Degrees of lipedema and treatment
lipedema is a progressive disease characterized by the accumulation of pathological fat in different parts of the body, especially in the legs, thighs and hips. It can also sometimes affect the arms.
This consists of the inflammation and proliferation of fat cells in the body, affecting adipose tissue. It is a very common pathology which mostly affects women.
Its appearance is not due to reasons such as high body weight or following an unhealthy diet. Besides, unlike other diseases such as obesity or overweight, this disease continually produces pain and heaviness. Usually usually appears during puberty and it gets worse as the person advances in age, especially in the menopause or pregnancy.
Between the Causes of its appearance include the weight gain, but it may also be due to certain hormonal disorders such as hypothyroidism or diabetes. Likewise, the genetic predisposition It also contributes to its development.
Symptoms of lipedema
As mentioned above, the symptoms of this disease evolve as time and age pass., worsening at certain key moments in the life cycle. This affects the development of the disease, which can become very advanced in a short time.
To identify it correctly, it is advisable to know some of Your symptoms which we explain below:
- Swelling in the affected areas, accompanied by sensations of pressure and heaviness.
- Volume increase of the affected area, be it legs, thighs, hips, etc.
- Subcutaneous tissue hard, due to concentrated fat cells
- Pain and sensitivity of the affected areas or areas
- Disproportion of the affected area compared to the rest of the body
- Telangiectasias. They are red or blue signals that appear on the skin due to the dilation of blood vessels.
- Decrease or loss of skin elasticity
- Increased skin sensitivity in different temperature states such as cold or heat
At this point it is very important that if a person notices any of these symptoms, they undergo different medical tests based on the examination of the patient's skin.
Degrees of lipedema
Depending on the symptoms of lipedema, This can be classified into different degrees:
- Grade 1: This is an initial level, a early stage, in which the skin appears smooth and apparently healthy, but The subcutaneous cellular tissue is thickened and small fat nodules begin to be noticed.. Normally, despite being a not very advanced stage, the patient may already experience fatigue and heaviness in the affected area, and pain when the skin is pressed.
- Grade 2: in this phase, more fat nodules begin to appear, the skin is no longer smooth, but its surface is irregular and hard. The pain usually increases considerably. There is a great advance in the severity of this disease.
- 3rd grade: here we are in a advanced stage in which the accumulation of fat in the affected area or areas is very noticeable. The skin in these cases is more swollen and more sensitive to pain and touch. The patient may experience mobility problems due to pain, pressure and heaviness in the affected areas.
Normally, in In most cases, lipedema begins to occur in the hips and thighs., later affecting lower limbs such as the calves and ankles. In other cases, it usually begins with the lower limbs, that is, calves and ankles.
Diagnosis and treatment of lipedema
He diagnosis of this condition is usually carried out by the evaluation and clinical examination of the patient who suffers from it. In the same way, there is a medical history evaluation of the same, to take into account all the possible factors causing lipedema. Furthermore, you can carry out a exploration through images.
To treat its symptoms, the technique of lipomesoplasty. This consists of applying medication on the fatty layer of the skin. The medications administered contain anti-inflammatories that promote and improve circulation, as well as the activation of metabolism. This technique is not surgery, but gets great results, allowing a decrease in the volume of the affected area.
In addition to this technique, it is necessary to carry out a anti-inflammatory diet. It is recommended that the patient remove gluten from their diet, as well as those foods that may create intolerance, such as those that contain lactose.
Achieving results thanks to correct treatment may be possible, improving the patient's quality of life. That is why if you believe or know that you suffer from this condition, it is necessary to have the best professionals. Contact our team of specialists to make a first appointment at our clinic. They will provide you with detailed and personalized information.
