Lipedema refers to a condition that causes excess fat to accumulate in the lower areas of the body. Lipedema usually involves the thighs, calves, and buttocks. 

In some cases, the upper arms may also be affected. The condition does not impact the feet or hands. 

Lipedema is a condition that causes excess fat to accumulate in the lower part of the body. Lipedema most often involves the buttocks, thighs, and calves. The upper arms can also be affected. The condition does not affect the hands or feet.

Lipedema may be mistaken for lymphedema, but both of these are different conditions. However, lipedema can develop into lymphedema. Plastic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey provides safe and proven treatments for lipedema to patients in Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and surrounding locations.

What causes Lipedema?

The precise reason for the development of lipedema is not known. However, the condition runs in families and may be genetic. Lipedema develops almost always in women. It typically initiates or becomes worse at the time of puberty, pregnancy, or menopause. Due to this, there may be a possible connection to hormones. 

Lipedema may not occur due to obesity, but over half the patients with this condition are obese or overweight. Dieting can cause a person to lose weight in the upper body without leading to changes in the regions impacted by lipedema.

Lipedema symptoms may include the following:

• Fat accumulation in the calves, thighs, buttocks, and sometimes in the upper arms. 
• Diuretics, raising the legs and support stockings do not help the impacted sites.
• There is usually no inflammation in hands or feet unless the patient has lymphedema or chronic venous insufficiency.

• Pain.

Upon worsening, lipedema can impact a person’s ability to walk. Many people with lipedema have emotional symptoms, such as feeling embarrassed, depressed, or anxious as the lower region of their body becomes enlarged. 

As more fat builds up over time, it can obstruct the lymphatic pathway. This can lead to an accumulation of fluid known as lymph. The condition is called lipo-lymphedema or secondary lymphedema.

Diagnosis

It is challenging to assess and diagnose lipedema. It is best undertaken by a medical practitioner with experience in the condition. Imaging tests, such as MRI, ultrasound, lymphangiogram, and/or lymphoscintigraphy, may be helpful in the diagnosis of lipedema. However, the test results may be ‘normal’ in the initial stages of the disorder. 

It is vital to differentiate lipedema from other similar condition, including but not limited to the following: lipohypertrophy (a condition with similar signs and symptoms, but no edema and pain), obesity, and lymphedema (inflammation due to an abnormal build-up of fluids). 

Advanced cases should be evaluated for other causes of classic edema of the lower legs, such as idiopathic edema, chronic venous insufficiency (the veins have issues in sending blood from the legs back to the heart), postural edema (accumulation of fluid in the ankles and feet after standing for a long time), and edema due to internal disease.

The conventional guidelines for diagnosing lipedema include the following criteria:

• Bilateral and symmetrical presentation with minimal involvement of the feet
• Minimal pitting edema, tenderness, pain and easy bruising
• Persistent inflammation of lower extremities despite elevation or weight loss

Updated guidelines propose a lipedema diagnosis with the criteria as classically defined in addition to symptoms of the upper leg(s) and arm(s), such as a circularly thickened layer of fat impacting the skin. Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey receives patients from Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and nearby areas for lipedema treatment.

For more information on procedures and treatments offered by Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Paul McCluskey and the Plastic Surgery Institute of Atlanta, visit:

• psiatlanta.com
• sexualaesthetics.com

Serving patients in and around Atlanta, Buckhead,  Roswell, Marietta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Signs and symptoms of lipedema typically appear during puberty, pregnancy, or menopause. These symptoms differ between people, but often include abnormal pockets of body fat in both legs, going from the buttocks to the ankles. 

This is typically a painful condition which gradually worsens. But some people may develop minor lipedema that stabilizes. In the initial stages of lipedema, most people have a normal appearance above their waist. However, as the disorder progresses, the torso, chest, upper extremities, and abdomen may become enlarged as well. 

The skin overlying the impacted sites typically appears normal, although it may become less elastic. Individuals with lipedema are prone to bruising easily, likely due to the increased fragility of tiny blood vessels in the fat tissue. 

Lipedema develops due to the manner in which the fat (adipose tissue) is distributed underneath the skin. Fat is spread unevenly in the legs and buttocks, rather than in a normal pattern. There is usually a fatty region on the inside of the knees and the outside of the hips. 

Plastic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey provides safe and proven treatments for lipedema to patients in Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and surrounding communities. 

What happens when a Person develops Lipedema

• The legs appear symmetrically swollen: Inflammation can develop from the hips and extend down to the ankles causing the legs to appear column-like. The feet are typically not affected. 

