Profile of the patient affected by lipedema
: disease
des jambes poteaux
This article will help to establish the profile of patients affected by lipedema who seek medical advice.
Dr. Nicolas Zwillinger and the patient undergoing WAL liposuction:
Surgical treatment of restless legs syndrome.
Profile of the patient consulting Dr. Nicolas Zwillinger regarding her bow legs
It is important to note that this condition affects women in the vast majority of cases and that, although men can also be affected, to date no men have consulted Dr. Nicolas Zwillinger about it.
It is estimated that between 20 and 25% of patients have already been diagnosed with lipedema, sometimes by an angiologist or phlebologist, in rare cases by a general practitioner, and most often through self-diagnosis. As this condition is relatively unknown in France,Emmy Make-up's portrayalof it on the TV show Sept à Huit enabled many women to put a name to their suffering: lipedema!
This consultation with Dr. Nicolas Zwillinger is therefore an opportunity to make or confirm a diagnosis and determine the affected areas. All women consulting on this issue are affected in the lower limbs (ankles, calves, knees, thighs, and saddlebags), but in 25% of cases, lipedema also affects the upper limbs (arms and sometimes forearms).
There are different stages of lipedema, allowing the severity of the condition to be measured, with stage 1 being the least advanced and stage 4 the most advanced. In his practice, Dr. Nicolas Zwillinger has observed the following distribution:
Distribution of lipedema stages among patients consulting Dr. Nicolas Zwillinger
The genetic component of varicose veins has not been definitively established, but 55% of patients who consult Dr. Nicolas Zwillinger believe that a family member is also affected (primarily their mother or grandmother). Feel free to read our article on this topic.
In order to remedy bow legs, patients consulting the surgeon have already resorted to various techniques:
- Liposuction of the affected areas for 25% (by another surgeon)
- Participation in sports (67%)
- Diets (81%)
- Lymphatic drainage (50%)
- The restraint port (70%)
While some of these techniques may provide temporary relief, they are designed to slow the progression of lipedema or reduce symptoms for a short period of time.
The most common symptoms in women affected by lipedema are pain, heaviness, edema, and bruising that appear spontaneously.
During the initial consultation, Dr. Nicolas Zwillinger explains the WAL liposuction technique in detail, answers all of the patient’s questions, and provides a quote for a potential procedure.
Profile of the patient who underwent surgery on her bow legs by Dr. Nicolas Zwillinger
To date, Dr. Nicolas Zwillinger has operated on more than 260 patients with lipedema.
The average age of patients undergoing surgery in this context is 36. The youngest was 17 on the day of her operation and the oldest was 75. You can use the graph below to see the distribution of patients according to their age. We note that the vast majority of women who undergo surgery are between 25 and 45 years old. However, there is no age limit for WAL liposuction. We invite you to readan article on this subject.
Distribution of patients with lipedema by age group
On average, two operations are required to treat lipedema. When the upper limbs are also affected, three operations are required.
Liposuction procedures for the treatment of lipedema are currently distributed as follows:
Distribution of intervention zones
Dr. Nicolas Zwillingerrecommends first treating the lower part of the lower limbs (legs), then the upper part of the lower limbs (thighs), and in some cases, the upper limbs (arms and forearms) in a third stage. In rare cases, it is possible to combine liposuction of two areas, but this decision is solely up to the surgeon.
The order of operations may vary depending on the patient's needs and the surgeon's opinion.
Women often ask themselves, "How much fat will liposuction remove?" This depends on many factors (stage of lipedema, patient's BMI, areas treated, etc.). The illustration below shows the average volume of pure fat removed depending on the areas treated. We can see that the thighs are the area from which the most fat is removed, making this procedure generally more tiring.
In this article, we have highlighted the typical profile of a patient affected by bow legs. It is important to bear in mind that this condition affects all types of women, regardless of social background, origin, weight, height, or age. It is possible to take action regardless of your profile.