{"id":3676,"date":"2025-09-03T10:12:23","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T10:12:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lipedemaac.com\/que-es-el-lipedema\/"},"modified":"2026-08-26T11:35:46","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T11:35:46","slug":"what-is-lipedema","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/lipedemaac.com\/en\/what-is-lipedema\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Lipedema?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"3676\" class=\"elementor elementor-3676\" data-elementor-settings=\"{&quot;ha_cmc_init_switcher&quot;:&quot;no&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-65d5801 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"65d5801\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;,&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3972890\" data-id=\"3972890\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-972efe4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"972efe4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<!--\r\n=====================================================================\r\n\/en\/what-is-lipedema\/  -  FULL PILLAR PAGE (ALL IN ONE)  -  EN\r\nInformational landing used transactionally: premium hero + blog-style body.\r\nPaste into a block that PROCESSES shortcodes (Gutenberg \"Custom HTML\" or Elementor).\r\nIncludes the rich snippet (JSON-LD) at the end and the EN WPForms shortcode (3655).\r\n-----------------------------------------------------------------\r\nGOAL: own the head term \"lipedema\" \/ \"what is lipedema\" in EN markets.\r\nToday: position 35.0 for \"what is lipedema\" \/ NO H1 \/ 1,952 words \/ mirrors its 5 child pages.\r\nAlso covers the British spelling \"lipoedema\", which the ES version does not need.\r\n-----------------------------------------------------------------\r\nBUILT FOR AI OVERVIEW (same structure validated on the ES version):\r\n- 35-55 word definition paragraph IMMEDIATELY after the H1.\r\n- Symptoms as a short 6-item list (not a long section: that belongs to \/en\/lipedema-symptoms\/).\r\n- Treatment as a binary \"without surgery \/ with surgery\" split, 2-3 lines each.\r\n- All of the above within the first ~600 words.\r\n- VISIBLE author byline in the body (not only in schema).\r\n-----------------------------------------------------------------\r\nCLUSTER SPLIT (this page is the HUB):\r\n- OWN TERRITORY: definition, what it is not, who it affects (own study data),\r\n  prognosis\/progression, myths, and the SUMMARY tables of stages\/types and differential.\r\n- MENTION + LINK ONLY, with descriptive anchors: causes, symptoms, diagnosis,\r\n  treatment, surgery. NEVER re-explain the clinical detail.\r\n-----------------------------------------------------------------\r\nMEDICAL GATE CORRECTIONS ALREADY APPLIED (from the ES version):\r\n- ICD-11 code EF02.2 verified against the WHO browser + API. Published 2018, in force 1 Jan 2022.\r\n  NOTE: do not argue \"it is in the ICD so it is not cosmetic\" - EF02.3 is Cellulite.\r\n- Forner-Cordero & Munoz-Langa, \"Is lipedema a progressive disease?\", Vasc Med 2025;30(2):205-212\r\n  (PMID 39831319): n=100, mean 4.6 years, 62% stable \/ 28% progressed \/ 10% improved.\r\n  Age NOT associated with progression; weight and abdominal fat gain WERE.\r\n  NO association observed for maintenance therapies - do not claim management halts progression.\r\n- Own study: 969 PARTICIPANTS (967 women + 2 men), questionnaire via patient associations.\r\n  NOT \"969 women with lipedema\". The 41.7% type III figure is SELF-REPORTED.\r\n-----------------------------------------------------------------\r\nON-PAGE SEO (Rank Math):\r\n  Title: Lipedema: what it is, why it appears and how it is treated\r\n  Slug:  en\/what-is-lipedema  (UNCHANGED - already live)\r\n  Meta:  Lipedema is a chronic disease of the fatty tissue that affects almost only women and is\r\n         not eliminated by diet. 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.qelac-definition{padding:26px 22px;}\r\n  .qelac-definition p{font-size:18px;}\r\n}\r\n<\/style>\r\n\r\n<!-- ============================= HERO ============================= -->\r\n<section class=\"qelac-hero\">\r\n  <div class=\"qelac-hero-inner\">\r\n    <div class=\"qelac-hero-content\">\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-kicker\">What is lipedema<\/div>\r\n      <h1>Lipedema:<span>what it is and how to recognise it<\/span><\/h1>\r\n      <p class=\"qelac-hero-text\">\r\n        A chronic disease of the fatty tissue that affects almost only women, causes pain, and is not eliminated by diet or exercise. It is not obesity, it is not cellulite and it is not fluid retention. Here is the essential picture, and the full map to go deeper into each part.