Information for patients

Symptoms

Lipoedema (also known as lipoedema syndrome) is a chronic and generally painful disease of the fatty tissue of the lower limbs, and sometimes of the upper limbs too.
Lipoedema should not be confused with obesity, lymphoedema or a constitutional variant.
Lymphoedema and lipoedema affect the quality of life of those affected. As they are progressive, it is important to treat them.

Lipoedema
Lipoedema has been recognised as a disease by the World Health Organisation (WHO) since 2018.
Lipoedema is a chronic condition that predominantly affects women and is characterised by a disproportionate accumulation of fatty tissue on the lower limbs, sometimes also on the upper limbs (excluding hands and feet), which is usually accompanied by pain and a tendency to local bruising and affects the quality of life to a greater or lesser extent.
Lipoedema does not respond to weight loss or physical activity like normal fat.
Although there is no curative treatment for this condition, conservative and surgical treatments can significantly alleviate the symptoms.

Symptoms
The accumulation of fatty tissue may be limited to the hips or just the calves, may extend from the hips to the knees or to the ankles, and may also affect the upper limbs.
The pain varies in severity from moderate to severe, from intermittent to permanent. Sometimes no pain at all is reported.
A feeling of heaviness in the affected limbs and swelling of the lower legs as well as a general state of fatigue are also common symptoms of the disease.

Causes
The exact cause of lipoedema is currently unknown, but this pathological condition is inherited in 20-60% of cases and may be linked to hormones (puberty, pregnancy, menopause, contraceptive pills, etc.).
Obesity does not cause lipoedema, but around 80% of women with this condition have a body mass index of over 35.

Complications of lipoedema
Lipoedema can develop in four stages and can lead to the following symptoms:
- Difficulty walking
- Joint deformities (especially knee and ankle joints)
- Secondary lymphoedema of the lower extremities
- A feeling of discomfort and anxiety
- A depressive state
It is important to note that the treatment options currently available can significantly reduce the progression of the disease and its symptoms.