Lipedema is the abnormal accumulation of subcutaneous fat in the body. It can cause social embarrassment, difficulty walking, and can even be painful. Whilst obesity can also cause fatty accumulation, lipedema predominantly affects only the buttocks and the legs, with the rest of the body being of normal size. It is refractory to exercise and diet, and affects only women, with incidences reported at up to 11%. Physiological lymphedema techniques are ineffective for pure lipedema, which usually requires liposuction or excisional techniques to treat. However, in some cases, both conditions can co-exist. See a specialist plastic surgeon who is trained in these techniques and he can advise you accordingly.
The short answer is yes. Lymphedema surgery does not treat 100% of the condition, therefore it is always recommended to continue your lymphedema maintenance and garments post-operatively. However, there are some patients who, after a while, find that they no longer need their pressure garments.
Post Massive Weight Loss Body Contouring
A 40-year-old lady consulted with Dr Pek with the desire to correct large amounts of excess skin and soft tissue. She had undergone Bariatric Surgery (Sleeve Gastrectomy) 2 years prior to her presentation and had successfully lost almost 30kg of weight. With ... Read more
Treating Gynecomastia – Correct Male Breasts through minimally invasive techniques
A 38-year-old male engineer presented to Dr Pek with symptomatic growth of his chest/breast area. Since puberty, he complained of unusually prominent chest tissue around his nipple and areolar region. This had worsened gradually over the years, with the left ... Read more
Upper eyelid lift and eyebags rejuvenation
63 years old Chinese female with hypertension and hyperlipidemia presented to Dr Pek with significant droopiness of her upper eyelids on both sides, affecting the upper portion of her visual field. She would constantly feel that her upper eyelids were heavy, ... Read more
Bilateral breast reconstruction using abdominal free flaps
A 45-year-old mother of 2 children was diagnosed with left breast cancer, for which a skin-sparing mastectomy (total removal of breast tissue leaving behind the skin envelope) was recommended. Read more
Facial lifting is a sought-after cosmetic procedure aimed ...
Deciding to enhance your breasts can be an exciting step ...
Chronic leg swelling can be uncomfortable and embarrassing, ...
Learn more about Dr Adrian Ooi, Dr Pek Chong Han and the team