\r\n      <\/p>\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-hero-links\">\r\n        <a href=\"\/en\/lipedema-symptoms\/\">Symptoms<\/a>\r\n        <a href=\"\/en\/causes-of-lipedema\/\">Causes<\/a>\r\n        <a href=\"\/en\/stages-of-lipedema\/\">Stages and types<\/a>\r\n        <a href=\"\/en\/lipedema-diagnosis\/\">Diagnosis<\/a>\r\n        <a href=\"\/en\/lipedema-treatment\/\">Treatment<\/a>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-actions\">\r\n        <a href=\"#contacto_footer\" class=\"qelac-btn-primary\">Request a concierge assessment<\/a>\r\n        <a href=\"\/en\/lipedema-test\/\" class=\"qelac-btn-secondary\">Take the test<\/a>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n<!-- ============================= DEFINITION (CITABLE BLOCK) ============================= -->\r\n<section class=\"qelac-section white\">\r\n  <div class=\"qelac-container\">\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"qelac-byline\">\r\n      <span class=\"qelac-byline-badge\">AC<\/span>\r\n      <span class=\"qelac-byline-txt\">\r\n        Medical content reviewed by <strong><a href=\"\/en\/doctor-alexo-carballeira-brana\/\">Dr Alexo Carballeira Bra&ntilde;a<\/a><\/strong>, plastic surgeon recertified by the SECPRE and author of <em>The Advanced Care Study<\/em> on lipedema in Spain.<br>Last reviewed: August 2026.\r\n      <\/span>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"qelac-definition\">\r\n      <p>\r\n        <strong>Lipedema is a chronic disease of the fatty tissue<\/strong> that causes an abnormal, symmetrical build-up of fat in the legs, hips and buttocks, and sometimes the arms. It affects almost exclusively women, hurts when pressed and causes heaviness, <strong>spares the feet and hands<\/strong>, and <strong>is not eliminated by diet or exercise<\/strong>.\r\n      <\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"qelac-prose\">\r\n      <p>\r\n        One point that has changed in recent years and is still misreported in many places: <strong>lipedema is not an oedema<\/strong>, despite its name. Nor is it a venous disease or a disorder of the lymphatic system. It is a disorder of the adipose tissue, and that distinction is what explains why it does not respond to what does work in lymphoedema or in venous insufficiency.\r\n      <\/p>\r\n      <p>\r\n        It is recognised as a disease with its own code in the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases: <strong>ICD-11, code EF02.2 (lipoedema)<\/strong>, within the non-inflammatory disorders of subcutaneous fat. The ICD-11 was published in 2018 and has been in force since 1 January 2022. Having its own code means it is not a variant of being overweight nor a finding without clinical standing: it is a condition with clinical criteria, a diagnosis and a treatment.\r\n      <\/p>\r\n      <p>\r\n        You will find it spelled both ways: <strong>lipedema<\/strong> in American English and <strong>lipoedema<\/strong> in British English, which is the spelling the WHO uses. They are the same condition.\r\n      <\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n<!-- ============================= THE SIX SIGNS (SHORT, CITABLE LIST) ============================= -->\r\n<section class=\"qelac-section\">\r\n  <div class=\"qelac-container\">\r\n    <div class=\"qelac-prose\">\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-eyebrow\">How it is recognised<\/div>\r\n      <h2>The six signs <span>that give it away<\/span><\/h2>\r\n      <p>\r\n        You do not need to be a doctor to suspect it. These are the features that set it apart from simply having larger legs:\r\n      <\/p>\r\n      <ul>\r\n        <li><strong>Disproportion<\/strong> between the legs and the trunk: two different clothing sizes on the same body.<\/li>\r\n        <li><strong>Symmetry:<\/strong> it affects both legs or both arms, not just one.<\/li>\r\n        <li><strong>Pain<\/strong> on pressure, on light touch or even at rest, with a feeling of heaviness.<\/li>\r\n        <li><strong>Bruising<\/strong> from minimal knocks or with no apparent cause: very common, although on its own it is not a diagnostic criterion.<\/li>\r\n        <li><strong>Feet and hands spared<\/strong>, with a visible cut-off at the ankle or the wrist.<\/li>\r\n        <li><strong>It persists with weight loss:<\/strong> losing weight does reduce volume, in the legs too, but the disproportion with the trunk and the pain remain.<\/li>\r\n      <\/ul>\r\n      <p>\r\n        Recognising several of these is not a diagnosis, but it is a reason to seek advice. Each sign, with detail on how it feels, is developed in the <a class=\"qelac-link\" href=\"\/en\/lipedema-symptoms\/\">symptoms of lipedema<\/a>.\r\n      <\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n<!-- ============================= TREATMENT (BINARY SPLIT) ============================= -->\r\n<section class=\"qelac-section white\">\r\n  <div class=\"qelac-container\">\r\n    <div class=\"qelac-prose\">\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-eyebrow\">What can be done<\/div>\r\n      <h2>How lipedema is treated<\/h2>\r\n      <p>\r\n        Lipedema is chronic and has no cure, but its symptoms can be treated. The options fall into two broad routes, which are not mutually exclusive:\r\n      <\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"qelac-duo\">\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-duo-card\">\r\n        <h3>Without surgery<\/h3>\r\n        <p>Compression garments, <a class=\"qelac-link\" href=\"\/en\/manual-lymphatic-drainage-lipedema\/\">manual lymphatic drainage<\/a>, low-impact exercise and control of weight and inflammation.