Lipoedema is sometimes called the disease of shame because people think that women with lipoedmea are lazy or eat too much or both.  


What many people don’t know, is that lipoedema is a recognised medical condition which cannot be dieted or exercised away. Sadly this condition is often not understood by some medical practitioners.


Image with kind permission from Nicole Lane Art





Lipoedema has three recognised stages and usually affects the hips, buttocks, legs and sometimes the upper arms or abdomen.  It does not affect the hands or the feet.  It can also be painful and bruise easily.  If left untreated, it can progress or develop into lipo-lymphoedema.





Dieting and exercising will not reduce the fat involved in lipoedema but it's still important to do those things because they can help you lose weight from non-lipoedema fat and reduce inflammation.   Exercise helps to reduce fluid buildup, boost mobility, and maintain or improve how well your legs work.




Treatment from a certified MLD therapist can help to stop the lipoedema progressing any further and can improve the appearance of the skin.



A treatment called Complete Decongestive Therapy  (CDT) is recognised as the best non-surgical treatment for lipoedema.   Complete decongestive therapy involves both Manual Lymphatic Drainage and compression.


Manual lymphatic drainage. A form of massage which uses gentle, rhythmic pumping movements to stimulate the flow of lymph around blocked areas to healthy vessels, where it can drain into the venous system. This helps relieve pain and prevent fibrosis.


Compression. The use of stretch bandages or custom-fitted compression garments help to increase tissue pressure in the swollen legs and lessen the odds of fluid building up again.



If you think you may have lipoedema, just call or email to book an appointment where you can have a lipoedema assessment and  a chat with  the therapist about treatment options.