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Lipedema Patient Resources
Information, Support & Resources for Living With Lipedema
Living with lipedema can be frustrating, particularly when it takes time to find healthcare professionals who understand the condition. Learning about lipedema, finding knowledgeable providers, and understanding available management options can help you take a more active role in your care.
Body Works Custom Compression has created this resource center to help connect people living with lipedema with reliable information, professional resources, and compression garment options.
What Is Lipedema?
Learn more about the differences between Lymphedema and Lipedema.
Lipedema is a chronic condition involving an abnormal accumulation of adipose (fat) tissue, most commonly affecting the legs, hips, buttocks, and sometimes the arms.
It is distinct from obesity and lymphedema, although a person may have more than one of these conditions.
Common characteristics associated with lipedema can include:
- Disproportionate enlargement of the legs, hips, or arms
- Symmetrical changes affecting both sides of the body
- Pain or tenderness in affected tissue
- A feeling of heaviness in the legs
- Easy bruising
- Swelling that may increase throughout the day
- Difficulty losing fat from affected areas despite changes in diet or exercise
- Reduced mobility or discomfort as the condition progresses
Symptoms and severity can vary considerably from person to person.
Getting a Lipedema Diagnosis
There is not currently one simple laboratory or imaging test that definitively diagnoses lipedema. Diagnosis is generally based on medical history, symptoms, and a physical examination performed by a healthcare professional knowledgeable about the condition.
Because awareness of lipedema is still developing within the medical community, finding a provider experienced with lipedema can be important.
The Lipedema Foundation maintains a directory of healthcare professionals who report that they diagnose or treat people with lipedema.
Find a Lipedema Specialist:
Lipedema Foundation Provider Directory
Patients should independently evaluate providers, credentials, experience, and treatment recommendations. Inclusion in a directory should not be considered an endorsement of a particular provider.
Managing Lipedema
There is currently no cure for lipedema. Management is generally individualized according to a person’s symptoms, mobility, overall health, disease progression, and treatment goals.
A healthcare team may recommend a combination of approaches such as:
- Compression garments
- Exercise and movement
- Physical or occupational therapy
- Manual therapies when appropriate
- Skin care
- Nutritional guidance
- Pneumatic compression when appropriate
- Pain management
- Psychosocial support
- Surgical treatment for appropriately selected patients
Your individual treatment plan should be developed with healthcare professionals familiar with lipedema.
Compression Garments for Lipedema
Compression can be an important part of conservative lipedema management for many patients.
Unlike ordinary shapewear, medical compression garments are designed to provide controlled external pressure and support.
Depending on the individual, compression may help:
- Support affected tissues
- Manage associated swelling or edema
- Reduce feelings of heaviness
- Improve comfort during daily activities
- Support mobility and exercise
- Help manage symptoms when lipedema and lymphedema occur together
Compression is highly individual. More compression is not necessarily better.
The appropriate garment style, fabric, fit, and compression level should be selected according to the individual’s condition, symptoms, tolerance, and recommendations from their healthcare professional.
Which Compression Garment Is Best for Lipedema?
There isn’t one compression garment that is best for every person with lipedema.
The location of the affected tissue is particularly important when choosing a garment.
Options may include:
Compression Knee Highs
May be appropriate when lower-leg compression is needed, although they do not provide compression above the knee.
Compression Thigh Highs
Provide compression through the thigh and may be appropriate when more of the leg requires support.
Compression Pantyhose and Tights
Provide more extensive coverage through the legs, hips, and often the abdomen.
Compression Leggings
A popular option for people who want compression through the legs, hips, and pelvis while leaving the feet uncovered.
Compression Capris
Can provide support through the waist, hips, thighs, and knees without extending to the ankles.
Compression Shorts
May be useful when compression is primarily needed through the abdomen, hips, buttocks, and upper thighs.
Compression Arm Sleeves
Lipedema can also affect the arms. An appropriately fitted arm sleeve may provide support when upper-extremity compression is recommended.
Ready-to-Wear vs. Custom Compression
Not sure which type of compression fabric may be appropriate? Read our guide to Flat Knit vs. Circular Knit Compression Garments.
