What is Lipidema and how is it different vrom venous edema because of varicose veins?

Lipedema is a condition that causes symmetrical leg swelling and tenderness, often confused with vein-related edema. Learn how to spot the differences and why getting the right diagnosis is essential for effective treatment.

What is Lipidema and how is it different from venous edema because of varicose veins?

Lipoedema is a chronic condition marked by abnormal fat accumulation, most commonly in the legs, thighs, and sometimes the arms. It predominantly affects women and is often triggered by hormonal changes such as puberty, pregnancy, or menopause. Unlike general obesity, lipoedema typically presents symmetrically and does not improve with diet or exercise. Affected areas are often tender, painful, and prone to bruising.

Venous edema (leg swelling), by contrast, is swelling caused by poor blood flow through the veins. In this condition, the valves inside the veins don't work as they should, leading to blood pooling and increased pressure. This pressure causes fluid to leak out of the veins into surrounding tissues, resulting in leg swelling. Venous edema usually improves with leg elevation and compression stockings and may be accompanied by visible signs such as varicose veins, spider veins, or skin discoloration.

The key issue in lipoedema is fat accumulation rather than fluid buildup. However, many patients with lipoedema also suffer from underlying venous insufficiency, which can make the leg swelling worse. In these cases, it's important to treat the venous insufficiency with advanced varicose veins treatments in Dubai like endovenous laser ablation (EVLA), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), or mechanochemical ablation with ClariVein®. Compression therapy plays a supportive role, and in some cases, patients may be suitable candidates for liposuction to manage lipoedema more effectively.