedure when I changed my bandages. It was just incredible to see my legs free of all that fat! But the most incredible thing for me was to see "real legs," a "real leg shape."
Then, of course, the swelling and bruising made things more difficult, as my legs were bigger than before the operation. You have to be patient.I started to see a real difference after four weeks.
Are you satisfied with them?
Today, I am six months post-op, and I have lost about 5 to 6 cm in the areas that were most "problematic." The areas that were operated on are: the ankles, calves, and knees.
The change is just "crazy"! Obviously, I'm thrilled. Even if the result isn't 100% perfect, I'm satisfied and have no regrets!
I feel alive again! I finally have "normal" legs that I can show off without feeling ashamed! I can finally dress how I want and feel pretty! I almost exclusively wear dresses or short skirts, and I feel much more confident.
It is a real physical change, but also a psychological one.
We know that many people with lipedema undergo surgery in Germany or Spain.
What were your reasons for choosing Dr. Nicolas Zwillinger to perform your surgery?
The main reason is that with two young children, I couldn't imagine going abroad.
I didn't want to be away from them for too long, but above all, if there had been complications during or after the operation, it would have been too difficult to cope with.
My appointment with Dr. Nicolas Zwillinger went very well. I felt confident. I didn't feel the need to seek a second opinion.
Does this illness prevent you from exercising today?
Today, six months after surgery, I can "almost" do everything I did before.
Only my knees cause me some problems. I find it difficult to kneel on hard floors. And I can't bend them completely. My legs always swell up and remain sensitive to touch after strenuous exercise. I have to continue with massages, wear compression stockings regularly, elevate my legs... Sensitivity is slowly returning.
Things are constantly improving, and everything will eventually fall into place. So, the operation doesn't prevent me from doing sports (running, fitness, weight training, etc.). But once again, you have to be patient...
If you had to give some advice to people with lipedema in France, what would you say?
The first thing is for them to get an official diagnosis.
It's a bit of a relief to understand what you have, even if it's a shock at the same time.
The second thing is that they should find out about all the protocols that can help them live "better" with lipedema (compression garments, adapted sports and diets, massages, etc.).
And if, like me, they can no longer bear to live with "those damn legs," they should meet with a surgeon to discuss surgery. In the latter case, I have always told them one thing: "You have to feel confident with the surgeon to whom you entrust your legs."
Personally, I felt confident with Dr. Nicolas Zwillinger from the beginning until the moment I was put to sleep on the operating table.
I have no regrets and would do it again without hesitation.
Do you have anything else to tell us besides all that?
To all those girls suffering from lipedema, I would tell them to be brave and kind to themselves. The operation is certainly quite "miraculous," but it's not a magic wand either.
It is important to keep in mind that the post-operative period can be long, difficult, and painful. It is still surgery; we are reshaping the legs, so there may be some asymmetry or irregularities. Every body heals in its own way, some better than others. I think it's very important to keep this in mind so you won't be disappointed. I'll say it again: this isn't magic.
Psychologically, even if we are rid of our "unsightly" legs, our self-image has been so damaged that it cannot be magically erased.
Personally, I'm afraid it will come back, and I often "run" to look at my legs in the mirror to check that they haven't become "fat" again like before. And if that's not enough, I take my tape measure to convince myself. I hope that the road to recognizing the disease won't be too long.
We all hope that the medical profession will become increasingly informed about this condition so that we are not misunderstood and labeled as chubby girls who don't take care of themselves and don't exercise enough when we consult a healthcare professional.
We just want to be listened to, recognized, and helped.
Thank you. Do you have any final words?
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