Description

Lipedema Surgery After a Prior Operation: 64-Year-Old Woman – Two-Stage Leg and Arm Results

Before Treatment

This 64-year-old woman came to board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. John Larson in Newport Beach, California, with lipedema affecting both her legs and her arms. She had undergone a lipedema reduction procedure with another surgeon in 2024. That surgery treated only the front of her legs and did not include the right thigh, which left her with significant asymmetry and ongoing lipedema symptoms.

Her main concerns:

• Marked asymmetry between her legs following her earlier procedure
• Persistent lipedema symptoms in her legs, including pain / heaviness / swelling / easy bruising
• Untreated lipedema tissue along the back and sides of her legs
• Lipedema of the upper arms and forearms, with excess skin of the arms

Her Surgical Journey

Because lipedema tissue wraps around the entire limb, treating only one surface can leave both symptoms and contour irregularities behind. Dr. Larson designed a two-stage plan to treat each limb circumferentially, restoring symmetry to her legs first and then addressing her arms about three months later.

• Stage 1: Full-leg lipedema liposuction. High-volume, circumferential power-assisted liposuction of both lower extremities, treating the full length of each leg and correcting the asymmetry from her earlier surgery.
• Stage 2: Arm lipedema liposuction with extended brachioplasty. Circumferential liposuction of both arms, combined with an extended arm lift carried into the axilla (underarm) and onto the forearm to remove the excess skin that remains once lipedema tissue is reduced.

How She’s Doing Now

She has healed very well from both stages (photos captured 9 months after her arm surgery). Her leg symmetry is greatly improved, and she reports that her lipedema symptoms have largely resolved.

• Greatly improved symmetry between her right and left legs
• Lipedema symptoms largely resolved in both her legs and arms
• Slimmer, more proportionate leg contours from hip to ankle
• Smoother, more defined arms from the underarm through the forearm
• Greatly improved mobility, clothing fit, activity level

This two-stage approach addressed both the lipedema itself and the unevenness left by her earlier surgery, giving her balanced contours and lasting symptom relief.

Common Questions About This Case

Can lipedema surgery be performed after a previous lipedema procedure?
 Yes. This patient had prior lipedema reduction limited to the front of her legs. Dr. Larson treated the full circumference of both legs in a single stage, which improved her symmetry and her symptoms.

Why is lipedema liposuction performed circumferentially?
 Lipedema tissue surrounds the limb rather than sitting on one surface. Treating the front, back, inner, and outer leg together allows for more even contours and more complete symptom relief than treating one area alone.

Why combine arm liposuction with a brachioplasty?
 Removing lipedema tissue from the arms can leave loose skin, particularly in patients with reduced skin elasticity. An extended brachioplasty removes that excess skin in the same operation, so the arm contour matches the reduction in volume.

How far apart are the stages of lipedema surgery?
 In this case, the leg and arm stages were about three months apart, allowing her to recover fully from the first surgery before the second.

Surgery performed by John Larson, MD, board-certified plastic surgeon, Larson Plastic Surgery & Medical Aesthetics, Newport Beach, CA. Individual results vary.