<\/p>\r\n        <p>It is the basis of management and can improve pain, heaviness and mobility, although it does not reduce the affected tissue.<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-duo-card\">\r\n        <h3>With surgery<\/h3>\r\n        <p>Specific liposuction that preserves the lymphatic system, using the <a class=\"qelac-link\" href=\"\/en\/wal-lipedema-liposuction\/\">WAL<\/a> and <a class=\"qelac-link\" href=\"\/en\/pal-lipedema-liposuction\/\">PAL<\/a> techniques.<\/p>\r\n        <p>It is the only thing that removes the lipedema tissue. It is considered when conservative management does not control the symptoms, and it requires an individual indication.<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <p class=\"qelac-tnote\">Both routes, with the criteria for each and what to expect, in <a href=\"\/en\/lipedema-treatment\/\">lipedema treatment<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n<!-- ============================= WHAT IT IS NOT (OWN TERRITORY) ============================= -->\r\n<section class=\"qelac-section\">\r\n  <div class=\"qelac-container\">\r\n    <div class=\"qelac-prose\">\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-eyebrow\">The confusion that costs years<\/div>\r\n      <h2>What lipedema is <span>not<\/span><\/h2>\r\n      <p>\r\n        Almost every patient arrives at the clinic after years of being told it was something else. This is the table that helps most to sort out the difference:\r\n      <\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"qelac-tablewrap\">\r\n      <table class=\"qelac-table\">\r\n        <thead><tr><th><\/th><th>Lipedema<\/th><th>Cosmetic cellulite<\/th><th>Obesity<\/th><th>Lymphoedema<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\r\n        <tbody>\r\n          <tr><td>Painful on pressure<\/td><td>Yes, it is the central feature<\/td><td>No<\/td><td>No<\/td><td>Not usually<\/td><\/tr>\r\n          <tr><td>Symmetry<\/td><td>Bilateral and symmetrical (one side may be somewhat more marked)<\/td><td>Bilateral<\/td><td>Generalised<\/td><td>Usually asymmetrical<\/td><\/tr>\r\n          <tr><td>Feet and hands<\/td><td>Spared<\/td><td>Spared<\/td><td>May be affected<\/td><td>Affected<\/td><\/tr>\r\n          <tr><td>Easy bruising<\/td><td>Common<\/td><td>No<\/td><td>No<\/td><td>No<\/td><\/tr>\r\n          <tr><td>Responds to diet<\/td><td>Volume goes down, but the disproportion and the pain remain<\/td><td>Improves partially<\/td><td>Responds<\/td><td>The oedema does not change<\/td><\/tr>\r\n        <\/tbody>\r\n      <\/table>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <p class=\"qelac-tnote\">No single feature confirms or rules out the diagnosis: easy bruising and palpable nodules are common, but they are not validated diagnostic criteria. What is popularly called \"fluid retention\" corresponds to the last column: lymphoedema. The detailed comparison is in <a href=\"\/en\/difference-lipedema-cellulite\/\">difference between lipedema and cellulite<\/a> and in <a href=\"\/en\/differences-lipedema-fluid-retention\/\">lipedema and fluid retention<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n<!-- ============================= STAGES AND TYPES (SUMMARY TABLES) ============================= -->\r\n<section class=\"qelac-section white\">\r\n  <div class=\"qelac-container\">\r\n    <div class=\"qelac-prose\">\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-eyebrow\">How it is classified<\/div>\r\n      <h2>Stages and types, <span>at a glance<\/span><\/h2>\r\n      <p>\r\n        It is described along two separate axes that are often mixed up: the <strong>stage<\/strong> (1 to 4) describes the appearance of the skin and the tissue; the <strong>type<\/strong> (I to V) indicates which areas are affected. They are independent: you can have stage 1 with type III.\r\n      <\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"qelac-tablewrap\">\r\n      <table class=\"qelac-table\">\r\n        <thead><tr><th>Stage<\/th><th>Appearance of the skin and tissue<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\r\n        <tbody>\r\n          <tr><td>Stage 1<\/td><td>Smooth surface, with thickened subcutaneous tissue and small nodules on palpation.<\/td><\/tr>\r\n          <tr><td>Stage 2<\/td><td>Uneven surface, with larger nodules and visible indentations.<\/td><\/tr>\r\n          <tr><td>Stage 3<\/td><td>Clearly hardened tissue, with lobes of fat that distort the contour.<\/td><\/tr>\r\n          <tr><td>Stage 4<\/td><td>The above together with an associated lymphoedema component (lipo-lymphoedema). Some classifications describe only three stages and treat this as a separate entity.