• The impacted areas feel cool and ‘spongy,’ and the skin is often soft and subtle.

• The patient bruises easily in the impacted areas.
• They may have small spider or varicose veins in the impacted regions. 
• The legs and other affected sites are sensitive to touch. 
• The legs and other impacted sites hurt and feel uncomfortable. The inflammation may worsen in the afternoon, evening, in hot weather, or after activity.

Individuals with lipedema may find it challenging to walk or engage in exercise, physical activities, and other facets of routine life. 

The limitations on mobility may contribute to people with this condition developing low self-esteem and other issues such as anxiety, as well as limiting their social life. People with lipedema often find it challenging to buy clothes as their lower and upper body is quite different in size. 

Common Symptoms of Lipedema

Lipedema causes the buttocks, thighs, lower legs, and at times, the arms, to become enlarged due to an accumulation of abnormal fat cells. Both legs and/or the arms are typically enlarged to the same extent and at the same time. 

The hands and feet are not affected. This creates a “band-like” appearance or a “bracelet” effect right above the wrists and ankles. 

The arm and leg size can differ between people with lipedema, and the disorder can slowly worsen over time. 

Besides becoming enlarged, impacted areas of the body may:

• bruise easily
• feel soft, “doughy” and cold 
• have tiny broken veins beneath the skin
• feel painful or ache or tender

A person with lipedema may eventually develop fluid retention (lymphoedema) in their legs. This type of inflammation can become worse by the end of the day and may improve overnight. 

But the fatty inflammation of lipedema is constant. These symptoms can cause limitations on mobility and psychological problems, such as low self-esteem. 

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey receives patients from Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and nearby areas for lipedema treatment.

For more information on procedures and treatments offered by Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Paul McCluskey and the Plastic Surgery Institute of Atlanta, visit:

• psiatlanta.com
• sexualaesthetics.com

Serving patients in and around Atlanta, Buckhead,  Roswell, Marietta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Lipedema refers to a long-term or chronic condition where there is an abnormal accumulation of fat cells in the buttocks, thighs, and legs, and at times, in the arms. While the condition typically only affects women, it can also affect men in rare instances.

Lipedema usually causes painful fat pockets that are unresponsive to exercise and changes in diet. The condition differs between women. The affected site can be tender and prone to bruise easily. Lipedema can lead to fluid retention in the affected areas over time, causing a medical condition known as lymphedema.

It has not been confirmed, but lipedema is thought to have a genetic basis, as in certain cases there is a family history of the condition. 

At times, lipedema is mistaken for weight gain, obesity, cellulite or excessive lymphedema or is assumed to develop due to lack of exercise. Lipedema can significantly impact the quality of life for a patient. 

Plastic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey provides safe and proven treatments for lipedema to patients in Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and surrounding locations.

Staging of Lipedema

Lipedema develops in stages, and the degree of tenderness, pain, inflammation, and fat accumulation may increase over time. Various areas of the body can be affected in different ways at every stage, depending on the individual. 

Stage 1

The skin is smooth with an increase of enlarged subcutaneous fat tissue.

Stage 2

The skin appears uneven with indentations in the fat tissue and substantial mounds of fat tissue (lipomas) able to be felt and seen.

Stage 3

In this stage, the patient has large extrusion of fat tissue leading to deformations, particularly around the knees and on the thighs. 

Stage 4

This stage is characterized by the development of lipolymphedema. This is a condition in which both lipedema and lymphedema are present in the body along with substantial tissue overhangs on the legs and/or arms.

Differences between Lipedema and Lymphedema

Lipedema refers to a chronic and progressive condition. Over time, it can develop into lymphedema. This occurs as the accumulation of fat impacts the ability of the lymphatic system to drain fluids, inflammatory molecules, and cell waste products from the tissues. 

In comparison to people with lipedema, individuals with lymphedema will find that:

• their feet or hands are impacted
• the level of inflammation is not the same if both legs or both arms are impacted-one limb is more inflamed than the other
• the inflammation develops due to the build-up of fluid in the lymphatic system
• in case the lymphedema is of short duration, the inflamed skin will indent or pit, when pressed with fingers-pressure creates a temporary mark on the skin 
• there is a higher risk of infection development

Other Reasons for Inflammation

Apart from lipedema and lymphedema, there are other causes of tissue inflammation. Therefore, a differential diagnosis is crucial.  

