My legs look strange in the post-operative photos.

After surgery, you may be alarmed by the appearance of your legs: too much contrast in thigh size,

lower legs, not enough fat removed for your liking...Don't panic!

Some explanatory notes

In cases of severe lipedema affectingseveral areas of the body, multiple surgical procedures may be necessary to target one or more specific areas at a time.

Avoid overly long operations

It would be too dangerous and too painful for a patient to undergo a long and exhausting operation ifall the fat from her significant lipedema were removed from all areas at once. By performing several operations, the risks of anemia and complications are reduced. A long operation means a very long period of fatigue, a higher risk of anemia, discomfort, and hypotension, and fewer risks associated with anesthesia.

The average duration of a procedure is between 1.5 and 2 hours, and the surgeon never exceeds 3 hours for the treatment of lipedema.

A multi-part operation

First, the lowest part of the body is operated on, i.e.,the lower legs. For subsequent operations, the surgeon will operate on the upper knees, then the thighs, and finally the arms if necessary.

During lipedema surgery, it is important to remove all of the diseased fat from the lipedema, which can give the calf a very "sculpted" appearance.

Of course, between two operations, the appearance of the legs may seem uneven. We therefore advise our patients to be patient, continue to wear their compression garments, drink plenty of water (between 2 and 3 liters per day; see our articles on nutrition for more information), stay mobile and active, and wait at least 3 months before their next operation (or 6 months to be on the safe side in case of fatigue and/or risk of anemia).

A question of perspective

One last important point: the angle of certain photos and the position of the limbs.A calf or thigh may appear larger when lying down. Similarly, a leg stretched out in hypertension will highlight certain areas of the leg that are not normally as visible when the leg is at rest.

Finally...

To be sure of the outcome of an operation, you should always wait a few months and always choose photos of people standing and in a relaxed position.