Description

Lipedema Leg Surgery in Newport Beach: 34-Year-Old Woman – Full-Leg Liposuction with Thigh and Calf Lifts, 3-Month Results

Before Treatment

This 34-year-old woman came to board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. John Larson in Newport Beach, California, with lipedema affecting her legs, hips, abdomen, and arms. Her legs were the first area we addressed, where lipedema tissue extended from her thighs through her calves along with loose skin that liposuction alone would not correct.

Her main concerns:

• Lipedema of both legs, from the thighs through the calves
• Additional lipedema of the hips, abdomen, and arms
• Pain, heaviness, swelling, and easy bruising in the affected areas
• Limited mobility that affected her daily activities
• A disproportionate lower body that made it difficult to find clothing that fit

Her Surgical Journey

We began her treatment with her legs, combining circumferential power-assisted liposuction with skin-tightening lifts in a single operation so that the contour of each leg would match its reduced volume.

• Full-leg lipedema liposuction. Circumferential power-assisted liposuction of both lower extremities, treating the full length and full circumference of each leg.
• Thigh lift. Removal of excess skin from both thighs for a smoother, tighter contour.
• Calf lift. Removal of excess skin from both calves to refine the lower leg.

Her plan includes later stages to address her hips, abdomen, and arms.

How She’s Doing Now

She is doing very well at three months after surgery (photos captured at 3 months post-op), with results that will continue to refine as her healing progresses.

• Slimmer, more proportionate legs from thigh to ankle
• Smoother, tighter contours of the thighs and calves following her lifts
• Improvement in pain, heaviness, swelling, and mobility
• Better balance between her legs and the rest of her frame
• Looking ahead to her next stages for the hips, abdomen, and arms

This first stage addressed the lipedema in her legs comprehensively, pairing thorough tissue reduction with skin tightening for comfortable, natural-looking contours.

Common Questions About This Case

Can lipedema affect women in their 30s?
 Yes. Lipedema often begins or progresses around times of hormonal change, such as puberty or pregnancy, so many women are affected well before midlife. This patient was 34 at the time of her leg surgery.

Is lipedema surgery done all at once or in stages?
 When several areas are involved, treatment is typically staged. We treated this patient’s legs first, and her plan includes later stages for her hips, abdomen, and arms.

What are a thigh lift and calf lift, and why are they done with lipedema surgery?
 Once lipedema tissue is removed, the overlying skin may not retract fully on its own. A thigh lift and calf lift remove that excess skin, so the leg’s contour matches its reduced volume.

How soon are results visible after lipedema leg surgery?
 This patient’s photos were taken three months after surgery. Contours typically continue to improve beyond that point as swelling resolves.

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

 34-year-old with lipedema, 3 months after her first stage: circumferential full-leg power-assisted liposuction with thigh and calf lifts. Slimmer, smoother, more proportionate legs with improvement in pain, heaviness, swelling, and mobility. Hips, abdomen, and arms planned for later stages!