<\/td><\/tr>\r\n        <\/tbody>\r\n      <\/table>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"qelac-tablewrap\">\r\n      <table class=\"qelac-table\">\r\n        <thead><tr><th>Type<\/th><th>Area affected<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\r\n        <tbody>\r\n          <tr><td>Type I<\/td><td>Hips and buttocks<\/td><\/tr>\r\n          <tr><td>Type II<\/td><td>From the hips to the knees<\/td><\/tr>\r\n          <tr><td>Type III<\/td><td>From the hips to the ankles, with a visible cut-off at the ankle<\/td><\/tr>\r\n          <tr><td>Type IV<\/td><td>Arms<\/td><\/tr>\r\n          <tr><td>Type V<\/td><td>Knee to ankle only (calves); it is uncommon<\/td><\/tr>\r\n        <\/tbody>\r\n      <\/table>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <p class=\"qelac-tnote\">Important: the stage describes, it does not measure severity. Pain can be intense at stage 1 and manageable at stage 3. See <a href=\"\/en\/stages-of-lipedema\/\">the 4 stages and 5 types of lipedema in detail<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n<!-- ============================= WHO IT AFFECTS: OWN DATA ============================= -->\r\n<section class=\"qelac-section dark\">\r\n  <div class=\"qelac-container\">\r\n    <div class=\"qelac-prose\">\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-eyebrow\">The data from Spain<\/div>\r\n      <h2>Who it affects, <span>according to our own study<\/span><\/h2>\r\n      <p>\r\n        Most of the information about lipedema in circulation comes from elsewhere. In 2023 our team published a study of <strong>969 participants with lipedema in Spain (967 women and 2 men)<\/strong>, carried out by questionnaire through the main patient associations (<em>The Advanced Care Study<\/em>, in the <em>International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health<\/em>), to find out what happens here. These are three of its results:\r\n      <\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"qelac-stats\">\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-stat\">\r\n        <span class=\"qelac-stat-num\">41.7%<\/span>\r\n        <span class=\"qelac-stat-txt\">reported type III lipedema: affecting the area from the hips to the ankles, the most frequent distribution in our sample.<\/span>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-stat\">\r\n        <span class=\"qelac-stat-num\">51.2%<\/span>\r\n        <span class=\"qelac-stat-txt\">needed to consult three or more different specialists before receiving a diagnosis. One in three (33.7%), more than five.<\/span>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-stat\">\r\n        <span class=\"qelac-stat-num\">50.4%<\/span>\r\n        <span class=\"qelac-stat-txt\">were diagnosed by a vascular surgeon, the specialty that signed the most diagnoses among the participants in our study.<\/span>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"qelac-prose\" style=\"margin-top:34px;\">\r\n      <p>\r\n        That second figure says the most about the condition: <strong>the problem is not that lipedema is hard to recognise, it is that it is little known<\/strong>. If you have spent years being told it is a matter of willpower, the problem was never yours.\r\n      <\/p>\r\n      <p>\r\n        Being able to put a name to what is happening to you is the first step. The next one, if you want to take it, is this:\r\n      <\/p>\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-actions\" style=\"justify-content:flex-start;margin-top:26px;\">\r\n        <a href=\"#contacto_footer\" class=\"qelac-btn-primary\">Request a concierge assessment<\/a>\r\n        <a href=\"\/en\/lipedema-study\/\" class=\"qelac-btn-secondary\">See the study<\/a>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n<!-- ============================= WHY IT APPEARS + HOW IT IS CONFIRMED ============================= -->\r\n<section class=\"qelac-section white\">\r\n  <div class=\"qelac-container\">\r\n    <div class=\"qelac-prose\">\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-eyebrow\">Origin and confirmation<\/div>\r\n      <h2>Why it appears and <span>how it is confirmed<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n      <h3>Why it appears<\/h3>\r\n      <p>\r\n        There is no single cause. There is a clear <strong>genetic component<\/strong> (it is common to find the same body pattern in mothers, grandmothers and sisters) and a <strong>hormonal trigger<\/strong>: the first signs usually appear at puberty, and pregnancy and the menopause are the moments when it becomes most evident. What it is never is the consequence of having eaten badly.\r\n      <\/p>\r\n      <p>\r\n        The full mechanism, with what we know and what we still do not, in <a class=\"qelac-link\" href=\"\/en\/causes-of-lipedema\/\">the causes of lipedema<\/a>.\r\n      <\/p>\r\n\r\n      <h3>How it is confirmed<\/h3>\r\n      <p>\r\n        The diagnosis is <strong>clinical<\/strong>: it is reached through the patient's history and a physical examination by an experienced professional. <strong>No blood test or imaging study can confirm it.<\/strong> Tests serve to rule out other causes and to plan.