Hi friends!
This is the first blog post and social media push that’s coming out of my channels as a result of my work on the Lipedema Education Group. This group is a multidisciplinary team developing educational materials to improve care for lipedema, lymphedema and Dercum’s Disease. More information, like answers to Frequently Asked Questions, Lipedema Basics, Self-Care Recommendations, Treatments, Forums and Blogs can be found from this group at Lipedema.com. I encourage you to join their page to watch for updates and also check here when you’re answering common questions, to make sure the answers are what the true researchers and professionals advocate and have learned. I plan to continue posting content via Social Media to spread awareness of their work, which has been vetted by medical professionals, therapists, and researchers. So this information is the real deal!
Question: Is fat freezing good for lipedema?
Answer from Lipedema Education Group:
Fat freezing—also known as cryolipolysis or CoolSculpting® uses cold temperature to reduce fat deposits in certain areas of the body. The procedure is designed to reduce localized fat deposits that do not respond to diet and exercise. It is not intended for people who are obese or significantly overweight.
Currently there is no published research on cryolipolysis for lipedema. Most lipedema fat is not the type of localized fat deposit for which this procedure is intended. Anecdotally, members of the Lipedema Education Group report that patients who have had fat freezing treatment were not pleased with their results. Lipedema can be treated with a specialized form of liposuction. See the Standard of care for Lipedema in the United States for details.
My personal story:
When I didn’t know what was wrong with my legs, I actually set up an appointment at a CoolSculpting provider, who told me that my legs weren’t good candidates. The areas I needed work on (my calves, mostly) were incredibly fibrotic and the clinician felt that the machine would not even grab the fat to treat it. I had no idea about lipedema at the time and am so glad I personally was declined for this treatment.
Thank you to the Lipedema Education Group for making this material available!
Stay healthy, friends!
Susan