The other causes of tissue inflammation are as follows:

• Obesity: In this case, the fat tends to be unevenly spread over the entire body.

• Phleboedema and Chronic Venous Insufficiency: In this condition, there is the presence of fluid and absence of fat.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey receives patients from Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and nearby areas for lipedema treatment.

For more information on procedures and treatments offered by Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Paul McCluskey and the Plastic Surgery Institute of Atlanta, visit:

• psiatlanta.com
• sexualaesthetics.com

Serving patients in and around Atlanta, Buckhead,  Roswell, Marietta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Patients who are unhappy with the appearance of their breasts after a breast augmentation cosmetic surgery or suffer from complications should consult a plastic surgeon for a breast implant revision surgery. A skilled and experienced breast revision surgeon can develop a personalized surgical plan to address the patient’s unique needs. 

At the time of the pre-op consultation process, the surgeon will try to evaluate the patient’s goals and assess the condition of the existing implants to determine the most suitable technique for the breast implant revision procedure. The patient should take this opportunity to get detailed information about the surgeon and identify an approach that is most appropriate for her. 

The consultation process represents a vital opportunity for the patient to understand more about the surgical procedure. Patients should make a list of their questions and concerns ahead of the procedure to get the most value from their consultation with the cosmetic surgeon.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey provides breast implant revision surgery to patients in Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and surrounding locations.

Implant Replacement or Removal 

The patient’s choice for implant removal or replacement is a key decision taken during the consultation. Women, who have experienced capsular contracture, which leads to the implants losing their shape, position, or becoming taut, damaged or rippled, will necessarily need to undergo implant replacement or removal.

If the patient chooses to undergo only implant removal and not a replacement, she may require a breast lift as a component of the breast revision surgery. The surgeon will evaluate the breast skin laxity and consider the patient’s cosmetic needs to determine whether a breast lift should be a part of the breast implant revision surgery. 

Implant Choice, Incision Preferences, and Anesthesia

The surgeon will often use the incision lines from the previous surgery to remove the older implants and insert new ones. Using these incision lines will avoid the chances of additional scarring in new areas. 

But if the patient chooses implants that are different in size, shape, or type from the original implants, the surgeon may need to make changes to the implant pockets by making new incisions. 

An implant replacement cosmetic surgery procedure will be preceded by a detailed discussion between the surgeon and the patient during the consultation process, enabling them to arrive at the right decision regarding the new implants.

Surgeons typically advise patients to undergo a breast implant replacement procedure rather than an implant removal as this makes the surgery less complex and mitigates the possibility of bleeding and infection. 

For an implant revision procedure, patients are typically placed under general anesthesia or intravenous sedation. They can usually return home on the day of the surgery itself. The decision on anesthesia will depend on the patient’s general medical condition, the extent of the procedure, and clearance from the anesthesiologist. 

Developing Reasonable Expectations

A responsible surgeon will carefully evaluate the inherent cosmetic needs and goals of the patient regarding her breasts. They may show her before and after images of past breast revision surgeries to allow her to develop reasonable expectation about her surgery outcomes. 

Plastic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey receives patients from Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and nearby areas for breast implant revision. 

For more information on procedures and treatments offered by Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Paul McCluskey and the Plastic Surgery Institute of Atlanta, visit:

• psiatlanta.com
• sexualaesthetics.com

Serving patients in and around Atlanta, Buckhead,  Roswell, Marietta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

A patient may need breast implant revision surgery if they are unhappy with the results of their primary breast augmentation cosmetic surgery procedure, or if the implant develops a complication. 

At the time of the pre-operative consultation, the surgeon will explain various facets of breast implant revision surgery to the patient, including its estimated costs.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey provides breast implant revision surgery to patients in Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and surrounding locations.

Variations in Cost

Breast implant revision surgery costs can vary between patients depending on the complexity and length of the procedure. In general, revision surgery is more complicated than the original breast enhancement procedure. 

For this reason, the cost of revision surgery may be higher than that of the original procedure. If there was an error on their part, the surgeon might perform the revision surgery for free. This will depend on the policies of the practice on revision procedures.

The patient’s decision to replace or remove the implants will also affect the costs of revision surgery. Implant removal usually involves a breast lift, which will increase the costs of the procedure. In case the patient requires implant replacement, the procedure will be relatively simpler. However, the new implants will have an additional cost. 

Implant costs in breast implant revision surgery may be covered under the manufacturer’s warranty. However, if the procedure involves the replacement of undamaged implants with new ones as a matter of personal preference, the warranty offered by the manufacturer may not apply. 