\r\n      <\/p>\r\n      <p>\r\n        In our clinic that process incorporates a <strong>3D body scanner<\/strong>, which allows change to be measured objectively, and a <strong>vascular study with duplex ultrasound<\/strong> carried out by <a class=\"qelac-link\" href=\"\/en\/doctora-marta-zaplana-cordoba\/\">Dr Marta Zaplana<\/a>, angiologist and vascular surgeon, to establish the state of the venous system before considering anything.\r\n      <\/p>\r\n      <p>\r\n        The full process, step by step, in <a class=\"qelac-link\" href=\"\/en\/lipedema-diagnosis\/\">lipedema diagnosis<\/a>.\r\n      <\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n<!-- ============================= PROGRESSION \/ PROGNOSIS ============================= -->\r\n<section class=\"qelac-section\">\r\n  <div class=\"qelac-container\">\r\n    <div class=\"qelac-prose\">\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-eyebrow\">The question nobody answers<\/div>\r\n      <h2>Is lipedema <span>going to get worse?<\/span><\/h2>\r\n      <p>\r\n        It is the first question after a diagnosis, and it is almost never answered with data. The honest answer is that <strong>it is not an inevitably progressive disease<\/strong>. The prospective study with the longest follow-up published to date (Forner-Cordero and Mu&ntilde;oz-Langa, <em>Vascular Medicine<\/em>, 2025) measured leg volume in 100 patients over a mean of 4.6 years: <strong>62% remained stable, 28% progressed and 10% improved<\/strong>.\r\n      <\/p>\r\n      <p>\r\n        That same study provides the most useful finding for a patient: <strong>age was not associated with progression<\/strong>, whereas weight gain and abdominal fat were. The more the body mass index and the waist-to-height ratio rose, the more the lipedema progressed. Put another way, what was related to the course of the disease was not time, but change in weight. In that work no association was observed between maintenance therapies and the change in volume, which does not diminish the value of conservative management for pain, heaviness and mobility: those are different goals.\r\n      <\/p>\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-callout\">\r\n        <p><strong>One caveat that matters:<\/strong> what can appear over the years is an associated lymphoedema component, usually described as stage 4. There is no evidence that conservative treatment prevents it, but it is a reason not to lose follow-up and to seek advice if changes appear.<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <p class=\"qelac-tnote\" style=\"text-align:left;\">The follow-up data, with the exact percentage of patients who remain stable, progress or improve, is in <a href=\"\/en\/stages-of-lipedema\/\">the stages of lipedema<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n<!-- ============================= MYTHS ============================= -->\r\n<section class=\"qelac-section white\">\r\n  <div class=\"qelac-container\">\r\n    <div class=\"qelac-lead\">\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-eyebrow\">What gets repeated and is not true<\/div>\r\n      <h2>Four myths about lipedema<\/h2>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"qelac-myths\">\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-myth\">\r\n        <span class=\"qelac-myth-false\">False<\/span>\r\n        <span class=\"qelac-myth-q\">\"It is being overweight: lose weight and it will go\"<\/span>\r\n        <p>You can have lipedema at a normal weight: in our study, 38.6% of participants were of average weight. Losing weight does reduce volume, in the legs too, but the disproportion and the pain remain. That is why diet is part of management and not the solution.<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-myth\">\r\n        <span class=\"qelac-myth-false\">False<\/span>\r\n        <span class=\"qelac-myth-q\">\"It is cellulite, a cosmetic problem\"<\/span>\r\n        <p>Cellulite does not hurt and does not cause bruising. Lipedema is a recognised disease, with pain as its central symptom. Confusing the two is what delays diagnosis by years.<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-myth\">\r\n        <span class=\"qelac-myth-false\">False<\/span>\r\n        <span class=\"qelac-myth-q\">\"A normal liposuction will fix it\"<\/span>\r\n        <p>Lipedema requires techniques that respect the lymphatic vessels, and a vascular assessment beforehand to rule out venous disease. A conventional cosmetic liposuction is not designed for this tissue.<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-myth\">\r\n        <span class=\"qelac-myth-false\">False<\/span>\r\n        <span class=\"qelac-myth-q\">\"There is nothing to be done, it is genetic\"<\/span>\r\n        <p>It has a genetic component and no cure, but its symptoms can be treated and its course can be modified. Chronic does not mean there is nothing to be done.<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n<!