Lipedema

• Skin is tender and sensitive to the touch. You may feel pressure when walking, climbing stairs, crossing your legs, or sitting for long periods of time.
• The area feels nodular and firm, like a bean bag.
• The surface of the skin has bulges and valleys, like very dramatic cellulite.
• Skin temperature is cooler than you’d expect.
• Your legs feel heavy and tired.
• The swelling is worse during the day, and better at night (when your legs have been elevated while being in bed).
• You bruise easily.
• Veins are visible
• The fat isn’t spread proportionately throughout your body.
• Your feet and hands are normal, no apparent extra fat or swelling. This might give the look of a “cuff” at your ankles or wrists.

Lipedema and venous insufficiency have very similar symptoms. They both cause fatigue, swelling, heaviness, and tenderness. They both tend to cause prominent veins, easy bruising, and discolored shins. Venous insufficiency, in more advanced cases, can even cause venous lymphedema and veno-lipo-lymphedema. Veno-lipo-lympedema is what happens when the lymph system is overwhelmed to the point that it can no longer clear out fatty acids from the affected tissue, and a secondary fat accumulation occurs.

Usually the best way to determine if you have Lipedema or venous insufficiency is to have an ultrasound to check for venous reflux.

There is no specific test for Lipedema. However, there are several diagnostic tests that we perform at BoxBar Vascular. The results of those tests, combined with a physical exam, help us to make a diagnosis.

Stemmer’s Sign Test

We’ll check if we can pinch the skin between the toes or fingers, or not. Advanced Lipedema can be complicated by secondary Lymphedema and may have a stemmer’s sign. This test will help us see if this is the case for you.

Ultrasound

Since Lipedema has many similarities to venous insufficiency, this can help rule out or confirm venous insufficiency.  An ultrasound can detect venous insufficiency. An ultrasound is a painless, non-invasive, and inexpensive test that gives us a lot of useful information about your venous circulation. The ultrasound not only helps us find underlying venous problems, but it also gives us critical information for managing Lipedema. If venous insufficiency is present, it is important that you begin treatment, since increased venous pressures can greatly aggravate Lipedema.