Other Cost Elements

Breast augmentation revision surgery costs may differ between practices depending on the geographical location of the practice. 

The real estate and overhead costs in main urban centers, popular tourist destinations, and coastal cities will typically be higher. Therefore, in these locations, the median costs of most types of products and services will be higher, including cosmetic procedures, such as breast augmentation revision surgery.

The costs of breast implant revision surgery will involve the charges of an anesthesiologist or anesthetic nurse if the surgery is performed using general anesthesia. 

The credentials and experience of medical professionals will determine their fee. The patient may receive the procedure at a hospital, an accredited surgical center, or a private surgical suite. The costs and benefits will differ in each option. 

In addition, patients should take pre and post-surgical costs, such as medical tests, specialized mammograms, prescription meds, post-op consultations, and surgical garments, into consideration. While these expenses can seem small, they can add up to a substantial amount and should be taken into consideration in the original cost estimate. 

Insurance and Financing 

Breast augmentation revision surgery is an elective procedure, and it is unlikely that the patient will receive insurance coverage of this cosmetic surgery. However, when implants are used to restore the appearance of the breast of a patient who has undergone mastectomy, the patient may receive insurance coverage. 

All other patients can consider financing options such as medical care financing companies, private loans, bank loans, or credit cards. Plastic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey receives patients from Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and nearby areas for breast implant revision surgery.

For more information on procedures and treatments offered by Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Paul McCluskey and the Plastic Surgery Institute of Atlanta, visit:

• psiatlanta.com
• sexualaesthetics.com

Serving patients in and around Atlanta, Buckhead,  Roswell, Marietta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

At some stage after breast augmentation plastic surgery, a woman may require a breast implant revision procedure. 

This procedure may be required due to medical, cosmetic, and emotional reasons. The candidate should be in good general health and not pregnant or nursing when considering a breast implant revision surgery.

During the pre-operative consultation, the surgeon will establish the patient as a candidate for breast implant revision. Plastic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey provides breast implant revision surgery to patients in Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and surrounding communities. 

Factors to Establish Candidacy

The plastic surgeon will assess various factors to determine a woman as a candidate for a breast implant revision procedure, including:

Ineffective Breast Implants

Breast enhancement is a popular and effective cosmetic surgery. But it may not always produce desirable cosmetic results. Unwanted surgical outcomes may develop due to various reasons, such as incorrect size, shape, and type of implants. 

Sometimes a woman may feel that she was happier with her natural body shape prior to the implant procedure or that the larger breast size is causing problems in undertaking routine tasks. 

In other cases, women may feel that the implants are larger or smaller than what they anticipated, or they may feel dissatisfied with the new breast profile and shape. A breast implant revision cosmetic surgery may be a suitable procedure for such women. 

Patients may also seek a breast implant revision surgery if they want to switch to silicone implants, which did not have FDA-approval previously. These women are also suitable candidates for revision implant surgery.

Surgical Complications

Some women may experience complications with breast implants after their breast augmentation cosmetic surgery procedure. These issues can occur at any stage after the surgery. The risks of complication are mitigated when a highly-skilled and experienced plastic surgeon undertakes the procedure. But complications may still develop in rare cases.

Another problem that may occur with breast implants is capsular contracture, where the scar tissue around the implant begins to squeeze and tighten the implant. In such instances, the patient will need to undergo scar tissue or implant removal. Certain patients may experience implant rupture or leakage due to normal wear and tear or faulty implants.

Implant rippling may occur due to the thinning of skin across the breasts because of hormonal changes or other reasons. Sometimes the breast implant may move from its original position, causing a lopsided appearance. These conditions may not be treatable externally, and the patient may need to undergo a breast implant revision surgery.

Other Considerations for Breast Implant Revision 

Other considerations may establish a woman as a candidate for breast implant revision surgery as well. A woman who is diagnosed with breast cancer following a breast enhancement surgery may require implant removal.

This may be a component of her cancer treatment plan. A woman may also seek breast implant revision surgery due to modifications in her lifestyle preferences. Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey receives patients from Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and nearby areas for breast implant revision surgery.

For more information on procedures and treatments offered by Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Paul McCluskey and the Plastic Surgery Institute of Atlanta, visit:

• psiatlanta.com
• sexualaesthetics.com

Serving patients in and around Atlanta, Buckhead,  Roswell, Marietta, Georgia and surrounding areas.