-- ============================= CLUSTER MAP ============================= -->\r\n<section class=\"qelac-section\">\r\n  <div class=\"qelac-container\">\r\n    <div class=\"qelac-lead\">\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-eyebrow\">Going deeper<\/div>\r\n      <h2>Everything about lipedema, <span>part by part<\/span><\/h2>\r\n      <p style=\"max-width:720px;margin:0 auto;\">Every piece of this summary has its full development, reviewed by the medical team.<\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"qelac-map\">\r\n      <a class=\"qelac-map-card\" href=\"\/en\/lipedema-symptoms\/\"><strong>Symptoms<\/strong><span>The 8 key signs, how they feel and what the doctor examines.<\/span><\/a>\r\n      <a class=\"qelac-map-card\" href=\"\/en\/causes-of-lipedema\/\"><strong>Causes<\/strong><span>Genetics, hormones and inflammation: why it appears.<\/span><\/a>\r\n      <a class=\"qelac-map-card\" href=\"\/en\/stages-of-lipedema\/\"><strong>Stages and types<\/strong><span>The 4 stages and 5 types, with illustrations.<\/span><\/a>\r\n      <a class=\"qelac-map-card\" href=\"\/en\/lipedema-diagnosis\/\"><strong>Diagnosis<\/strong><span>Who diagnoses it, what is examined and how to prepare.<\/span><\/a>\r\n      <a class=\"qelac-map-card\" href=\"\/en\/lipedema-treatment\/\"><strong>Treatment<\/strong><span>Conservative and surgical options, and when each applies.<\/span><\/a>\r\n      <a class=\"qelac-map-card\" href=\"\/en\/lipedema-surgery\/\"><strong>Surgery<\/strong><span>When it is indicated, which techniques and what to expect.<\/span><\/a>\r\n      <a class=\"qelac-map-card\" href=\"\/en\/lipedema-test\/\"><strong>Lipedema test<\/strong><span>An orientation in one minute, before the consultation.<\/span><\/a>\r\n      <a class=\"qelac-map-card\" href=\"\/en\/advanced-care-method\/\"><strong>Advanced Care Method<\/strong><span>Our full protocol, from diagnosis to discharge.<\/span><\/a>\r\n      <a class=\"qelac-map-card\" href=\"\/en\/medical-team\/\"><strong>Medical team<\/strong><span>Who will see you and with what credentials.<\/span><\/a>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n<!-- ============================= FAQ ============================= -->\r\n<section class=\"qelac-section white\">\r\n  <div class=\"qelac-container\">\r\n    <div class=\"qelac-lead\"><div class=\"qelac-eyebrow\">Frequently asked questions<\/div><h2>Questions about lipedema<\/h2><\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"qelac-faq\">\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-faq-item\"><h3>What is lipedema?<\/h3><p>A chronic disease of the fatty tissue that causes an abnormal, symmetrical build-up of fat in the legs, hips and buttocks, and sometimes the arms. It affects almost exclusively women, hurts when pressed and causes heaviness, spares the feet and hands, and is not eliminated by diet or exercise.<\/p><\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-faq-item\"><h3>Is there a cure for lipedema?<\/h3><p>No. It is a chronic disease and there is no cure. Its symptoms can be treated, and appropriate management makes it possible to control pain and preserve mobility and quality of life.<\/p><\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-faq-item\"><h3>Does lipedema only affect women?<\/h3><p>It affects almost exclusively women. In men it is very uncommon and tends to be associated with situations involving hormonal disruption: in our study, 2 of 969 participants were men. The hormonal component is one of the keys to the condition.<\/p><\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-faq-item\"><h3>Is it the same as obesity?<\/h3><p>No. In obesity fat is distributed generally, including the trunk, it does not hurt and it responds to a calorie deficit. Lipedema is symmetrical, disproportionate, painful and spares the feet and hands. You can have lipedema at a normal weight, and you can also have both at once.<\/p><\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-faq-item\"><h3>Which doctor treats lipedema?<\/h3><p>An angiologist and vascular surgeon, a plastic surgeon or other specialties can diagnose it, always with specific experience in lipedema. In our study of 969 participants, 50.4% were diagnosed by a vascular surgeon. See <a href=\"\/en\/lipedema-diagnosis\/\">lipedema diagnosis<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-faq-item\"><h3>What are the stages of lipedema?<\/h3><p>Four stages are described according to the appearance of the skin and the tissue, from 1 (smooth surface) to 4 (with associated lymphoedema). They are independent of the five types, which indicate the areas affected. The stage describes, it does not measure severity.<\/p><\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-faq-item\"><h3>What exercise is recommended with lipedema?<\/h3><p>Low-impact exercise and, especially, activity in water: hydrostatic pressure aids drainage and reduces the load on the joints. The aim is to maintain mobility and control inflammation, not to lose volume from the affected areas.<\/p><\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-faq-item\"><h3>Can lipedema be prevented?