Lipoedema

Lipoedema is more common in women. It usually affects both sides of the body equally. Lipoedema can make your bottom, thighs, lower legs and sometimes your arms look out of proportion with the rest of the body. In early-stage lipoedema, you may have bigger legs, a narrow waist and a much smaller upper body. Credit: Lipoedema UK You may have a large bottom, thighs, and lower legs, but your feet are not usually affected. Credit: Lipoedema Sometimes lipoedema can affect the arms too, but the hands are not usually affected. Credit: Lipoedema UK. The affected skin feels soft and cool and may be dimpled with an "orange peel" texture. Credit: Lipoedema UK You may also have pain, tenderness or heaviness in the affected limbs, and you may bruise easily. Lipoedema affects people differently. Some people have mild symptoms that do not affect their life. Others can struggle with physical problems, blaming themselves for the changes in their body, and have mental health problems.

There are other things that can cause large or swollen legs. If you have swelling in all or part of a limb or another part of the body, it could be lymphoedema . This can affect any part of the body, but usually develops in the arms or legs and develops when the lymphatic system does not work properly. Sometimes, a build-up of fluid can cause the legs, ankles or feet to become swollen. This is called oedema . In lipoedema, the feet are not usually affected.

If the GP thinks you have lipoedema they may refer you to a specialist for treatment. There's currently no cure, but there are things that can help and stop it getting worse. Your treatment will depend on how severe your symptoms are and how they're affecting you. The main treatments are: eating healthily , doing more exercise and trying to maintain a healthy weight wearing compression stockings or bandages to reduce pain and discomfort, and make it easier for you to walk looking after your skin – for example, by regularly using moisturising cream ( emollients ) to stop your skin drying out counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) if you're finding it difficult to cope with your symptoms and you feel depressed a procedure to get rid of the fat ( liposuction ) if your symptoms are particularly severe – you may need more than 1 operation and it may not be available on the NHS Compression therapy Compression therapy can sometimes help manage lipoedema. A specially trained clinician will assess you and recommend the most suitable type of compression.

Find out more about compression therapy for lipoedema on the LymphConnect website Getting support Talking to someone and getting support can help if lipoedema is affecting your quality of life. Lipoedema UK and Talk Lipoedema give help and advice about managing lipoedema. They can also put you in touch with other people with it.

The exact cause of lipoedema is not clear. It's not caused by being overweight – you can be a healthy weight and still get it. It may be caused by changes in your hormones: during puberty when you're pregnant when you're going through the menopause when you're taking the contraceptive pill Sometimes lipoedema runs in families.