Flat Knit vs. Circular Knit Compression Garments
Some people can be successfully fitted with ready-to-wear compression garments.
Others may benefit from custom-made garments, particularly when limb shape, proportions, tissue distribution, or other factors make standard sizing difficult.
Custom compression garments are made according to an individual’s measurements rather than standard clothing sizes.
Custom garments should be measured by a medical professional or qualified compression garment fitter.
Body Works Custom Compression can help you understand available compression garment options and determine whether a ready-to-wear or custom garment may be appropriate based on your measurements and healthcare provider’s recommendations.
Finding a Certified Lymphedema Therapist
A Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT) can be an important member of the care team, particularly when swelling or lipolymphedema is present.
A qualified therapist may help with:
- Assessment
- Compression garment recommendations
- Exercise and movement
- Manual lymphatic drainage when appropriate
- Swelling management
- Skin care
- Self-management education
When looking for a therapist, ask about their specific training and experience treating people with lipedema.
Movement and Exercise
Having lipedema doesn’t mean you should stop moving.
Appropriate physical activity can help maintain mobility, strength, cardiovascular health, and overall well-being.
Depending on your abilities and healthcare provider’s recommendations, activities may include:
- Walking
- Swimming and aquatic exercise
- Stationary cycling
- Yoga
- Strengthening exercises
- Flexibility and mobility exercises
- Other low-impact activities
Start at a level that is comfortable for you and progress gradually. Exercise should be adapted to your mobility, pain level, joint health, and overall medical condition.
Trusted Lipedema Resources
There is a tremendous amount of information about lipedema online, and unfortunately, not all of it is reliable. We recommend beginning with established nonprofit, educational, research, and professional organizations.
Lipedema Foundation
The Lipedema Foundation provides extensive patient education and supports scientific research into lipedema.
Its patient resources include:
- Lipedema education
- Patient Self-Advocacy Guide
- Clinician’s Guide to Lipedema
- Provider Directory
- Treatment information
- Research Library
- Clinical Study Finder
- Patient Registry
- Educational videos
- Patient stories and community resources
Visit the Lipedema Foundation
Find a Lipedema Provider
The Lipedema Foundation Provider Directory can help patients identify healthcare professionals who report experience diagnosing or treating lipedema.
Search the Lipedema Foundation Provider Directory
Lymphatic Education & Research Network (LE&RN)
LE&RN provides education and resources related to lymphedema and lymphatic diseases and offers information to help patients locate appropriately trained lymphedema therapists.
Visit the Lymphatic Education & Research Network
Fat Disorders Resource Society
The Fat Disorders Resource Society (FDRS) provides education, advocacy, conferences, and patient resources related to lipedema and other adipose tissue disorders.
Visit the Fat Disorders Resource Society
Questions to Ask Your Healthcare Provider
Being prepared for your appointment can make it easier to discuss your concerns.
Consider asking:
- Do my symptoms appear consistent with lipedema?
- Could I also have lymphedema, venous disease, or another condition?
- Would compression be appropriate for me?
- What compression level should I use?
- Which areas of my body should be compressed?
- Should I use ready-to-wear or custom compression?
- Would seeing a Certified Lymphedema Therapist be helpful?
- What types of exercise are appropriate for me?
- Should I consider pneumatic compression?
- What changes in my symptoms should prompt another medical evaluation?
Writing your questions down before your appointment can help make sure you cover the issues that matter most to you.
We’re Here to Help With Compression
Finding the right compression garment can sometimes feel overwhelming. Different garments provide different levels of coverage, containment, compression, and support.
At Body Works Custom Compression, we specialize in medical compression garments and can help you navigate the available options.
We offer a wide selection of compression garments for the legs, hips, abdomen, and arms, including ready-to-wear and custom options.
Explore Compression Garments
Or contact Body Works Custom Compression for assistance with product selection and sizing.
Important Medical Information
This page is intended for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for diagnosis, medical advice, or treatment from a qualified healthcare professional. Lipedema symptoms and treatment needs vary from person to person. Talk with your healthcare provider about diagnosis and the treatment and compression options appropriate for you.
