Are You Ready for Lipedema Surgery?

Deciding to undergo lipedema reduction surgery (LRS) is a significant step towards managing your condition and improving your quality of life. However, ensuring you’re fully physically and mentally prepared is crucial. Here’s how to determine if you’re ready for lipedema surgery and how to find the right surgeon for your needs.

How Do You Know You’re Ready for Lipedema Reduction Surgery?

• Wearing and Tolerating Compression:

1. 1. • Are you currently using compression garments and finding them tolerable? Successful compression use indicates that you’re managing your condition well and can handle the post-surgery requirements. Your compression compliance is critical to the results of your surgery. The compression resets the skin and causes skin retraction. The optimal, smooth, tightened result can only be achieved with consistent and strict compression adherence. 

• Following an Anti-Inflammatory Diet:

1. 1. • Have you been able to stick to an anti-inflammatory diet? This is important as it helps reduce overall body inflammation, potentially improving surgical outcomes and recovery. Surgery is a big deal and takes time, money, and healing. If you’re going to go through surgery, the last thing you want to do is undo the results with a diet that can aggravate your disease. 

• Support System in Place:

1. 1. • Do you have a support system ready to assist you during your recovery? Friends, family, or caregivers can provide emotional and physical support post-surgery.

• Personal Readiness:

1. 1. • Do YOU feel ready to embark on this journey? Assessing your mental and emotional readiness for the surgery and recovery process is essential. People often minimize the temporary disruption surgery will have on your life. Your daily routines, work time, and ability to move comfortably will be hindered while you heal, and it’s important to know what adjustments will be necessary ahead of time.

• Financial Readiness: 

• Do you feel financially ready for surgery? Evaluating your finances and insurance coverage is important to ensure you’re financially prepared. Even in the best-case scenario, when insurance covers part of your surgery, there will still be expenses to prepare for. Even “good” insurance will leave you with significant co-pays and out-of-pocket expenses.

• Support System’s Readiness:

1. • Is your support system prepared for the commitment required to help you recover? Their readiness is just as crucial as your own.

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How to Find the Right Surgeon for Lipedema Reduction Surgery

Finding the right surgeon for your lipedema reduction surgery is crucial. Not every surgeon will be the best fit for you, and that’s okay. Here’s how to ensure you choose the right one:

• Experience and Dedication:

1. 1. • Ensure the surgeon is dedicated to lipedema treatment and has extensive experience. Many surgeons are relatively new and have only treated Lipedema for a year or two. The highest complications occur when a surgeon starts new treatments early in their career. They should treat lipedema comprehensively, addressing all aspects of the condition. Treating Lipedema as a stand-alone surgical procedure leads to a greater chance of progression and greater recurrence of symptoms. 

• Follow-Up Care:

• • • Do they follow up with their patients regularly? Ongoing care and monitoring are vital for successful long-term outcomes.
• Proven Positive Outcomes:
• • • Look for a surgeon with proven positive outcomes. Patient testimonials and before-and-after photos can provide insight into their success rates. Even better than photos and testimonials are peer-reviewed publications of the surgeon’s outcomes. 

• Trust and Rapport:

1. 1. • Trust your instincts. Do you feel comfortable and confident in their care? Not every surgeon is a good fit for you. Does the surgeon’s approach and personality align with yours? Do they prioritize your health and well-being over just completing a procedure? Is the staff warm and caring? 

• Holistic Approach:

1. • Are they invested in helping you improve your overall health alongside the surgery? This may include providing dietary advice, lifestyle changes, and ongoing support.

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Have You Prepared with the Proper Diet?

Diet plays a significant role in managing lipedema, especially if you’re considering surgery. Many women with lipedema have food sensitivities and inflammation issues. Here’s how to prepare:

• Identify Food Sensitivities:

1. 1. • Signs of food sensitivities include redness, rashes, and dermographism (skin gets red where scratched). These could indicate mast cell activation syndrome or other sensitivities.

• Anti-Inflammatory Diet:

1. 1. • Follow an anti-inflammatory diet. If you fit the picture of someone with high inflammation, consider getting tested for food sensitivities.

• Understanding Wheat Sensitivities:

1. 1. • The modern wheat plant has changed significantly over the last few decades, potentially contributing to food sensitivities. Countries like Italy still use traditional wheat with fewer chromosomes, resulting in fewer issues.

• Elimination Diet:

• • • Conduct a strict elimination diet to identify triggers. For example, eliminate gluten for three weeks and gradually reintroduce it to see how your body responds
• Personal Case Studies:
• • • • For instance, one patient found that beef, pork, and most dairy products caused her inflammation and were linked to alpha-gal syndrome (a reaction to mammal proteins). Others have found that gluten is the culprit of most swelling.

• Genetic Considerations:

1. • Research, such as Dr. Amato’s studies, suggests higher instances of genes associated with celiac disease in lipedema patients, indicating a possible link to immune system responses.

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Ready to Take the Next Step?

Preparing for lipedema surgery requires careful consideration and planning. You must ensure you’re physically and mentally ready, find the right surgeon, and follow the proper diet to manage your condition effectively. Dr. Wright and his team at Lipedema.net are ready to help you every step of the way. Contact our office to get started on a plan that is right for you.