When I first started researching into surgery options for Lipedema sufferers, I came across Lipemedical in Madrid on the Lipoedema UK website. They are Lipedema specialists and perform WAL Liposuction on women at all stages in their journey – from early stage 1 Lipedema to the latter stage 3 Lipedema.
Getting an Appointment
After a lot of research, I decided that Lipemedical was the surgeon I wanted to use. The first step was to book in for a video consultation so they could diagnose the condition. I already had a diagnosis from a Lymphedema nurse in the UK. However, Lipemedical insisted on having a video consultation to determine whether surgery was the right option for me.
This instantly made me feel like Lipemedical wasn’t just looking to make money and really want to help women living with Lipedema. It put me at ease and I therefore trusted whatever they had to say.
Due to a considerable increase in the awareness around Lipedema in the past couple of years, Lipemedical have become more and more popular. While this is brilliant because it means they are helping more women suffering with this isolating condition, but it also meant that there was a long wait for a video consultation appointment.
I booked the appointment in October 2022, but they didn’t have any available appointments until January 2023. It’s definitely worth it though, it comes around before you know it. It made me think that there must be a reason why the wait is so long, to me it proved that Lipemedical are experts in what they do.
Preparation for the video consultation
Prior to the appointment, you must take several photos showing your affected areas. The Lipemedical team were really helpful and gave me clear instructions on what photos they needed of my legs, bum and arms.
I felt really embarrassed sending the photos over, it’s a part of my body that I’ve always tried to hide. However, I’m now glad I have them to look back on and I can make comparisons once I’ve had my first WAL Liposuction surgery later this year.
On the day of the appointment, Dr Hernandez from Lipemedical video called me via WhatsApp. She instantly put me at ease with her warm demeanour. The first 10 minutes was spent answering various questions about when I believe I started with the condition and a breakdown of my symptoms. She was extremely thorough which once again made me feel at ease.
She then took a look at the photos I sent over while I was on the call. She concluded that I had stage 2 Lipedema without question. Based on the plethora of symptoms I had already described, and after looking at the photos showing the clear disproportion in my upper and lower body, she said there was no doubt that I had it.
Conservative Measures
To finish the video consultation, Dr Hernandez ran through my options with me. She mentioned several conservative measures I could try, such as wearing compression garments and an anti-inflammatory diet. She then asked if I would be looking to go down the surgery route in the near future.
When I responded yes, she explained what that would consist of and told me that the team would send over all the documentation via email for me to read through at my own leisure. She made it clear this was a huge decision and I didn’t feel pressured at any point to make a decision there and then.
My experience with Lipemedical from the very first contact has been incredible. The team are always at the end of an email if I have any questions or queries. The video consultation itself was a lot less distressing than I thought it would be.
If you’re interested in treating your Lipedema with WAL Liposuction to relieve some of the painful symptoms and improve the anatomy of your affected limbs, send me an email on sophie@lipedemaandme.com and I will send over some more information.
Disclaimer: My blogs talk about Lipedema, diet, surgery and much more. I’m talking from my point of view to help women, and remind them they are not alone. I am not a medical professional, so the content above is from my own perspective with research I have done into the topic. It’s not meant as medical advice, you should always consult your doctor or a specialist for both your diagnosis, and a treatment plan.