Lipodema: a real illness, not a “simple” weight problem!

Long relegated to the rank of aesthetic problems, the lipodema gradually leaves the shadow. Nevertheless, Still unknown. In addition, often confused with obesity or a simple weight gain, this chronic adipose tissue disorder affects millions of women around the world. Nevertheless, “The lipœdemus is neither rare nor Benin. Nevertheless, There are about 11% of the women concerned, according to international estimates. Additionally, Nevertheless, And yet, the word “liposedema” remains unknown to many. Furthermore, This disease is disabling, painful and underestimated, including in medical circles, “alerts Dr. Furthermore, Fahd Benslimane, plastic surgeon in Casablanca, recognized for his expertise in the treatment of this pathology.

A fatty accumulation … For example, which does not obey lipodema: real illness, not “simple” any rules

Lipœdema is a disease of the adipose tissue which manifests itself by an abnormal accumulation of fat in the legs. Similarly, hips, sometimes arms, but rarely from the upper body, which creates a disproportionate silhouette. However, More than a problem of appearance. Meanwhile, it is a disabling, hereditary, hormone-dependent disease, often triggered or aggravated in puberty, during pregnancy or menopause.

What distinguishes the lipœdème from a simple overweight is chronic pain. However, the feeling of heavy legs, spontaneous bruises, and total resistance to diets and sport. Therefore, “Even bariatric surgery, recommended in morbid obesity, has no effect on this particular fat,” said Dr. In addition, Benslimane. For example, “The adipose tissue of lipœdème is biologically distinct from that of obesity. For example, It generally resists different conventional methods. Furthermore, For example, “

Frequent medical wandering

The great drama of the lipœdème is that it is rarely recognized, even by professionals. “This pathology lipodema: real illness, not “simple” remains largely underdiagnosed, in particular because it is not taught in medical or surgical courses,” regrets Dr. Benslimane. Consequence: many women spend years undergoing unsuitable treatments, guilty or sinking into depression. Even today, no specific data exists in Morocco on the prevalence of this pathology. Faced with this, Dr. Benslimane calls for a collective action: “What matters above all is to break the silence around the lipœdème. to train professionals, to better inform the general public and to promote the institutional recognition of this pathology”.

Management exists. provided you are well oriented

Despite this course strewn with pitfalls, suitable solutions exist provided of a good diagnosis and specialized support. Indeed. the treatment of lipœdème rests above all on a global approach: gentle physical activity (yoga, pilates, walking), anti-inflammatory food, port of compression stockings, lymphatic drainage, pressotherapy, even cryotherapy. In the event of advanced forms, a specialized liposuction can be envisaged. “Be careful. lipodema: real illness, not “simple” this is not an aesthetic liposuction like the others, but a medical act designed to relieve, reshape and stop the progression of the disease,” insists the specialist. On the occasion of the month of awareness of the lipœdème. celebrated every month of June, one thing is certain: to name the disease is already to release those which suffer from it. “Lipœdemus is not inevitable. It is a pathology that deserves to be heard and taken care of. Talking about it is already starting to treat yourself, ”concludes Dr. Benslimane.

Questions to plastic surgeon. lipœdème specialist

Lipodema: real illness, not "simple" – Lipodema: real illness, not "simple"

Dr Fahd Benslimane: “At an advanced stage, a severe handicap can settle down, making walking difficult”

Do women with lipœdème in Morocco take a long lipodema: real illness, not “simple” time before obtaining a diagnosis? What brakes do they meet?

Indeed. patients often take several years before obtaining a diagnosis, as they initially think of suffering from a simple excess weight linked to their diet. They undertake sometimes very strict diets. which lead to significant weight loss in the face, bust and upper body, but without impact on the legs, knees, calves or ankles, areas precisely affected by lipodema.

This absence of results creates a deep frustration. accentuated by the guilty remarks of the entourage, which pushes them to “eat less” or to do more sport, thus reinforcing their feeling of failure and isolation.

What are the signs that should alert general practitioners and patients?

The main sign is a symmetrical accumulation of fat in the lower limbs. often painful to pressure, which occurs almost exclusively in women. The arms can also be affected. This fat does not disappear despite weight loss. The hereditary lipodema: real illness, not “simple” nature of the lipodema is around 60%. The evolution is generally done by thrusts, often triggered by hormonal events (puberty, pregnancy and menopause).

What physical and psychological impacts can lipodema have on the daily life of women?

The psychological impact is often major: patients suffer from a deep discouragement in the face of the ineffectiveness of the regimes. despite significant efforts and regular physical activity. They feel misunderstood, even stigmatized, including by certain health professionals who confuse pathology with obesity. This can lead to real depression.

On the physical level, pain, mainly located in terms of legs, become more and more disabling. Many patients report having been exempt from sport from childhood, unable to keep up with the pace of others. Knee deformations can cause frequent falls, even fractures, because of the friction between the two thickened knees. At an advanced stage, a severe handicap can settle, making walking difficult, if not impossible. lipodema: real illness, not “simple” Hence the crucial importance of an early diagnosis.

Is there in Morocco of centers or professionals truly trained in screening and the care of lipœdème?

To my knowledge, there are not yet specialized centers or systematic medical training devoted to lipodema in Morocco. The same observation can be made in so -called developed countries.

It was by chance, in 1993, that a patient consulted me for thick and painful ankles. At the time, I considered this as an aesthetic problem, because this pathology was not taught, even in plastic surgery.

Intrigued by these painful fat deformation of the legs. I undertook research which led to the publication, in 2012, of an aesthetic model of the leg intended to guide the surgical management of the thick legs, adapted to the lipœdema while respecting the harmony of the lower limb.