This blog post is written by Dr Michael P. Mouzakis
For many women living with Lipedema, the discovery of specialised liposuction feels like finding a lighthouse in a storm. After years of being told to “just diet and exercise,” the prospect of surgically removing diseased fat cells is life-changing.
However, as a surgeon, the most important conversation I have with my patients isn’t about the surgery itself – it’s about what happens before and after. To truly manage Lipedema, we have to move away from the idea of a “quick fix” and toward a comprehensive clinical strategy.
Together with The Private Clinic, we have launched a comprehensive Lipedema treatment programme that is designed to give patients clarity, structure and long-term support throughout their treatment journey.
Understanding Your Lipedema: The Map and the Stage
Before discussing surgery, we must accurately categorise the disease. In my practice, we look at two critical frameworks:
- The Distribution (Schmeller & Meier-Vollrath): Historically, this classification helps us identify the distribution of fat (Types I–V). Knowing where the diseased tissue sits dictates the surgical approach.
- The Severity (Singhal): We use the Singhal grades to assess Lipedema progression. From Stage 1 (smooth skin) to Stage 3 (large contour deformities and fibrosis), these grades tell us about the health of your connective tissue.
Image from Salameh Plastic Surgery
The Myth of the “One-And-Done” Procedure
One of the biggest misconceptions is that a single procedure is a permanent cure for Lipedema. While liposuction physically removes diseased fat cells, Lipedema is a systemic, chronic condition.
If a patient views surgery as a finish line rather than a milestone, they risk a “relapse” in Lipedema symptoms. This is why we have developed the CORE Protocol.
The CORE Protocol: A 360-Degree Approach
To ensure long-term success, surgery must be wrapped in a rigorous clinical framework:
- C – Clinical Diagnosis: We look at the whole patient, including hormonal health and inflammatory markers.
- O – Optimisation: Preparing your lymphatic system and metabolic health before surgery.
- R – Radical Fat Harvesting: Removing the maximum amount of diseased tissue while being “radical” about protecting delicate lymphatic vessels.
- E – Endure Maintenance: The lifelong commitment to results through tailored compression, anti-inflammatory nutritional approaches for Lipedema, and movement.
The Verdict: Is it a Cure?
Surgery gives you a clean slate; maintenance ensures you keep it. By following our CORE protocol, we aren’t just changing how your limbs look; we are changing how you live.
The Private Clinic for Lipedema Surgery
The Private Clinic have over 40 years of experience providing cosmetic care and are dedicated to delivering exceptional care, prioritising safety, expertise and positive outcomes.
Mr Michael Mouzakis is a Consultant Plastic Surgeon based in the UK who specialises in body contouring and advanced VASER liposuction. After attending a Lipedema training course at the Anna Torres Institute in Barcelona, Spain he realised he was seeing many patients in clinic with varying degrees of this chronic condition.
Together with The Private Clinic, they launched the CORE protocol to ensure that patients with Lipedema were receiving specialised care for Lipedema to ensure long-term success.
I was diagnosed Dr J Schwartz. I have been through 3 liposuction procedures. Though it hurts less still it hurts , I have changed the way I eat. I do everything recommended and my journey continues. I am a woman of a mature age and I have excess skin I heard that treatment would not be recommended for mature skin.