What we can improve.
Lipoedema is a condition affecting fatty tissue, mainly in women. It usually develops on both legs and sometimes the arms, with tenderness to pressure, easy bruising and a feeling of heaviness. The feet are usually unaffected, although other conditions causing swelling can coexist.
Diagnosis is based on your history and examination. We assess when symptoms began, their relationship to hormonal changes, how they affect mobility and which treatments you have tried. We also distinguish lipoedema from obesity and venous or lymphatic problems, which can coexist and need their own approach.
Options and scars.
Treatment can include adapted physical activity, skin care, compression and measures to manage pain and swelling. Looking after your weight supports general health, although it does not always change lipoedema fat to the same extent as fat elsewhere.
When conservative measures are insufficient and surgery is appropriate, specialised liposuction may be considered to reduce affected tissue. The extent, symptoms, skin and your general health determine the plan. For extensive cases, staged treatment may be more suitable; removing more fat in one session is not necessarily better.
What recovery involves.
The first few days
Swelling, bruising and tenderness in the treated areas are expected after surgery. Before the operation, we will arrange initial help, compression garments and follow-up appointments. Gentle walking, as advised, usually forms part of care from the outset; prolonged immobility is not the aim.
Returning to your routine
A desk job may require around one to two weeks or more away from work, depending on the extent and your progress. Prolonged standing, travel or physical work may need a different plan. Exercise is resumed gradually, with intensity adjusted at follow-up appointments rather than simply when bruising has disappeared.
How the result develops
Compression and, where appropriate, lymphatic drainage are prescribed according to your tissues and symptoms. Swelling takes months to settle, and managing lipoedema may continue to require maintenance measures. Follow-up assesses pain, mobility and comfort as well as the change in volume.
Safety and possible risks.
Planning pays particular attention to lymphatic circulation, skin condition and the risk of thrombosis. Choosing the areas and stages allows us to adapt the extent of surgery to your situation. Liposuction technologies do not replace this assessment.
Fluid collections, irregularities or excess skin may occur, alongside bleeding, infection and changes in sensation. Damage to lymphatic drainage can cause persistent swelling and needs consideration when choosing the technique. We will explain what we are monitoring and how to seek advice if recovery differs from what was expected. Surgery may improve symptoms and volume, but lipoedema is a chronic condition and may require ongoing follow-up and care.
What we will discuss.
- Which symptoms limit you most.
- Which conservative treatments you have tried and how they helped.
- Which other causes of swelling need assessing.
- The aims and aftercare for each stage of treatment.
Frequently asked questions.
Does everyone with large legs have lipoedema?
No. The distribution of volume is only one part of the assessment. Pain, easy bruising, how the condition has developed and examination help distinguish it from other causes.
Do I need to lose weight before surgery?
This depends on your health and whether you are also overweight. Stabilising your weight may help reduce risks and plan treatment, without attributing all your symptoms to diet.
Is surgery always completed in one session?
No. If several areas or a large volume need treatment, dividing it into stages may be preferable. We will discuss the order, the aims of each stage and recovery between them.
Keep exploring.
Revisión inicial del contenido: Dr. Luis Martín Suárez · 2026-09-13
Timeframes are a guide. The technique, suitability and aftercare are agreed during consultation according to your case and progress.