Lipedema: Clinical Features, Diagnosis, and Management
Lipedema is an adipose tissue disorder that principally affects women and is frequently misidentified as obesity or lymphedema. There have been relatively few studies that have precisely defined the pathogenesis, epidemiology, and treatment approaches for lipedema. However, successfully recognizing...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
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| Series: | Archives of Plastic Surgery |
| Online Access: | http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/a-2530-5875 |
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| author | Hatan Hisham Mortada Abdulmalek W. Alhithlool Nouf Z. AlBattal Rashika K. Shetty Ghaleb A. AL-Mekhlafi Joon Pio Hong Feras Alshomer |
| author_facet | Hatan Hisham Mortada Abdulmalek W. Alhithlool Nouf Z. AlBattal Rashika K. Shetty Ghaleb A. AL-Mekhlafi Joon Pio Hong Feras Alshomer |
| author_sort | Hatan Hisham Mortada |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Lipedema is an adipose tissue disorder that principally affects women and is frequently misidentified as obesity or lymphedema. There have been relatively few studies that have precisely defined the pathogenesis, epidemiology, and treatment approaches for lipedema. However, successfully recognizing lipedema as a distinct condition is important for proper management. This review aimed to examine the existing literature on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, and treatments for lipedema. The current research indicates that lipedema appears to be a clinical entity related to genetic factors and fat distribution, although distinct from lymphedema and obesity. Some available treatments include complex decongestive physiotherapy, liposuction, and laser-assisted lipolysis. The management of lipedema is complex and differs from that of lymphedema. Further high-quality randomized controlled trials are urgently needed to continue advancing our understanding of this often neglected disease and exploring optimal medical and surgical treatment regimens tailored specifically for lipedema patients. In summary, despite frequent misdiagnosis, enhanced recognition, and research into customized therapeutic strategies for this poorly characterized but likely underdiagnosed disorder represent promising steps forward. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d8efe3a49a6244e3b25e3e7d3469397d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2234-6163 2234-6171 |
| language | English |
| publisher | Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Archives of Plastic Surgery |
| spelling | doaj-art-d8efe3a49a6244e3b25e3e7d3469397d2025-02-12T01:13:40ZengThieme Medical Publishers, Inc.Archives of Plastic Surgery2234-61632234-617110.1055/a-2530-5875Lipedema: Clinical Features, Diagnosis, and ManagementHatan Hisham Mortada0Abdulmalek W. Alhithlool1Nouf Z. AlBattal2Rashika K. Shetty3Ghaleb A. AL-Mekhlafi4Joon Pio Hong5Feras Alshomer6Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCollege of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, Saudi ArabiaCollege of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaSchool of Mediicne, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United StatesCollege of Medicine, Fakeeh College for Medical Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaDivision of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, Songpa-gu, Korea (the Republic of)Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Asan Medical CenterLipedema is an adipose tissue disorder that principally affects women and is frequently misidentified as obesity or lymphedema. There have been relatively few studies that have precisely defined the pathogenesis, epidemiology, and treatment approaches for lipedema. However, successfully recognizing lipedema as a distinct condition is important for proper management. This review aimed to examine the existing literature on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, and treatments for lipedema. The current research indicates that lipedema appears to be a clinical entity related to genetic factors and fat distribution, although distinct from lymphedema and obesity. Some available treatments include complex decongestive physiotherapy, liposuction, and laser-assisted lipolysis. The management of lipedema is complex and differs from that of lymphedema. Further high-quality randomized controlled trials are urgently needed to continue advancing our understanding of this often neglected disease and exploring optimal medical and surgical treatment regimens tailored specifically for lipedema patients. In summary, despite frequent misdiagnosis, enhanced recognition, and research into customized therapeutic strategies for this poorly characterized but likely underdiagnosed disorder represent promising steps forward.http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/a-2530-5875 |
| spellingShingle | Hatan Hisham Mortada Abdulmalek W. Alhithlool Nouf Z. AlBattal Rashika K. Shetty Ghaleb A. AL-Mekhlafi Joon Pio Hong Feras Alshomer Lipedema: Clinical Features, Diagnosis, and Management Archives of Plastic Surgery |
| title | Lipedema: Clinical Features, Diagnosis, and Management |
| title_full | Lipedema: Clinical Features, Diagnosis, and Management |
| title_fullStr | Lipedema: Clinical Features, Diagnosis, and Management |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lipedema: Clinical Features, Diagnosis, and Management |
| title_short | Lipedema: Clinical Features, Diagnosis, and Management |
| title_sort | lipedema clinical features diagnosis and management |
| url | http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/a-2530-5875 |
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