<\/h3><p>Its onset cannot be prevented, because there is a genetic component. What can be done is to act early on the symptoms and avoid factors that aggravate them: weight gain and abdominal fat are the factor that has been associated with progression of volume.<\/p><\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"qelac-faq-item\"><h3>How long does it take to diagnose lipedema?<\/h3><p>Too long. In our study of 969 participants in Spain, 51.2% needed to consult three or more different specialists before obtaining a diagnosis, and 33.7% more than five.<\/p><\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n<!-- ============================= SOURCES ============================= -->\r\n<section class=\"qelac-section white\" style=\"padding-top:0;\">\r\n  <div class=\"qelac-refs\">\r\n    <h3>Sources and references<\/h3>\r\n    <ol>\r\n      <li>Carballeira Bra&ntilde;a A, Poveda Castillo J. <em>The Advanced Care Study: Current Status of Lipedema in Spain, A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study<\/em>. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2023;20(17):6647. <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/37681787\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">View on PubMed<\/a> (study by our team)<\/li>\r\n      <li>S2k guideline Lipoedema, AWMF 037-012, v5.0 (2024). <a href=\"https:\/\/register.awmf.org\/assets\/guidelines\/037-012l_S2k_Lipoedem_2024-01_01.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">View guideline<\/a><\/li>\r\n      <li>Herbst KL et al. <em>Standard of care for lipedema in the United States<\/em>. Phlebology, 2021. <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/34049453\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">View on PubMed<\/a><\/li>\r\n      <li>Forner-Cordero I, Mu&ntilde;oz-Langa J. <em>Is lipedema a progressive disease?<\/em> Vasc Med. 2025;30(2):205-212. <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/39831319\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">View on PubMed<\/a><\/li>\r\n      <li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK573066\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lipedema - StatPearls (NCBI)<\/a><\/li>\r\n      <li>World Health Organization. <em>ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics: EF02.2 Lipoedema<\/em>. <a href=\"https:\/\/icd.who.int\/browse\/2025-01\/mms\/en#1172950828\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">View in the ICD-11<\/a><\/li>\r\n    <\/ol>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n<!-- ============================= DISCLAIMER \/ AUTHORSHIP ============================= -->\r\n<section class=\"qelac-section white\" style=\"padding-top:0;\">\r\n  <div class=\"qelac-authorbox\">\r\n    <p><strong>Medically reviewed content.<\/strong> Content produced by the medical team at Lipedema Advanced Care and reviewed by <strong>Dr Alexo Carballeira Bra&ntilde;a<\/strong>, plastic surgeon (SECPRE recertified) specialising in the treatment of lipedema, registered with the ICOMV and lead author of <em>The Advanced Care Study<\/em> (IJERPH, 2023). Meet <a href=\"\/en\/doctor-alexo-carballeira-brana\/\">Dr Alexo Carballeira<\/a> and the rest of the <a href=\"\/en\/medical-team\/\">medical team<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n    <p>This information is for general guidance and does not replace a medical consultation or diagnosis. Lipedema is a chronic condition; it has no cure, but its symptoms can be treated. Every case requires an individual assessment. Last updated: August 2026.<\/p>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n<!-- ============================= PREFOOTER CONTACTO (FORM 1787) ============================= -->\r\n<section id=\"lac-prefooter-contacto-unico\" class=\"lpf-main-section\">\r\n    <div class=\"lpf-container\">\r\n        <div class=\"lpf-flex-wrapper\">\r\n\r\n            <div class=\"lpf-doctor-side\">\r\n                <div class=\"lpf-doctor-sticky-box\">\r\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lipedemaac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/dr-alexo-carballeira-consulta-lipedema-marques-del-turia.jpg\" alt=\"Dr. Alexo Carballeira\" class=\"lpf-doctor-img\" title=\"\">\r\n\r\n                    <div class=\"lpf-text-overlay\">\r\n                        <p class=\"lpf-tagline\">PERSONALISED CARE<\/p>\r\n                        <h2 class=\"lpf-hero-title\">\r\n                            Begin your path towards <br>\r\n                            <span class=\"lpf-gold-text\">lipedema relief<\/span>\r\n                        <\/h2>\r\n\r\n                        <div class=\"lpf-quote-container\">\r\n                            <p>\"My commitment is to offer you a precise diagnosis and complete support throughout.