Lipoedema & Liposuction
Lipoedema is a chronic condition that causes a disproportionate and often painful accumulation of fat, most commonly affecting the hips, thighs and legs and, in some patients, the arms. It usually affects both sides symmetrically, often stops at the ankles or wrists and can occur in people who are otherwise a healthy weight.
The affected tissues may feel heavy, tender or painful and often bruise easily. As the condition progresses, increasing tissue volume can affect mobility, joint function, clothing choices and quality of life. Some patients also develop associated swelling or secondary lymphoedema.
Who may be suitable for treatment?
Liposuction may be considered for selected patients with a confirmed diagnosis of lipoedema whose symptoms remain significant despite appropriate non-surgical management.
Suitable patients should generally:
- Have a diagnosis confirmed by a clinician experienced in lipoedema
- Be in good general health
- Have a stable and sustainable weight
- Have realistic expectations about the benefits and limitations of surgery
- Have tried appropriate conservative treatment
- Be willing to follow a structured programme of compression, rehabilitation and follow-up
- Understand that more than one operation may be required
Before considering surgery, it is important to distinguish lipoedema from obesity, lymphoedema, venous disease and other causes of limb enlargement or swelling.
Non-surgical treatment
Lipoedema is initially managed with measures designed to control symptoms and maintain function. These may include:
- Individually fitted compression garments
- Regular low-impact exercise, such as walking, swimming or cycling
- Maintaining a healthy and stable weight
- Skin care
- Pain management
- Manual or simple lymphatic drainage when clinically appropriate
- Psychological support where the condition affects confidence or emotional wellbeing
These measures do not remove the abnormal fat, but they may reduce discomfort, support the tissues and improve mobility.
How is lipoedema liposuction different?
Liposuction for lipoedema is not the same as routine cosmetic liposuction. It is a specialist, volume-reduction procedure intended to reduce painful or functionally limiting lipoedema tissue while protecting the blood vessels, nerves and lymphatic system as far as possible.
Fluid containing local anaesthetic and adrenaline is introduced into the tissues before fat is removed through small incisions using fine cannulas. The operation is carefully planned around the distribution of the condition rather than simply treating isolated cosmetic areas.
The aims of surgery include:
- Reducing pain, pressure and heaviness
- Improving mobility and physical function
- Reducing rubbing and skin-fold irritation
- Improving limb proportions
- Making compression garments and clothing easier to wear
- Improving quality of life
Liposuction is not a cure for lipoedema and cannot guarantee that symptoms will not progress or recur. Healthy living, weight stability and ongoing conservative management remain important after surgery.
Staged surgery
Treating lipoedema often involves much larger areas than cosmetic liposuction. For safety, the treatment may need to be divided into two or more operations, with each procedure addressing a different part of the legs, thighs or arms.
Staging limits the volume treated during one operation, allows the body to recover and gives the skin and tissues time to settle. The number and timing of procedures depend on the extent of lipoedema, your general health and the response to each stage.
Compression garments after surgery
Compression is a central part of recovery rather than an optional extra. A correctly fitted garment helps:
- Control swelling
- Reduce discomfort
- Support the tissues while they heal
- Encourage the skin to adapt to the new contour
- Reduce fluid accumulation
- Improve mobility during recovery
- Minimise contour irregularities
Garments are usually worn continuously during the early postoperative period and then during the daytime for a further period. The exact type, pressure and duration must be prescribed individually. Some patients may need compression for several months or continue using it longer-term to control their underlying lipoedema.
Garments must fit correctly. Excessively tight or poorly positioned compression can cause pain, pressure injury or impaired circulation. Your garment will therefore be selected and reviewed with the surgical or lymphoedema team.
Massage and lymphatic therapy
Specialist postoperative massage may help manage swelling, tissue firmness and discomfort. Manual lymphatic drainage is a gentle technique designed to encourage fluid movement through functioning lymphatic pathways.
Massage should only begin when advised by the surgical team and should be performed by a therapist appropriately trained in postoperative lymphatic care and familiar with lipoedema. Vigorous or deep massage over newly treated tissues can increase pain, bruising and inflammation and should be avoided.
Your therapist may also teach you gentle self-massage techniques for use at home. Massage is most effective when combined with compression, movement, skin care and the wider rehabilitation plan.
Recovery
The extent of recovery depends on the areas treated and the volume removed. It is normal to experience:
- Considerable swelling and bruising
- Tenderness, aching or a burning sensation
- Temporary numbness or altered sensation
- Leakage of fluid from the small incisions during the first few days
- Firmness or lumpiness as the tissues heal
- Tiredness following more extensive treatment
Gentle walking is encouraged from the beginning to support circulation and reduce the risk of blood clots. Patients having limited treatment may return to desk-based work within approximately one to two weeks, while more extensive procedures may require two to four weeks or longer.
Strenuous exercise and heavy lifting are usually avoided for approximately four to six weeks. Swelling may fluctuate for several months, and the final result should not be assessed until the tissues have fully settled.
Some patients are left with loose skin after substantial volume reduction and may later consider an arm lift, thigh lift or another skin-removal procedure.
A carefully coordinated approach
Lipoedema treatment requires more than an operation. I believe surgery should form part of a coordinated plan involving accurate diagnosis, careful patient selection, specialist liposuction, appropriate compression, lymphatic therapy and long-term follow-up.
Before & After
Coming soon
Before-and-after photographs are shared only with each patient’s consent. Examples will be added here in due course — in the meantime, Dr Borges is happy to discuss expected results at your consultation.
Liposuction is a private, cosmetic procedure. An exact quote follows your consultation and depends on the number of areas treated, with a price guide available on request. NHS funding is not available for cosmetic liposuction.
Book a ConsultationLocations
Consultations and surgery take place at accredited hospitals and clinics across Kent and London, with consultations available in English, Portuguese and Spanish.
Nuffield Health Tunbridge Wells Hospital
Kingswood Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 4UL
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Wells Health, Fordcombe Hospital
Fordcombe Road, Fordcombe, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN3 0RD
Google Map →Wells Health, Tunbridge Wells Hospital
Tonbridge Road, Pembury, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 4QJ
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