June is Lipedema Awareness Month – thirty consecutive days dedicated to a cause we can all get behind.
June 1st marks the beginning of Lipedema Awareness Month, a dedicated 30-day campaign aimed at raising awareness, providing vital resources, and advocating for equitable healthcare for the 11% of women and 1% of men living with this often misunderstood, misdiagnosed condition.
What Is Lipedema?
First identified as a medical condition by Dr. Edgar Hines and Dr. Edgar Allen at the Mayo Clinic in 1940, lipedema—which literally means “fluid in the fat”—is a debilitating disorder characterized by the abnormal accumulation of fat.
Lipedema most commonly affects the lower body, particularly the buttocks and legs, while sparing the feet. For many years, this condition was largely overlooked, but recent advancements have brought hope, attention, and treatment options to those suffering from its life-altering effects.
Lipedema is believed to be genetic and often triggered by hormonal fluctuations at key stages in a woman’s life, such as puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. The disease progresses in stages, leading to painful, lumpy fat deposits, limited mobility, and a significantly reduced quality of life.
The Challenges of Diagnosis and Treatment
Despite recent attention, many women continue to face misdiagnosis and are wrongly labeled as obese. Traditional approaches like dieting and exercise often fail to improve the condition, leaving women feeling frustrated and helpless.
How Surgery May Help
While there is no definitive cure for lipedema, the most effective long-term treatment is surgical intervention, specifically liposuction. This procedure helps remove excess fat and provides significant relief from the symptoms, improving mobility and quality of life for many patients.
How We Can All Help
Despite many patients being misdiagnosed and misunderstood, and traditional lifestyle modifications often failing to provide relief, there is hope. Although it’s been 80 years since lipedema was officially identified, the fight against this painful and frustrating condition is far from over.
Together, we can continue to raise awareness, improve diagnoses, and support those living with lipedema.
As part of the lipedema community, we offer a multitude of resources on our website as well as our social media channels. To educate yourself on this seemingly nebulous topic, visit us at:
Standard of Care: https://rsi848w1.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/standard-of-care-for-lipedema-united-states.pdf
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/totallipedemacare/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1Kgfdp4_WFTILpUhvyz8sw
As progress is made in reducing the social stigma surrounding lipedema, more patients are realizing that their condition is not their fault and that they are not alone in their journey. Together, we can all make a difference by spreading awareness, offering support, and empowering those living with lipedema to seek the care they deserve. There’s always a way we can help.
To learn more, please contact us at our Beverly Hills, California office to schedule a consultation with any of our highly trained specialists.