\"<\/p>\r\n                            <span class=\"lpf-signature\">Dr. Alexo Carballeira<\/span>\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n\r\n            <div class=\"lpf-form-side\" id=\"contacto_footer\">\r\n                <div class=\"lpf-form-box\">\r\n                    <div class=\"lpf-form-header\">\r\n                        <h3 class=\"lpf-form-main-title\">Request an Assessment<\/h3>\r\n                        <p class=\"lpf-form-subtitle\">SPECIALIST PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS<\/p>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <div class=\"lpf-form-engine\">\r\n                        <div class=\"wpforms-container wpforms-container-full\" 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It affects almost exclusively women, hurts when pressed and causes heaviness, spares the feet and hands, and is not eliminated by diet or exercise.\" } },\r\n        { \"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Is there a cure for lipedema?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"No. It is a chronic disease and there is no cure. Its symptoms can be treated, and appropriate management makes it possible to control pain and preserve mobility and quality of life.\" } },\r\n        { \"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Does lipedema only affect women?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"It affects almost exclusively women. In men it is very uncommon and tends to be associated with situations involving hormonal disruption: in our study, 2 of 969 participants were men. The hormonal component is one of the keys to the condition.\" } },\r\n        { \"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Is it the same as obesity?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"No. In obesity fat is distributed generally, including the trunk, it does not hurt and it responds to a calorie deficit. Lipedema is symmetrical, disproportionate, painful and spares the feet and hands. You can have lipedema at a normal weight, and you can also have both at once.\" } },\r\n        { \"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Which doctor treats lipedema?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"An angiologist and vascular surgeon, a plastic surgeon or other specialties can diagnose it, always with specific experience in lipedema. In our study of 969 participants, 50.4% were diagnosed by a vascular surgeon.\" } },\r\n        { \"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What are the stages of lipedema?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Four stages are described according to the appearance of the skin and the tissue, from 1 (smooth surface) to 4 (with associated lymphoedema). They are independent of the five types, which indicate the areas affected. The stage describes, it does not measure severity.\" } },\r\n        { \"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What exercise is recommended with lipedema?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Low-impact exercise and, especially, activity in water: hydrostatic pressure aids drainage and reduces the load on the joints. The aim is to maintain mobility and control inflammation, not to lose volume from the affected areas.\" } },\r\n        { \"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Can lipedema be prevented?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Its onset cannot be prevented, because there is a genetic component. What can be done is to act early on the symptoms and avoid factors that aggravate them: weight gain and abdominal fat are the factor that has been associated with progression of volume.\" } },\r\n        { \"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"How long does it take to diagnose lipedema?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Too long. In our study of 969 participants in Spain, 51.2% needed to consult three or more different specialists before obtaining a diagnosis, and 33.7% more than five.\" } }\r\n      ]\r\n    }\r\n  ]\r\n}\r\n<\/script>\r\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is lipedema Lipedema:what it is and how to recognise it A chronic disease of the fatty tissue that affects almost only women, causes pain, and is not eliminated by diet or exercise. It is not obesity, it is not cellulite and it is not fluid retention. Here is the essential picture, and the full [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3676","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lipedemaac.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3676","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lipedemaac.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lipedemaac.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lipedemaac.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lipedemaac.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3676"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/lipedemaac.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3676\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7111,"href":"https:\/\/lipedemaac.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3676\/revisions\/7111"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lipedemaac.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3676"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}