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Lipedema Blog

01/5/2020
Blog

Liposuction Does Come with Risks

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Lipedema is a life-changing disease that can greatly impact everyday life. Seeking out treatment is a big ordeal, and with each treatment option available there are certain risks that must be reviewed. Liposuction is typically a safe and effective procedure when performed by trained hands and additional precautions are followed. Current technology allows properly trained vascular, cosmetic plastic surgeons to remove the subcutaneous fat tissue safely and greatly reduce the impact lipedema has on your mobility as long as specialized surgical techniques are followed which limit injury to lymphatics. However,

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12/18/2019
Blog

Compression Pump Therapy for Lipedema

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The symptoms of lipedema can be extremely difficult to manage without the proper treatment plan. Lipedema is a condition that causes disproportionate fat buildup in the limbs, but it can also cause other adverse effects, such as fluid buildup in your limbs that is the result of the lymphatic system malfunctioning. When this occurs, your lymphatic system is unable to properly drain fluid back through the system. A variety of treatment options that are effective include compression garments and Complete Decongestive Therapy. Another option to help you manage your symptoms

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12/9/2019
Lipedema

What Are the Lipedema Symptoms?

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Understanding the severity of lipedema starts by identify and understanding the symptoms of this lifelong condition. Many individuals without lipedema do not understand that the symptoms can greatly impact your day-to-day lifestyle. Here are the lipedema symptoms and how they can impact your way of life: Lipedema Symptoms – Larger Lower Legs One of the most prominent symptoms of lipedema is the disproportionate accumulation of fat, often in the legs, resulting in a column-like appearance. Unlike regular fat buildup that may be greater in certain parts of the leg, lipedema

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12/2/2019
Blog

New Treatment for Dercum’s Disease Is a Step Closer to Being Widely Available

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What Is Dercum’s Disease? Dercum‘s disease, also known as Adiposis Dolorosa, is a rare condition that is characterized by multiple, painful fatty lipomas (benign, fatty tumors). It occurs in men and women but is more common in post-menopausal women. The lipomas are located primarily in the subcutaneous tissue. They can occur almost anywhere but often occur on the arms near elbow, legs near the knee and the trunk. Unlike ordinary lipomas, there is also pain that can be severe and sometimes debilitating. It is a chronic condition, meaning that it is a long-lasting condition that is often progressive. Treatment

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11/27/2019
Lipedema

Lipedema Coverage Loses Against UnitedHealthcare

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No matter how much research continues to support the proper diagnosis and identification of lipedema, there is still opposition in the medical community, including from insurance companies for lipedema insurance coverage. Lipedema is a very real and present condition that affects millions of individuals throughout the world every year. If you have been diagnosed with lipedema or face the challenge of finding a proper diagnosis, you’re no doubt concerned with receiving effective treatment and even how to pay for that treatment. A recent court win by UnitedHealthcare seems to have

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11/5/2019
Lipedema

Best Practices for Management of Lipedema

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When dealing with lipedema, patients will not experience a quick, single-treatment recovery but instead a lifelong ordeal that can be difficult to maintain. How you handle your lipedema can make all the difference when it comes to everyday life activities. This Lipedema management is best handled through a variety of treatment options that can help reduce the appearance of lipedema. These treatments also work to decrease various symptoms that can make movement difficult. Initial Steps for Lipedema Management The first steps for managing your lipedema symptoms usually involve more conservative

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10/22/2019
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The Fathers of Lipedema Surgery: Dr. Gerhard Sattler

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While lipedema has been recognized for quite some time now, the idea behind lipedema liposuction is still considered to be a recent development. Treatment for lipedema using liposuction is the brainchild of German dermatologist and surgeon Dr. Gerhard Sattler. He began his studies at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University located in Frankfurt, where he received his degree in human medicine. Dr. Sattler completed his doctoral studies in 1988 and became a long-term physician with Darmstadt Hospital. Dr. Sattler’s studies started a journey that would eventually lead him to create liposuction

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10/16/2019
Lipedema

Relief from Lipedema Symptoms via Lymph Sparing Liposuction

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While a variety of treatment options currently exist to help alleviate and reduce the symptoms of lipedema, it is often lymph sparing liposuction that provides the biggest change. Lymph sparing liposuction is often recommended for individuals diagnosed with lipedema who have not experienced significant results with initial treatment options. Lipedema left untreated, can cause significant damage to the body. When this is the case, we recommend lymph sparing liposuction. What is Lymph Sparing Liposuction? Lymph sparing liposuction is a minimally invasive treatment that uses high pressured water to loosen up lipedema

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08/6/2019
Blog

Aetna – Clinical Policy Bulletin (CBD) Number 0031 Cosmetic Surgery

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There has been some movement from a major health insurance provider, Aetna.    Policy number 0031, which addresses Aetna’s policy on cosmetic surgery was updated on March 29, 2019.  This updated policy does include a subheading for “Liposuction for Lipedema”. The policy summarizes the literature Aetna reviewed when updating the policy.  This literature included the standard of care clinical guidelines from Dutch and German lipedema experts. The policy also reviews studies showing the benefit of liposuction for Lipedema. It is not entirely clear from the update what this means because

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06/30/2019
Blog

Lymphedema Treatment Act

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Currently, most of the supplies needed to manage lipedema and lymphedema are not covered by Medicare. Compression garments, donning devices and wraps, which are critical for the proper care and management of these diseases are not covered except when caused by cancer treatment. These garments are quite expensive and need to be replaced as often as every six months. The lymphedema can be just devastating when caused by an inherited condition as is the case of lipedema or an infection. If lymphedema is not properly controlled by compression garments it

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