Stage 3 Lipedema

Stages Of Lipedema: Stage 3 Lipedema

Stage 3: This is the advanced stage of lipedema, which is characterized by fatty tissue volumes that have significantly increased and increasingly become hardened and firm, referred to as lipedema fibrosis. Significant distortion of the fatty tissue begins to develop, along with large overhanging folds or lobes of skin and fatty tissue, particularly around the knees and thighs. The fatty tissue on legs may begin to stick out, making it hard to find properly fitting clothes, to walk and negatively impacts overall mobility. Severe bruising can occur from even minor contact, while the affected tissues become extremely painful and tender. During this stage, the lymphatic system oftentimes becomes compromised, leading to the accumulation of fluid within the tissues. On top of the physical symptoms, stage 3 lipedema oftentimes leads to significant emotional distress, which manifests in depression, anxiety and social isolation. Treatment at this stage will likely be more aggressive to help manage the symptoms and slow progression. The effects of having stage 3 lipedema cannot be reversed, but proper treatment will help reduce the discomfort and improve quality of life. In addition to pain medications and anti-inflammatories, complete decongestive therapy combined with layered compression probably will be introduced. Treating stage 3 lipedema will often require surgical treatment such as liposuction and skin reduction surgery.

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