Lipedema is a disorder that is believed to affect nearly 11% of adult women worldwide.
Despite this relatively common disease, few physicians are aware of it. As a result, patients are often misdiagnosed with lifestyle-induced obesity and/or lymphedema and subjected to unnecessary medical interventions and fat-shaming.
What is Lipedema?
Lipedema is a chronic medical condition characterized by a symmetric buildup of adipose tissue (fat) in the legs and arms that can be accompanied by an unusual texture within the fat that can feel like rice, peas, or walnuts beneath the surface of the skin.
Source: https://www.lipedema.org
How common is Lipedema?
17 million women in the U.S. suffer from Lipedema
Lipedema is a chronic and progressive disease
Lipedema affects 11 percent of the female population
Am I at risk?
370 million women worldwide have been diagnosed with Lipedema
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is usually diagnosed with lipedema?
Lipedema is most often diagnosed in women, with rare reports of men getting diagnosed.
What causes lipedema?
Experts are still trying to understand the cause of this condition. Sometimes it worsens during puberty or other hormonal changes such as when a woman is pregnant or going through menopause. Research is still happening to further understand the role of hormones, genetics, inflammation, and metabolism with lipedema.
Why is lipedema often confused with obesity or lymphedema?
Obese fat is throughout the body. With lipedema, the fat occurs in the limbs. Lymphedema often only affects one side of the body.
How Our Devices Help Treat Lipedema
Sequential Compression Devices – also known as Pneumatic Compression Devices (PCD) – are comprised of an air pump device and associated garments with various air chambers.
The device delivers air to the chambers of the garment to produce targeted pressure in a specific timing sequence. This pressure squeezes the swollen limb and massages fluid in the correct direction, typically back towards the heart.
The pressure, timing, length, frequency, and type of therapy delivered by sequential compression devices are all prescribed by a physician.
Next Steps
To ask our clinicians for more information about lipedema, including how our AIROS devices can aid in your treatment plan or that of your patients, please call us directly at 866-991-6956 or email Kelly and Adie at clinicians@airosmedical.com
NEED MORE INFORMATION? Contact Us Today.
Are you a patient with questions about your device? A DME supplier interested in learning about compression devices? A clinician seeking product information? Please contact us to speak with an AIROS Medical representative.