Description

Three-Stage Lipedema Surgery in Newport Beach: 37-Year-Old Woman – Leg, Hip, Abdomen, and Arm Results

Before Treatment

This 37-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. Because her lipedema involved both her upper and lower body, she needed a plan that could reduce the diseased tissue throughout and address the loose skin that reduction can leave behind.

Her main concerns:

• Lipedema of both legs, from the thighs through the calves
• Lipedema of the hips, creating a disproportionate lower body
• Lipedema of the abdomen
• Lipedema of the upper arms, with excess skin of the arms
• Pain, heaviness, swelling, and easy bruising in the affected areas
• Limited mobility that affected her daily activities

Her Surgical Journey

We designed a three-stage plan using power-assisted liposuction, with skin-tightening procedures added where needed for smooth, natural contours. Her legs were treated in two separate stages, with her arms and abdomen addressed in between, giving her time to recover fully between operations.

• Stage 1: Full-leg lipedema liposuction. Power-assisted liposuction of both lower extremities, treating the full length of each leg.
• Stage 2: Arm lipedema liposuction with brachioplasty, plus abdominal liposuction. Power-assisted liposuction of both arms combined with a brachioplasty (arm lift) to remove excess skin, along with power-assisted liposuction of the abdomen.
• Stage 3: Second-stage leg and hip liposuction with thigh and calf lifts. Further power-assisted liposuction of both legs and the hips, combined with thigh lifts and calf lifts to tighten the skin of the legs after volume reduction.

How She’s Doing Now

She has done very well through all three stages, and she reports that her recovery from her final stage is progressing well (photos captured 3 months after her third stage).

• Slimmer, more proportionate legs from hip to ankle
• Smoother, tighter contours of the thighs and calves following her lifts
• Reduced volume through the hips and abdomen, with better balance between her upper and lower body
• Slimmer, more defined arms following her liposuction and arm lift
• Improvement in pain, heaviness, swelling, and mobility

This three-stage approach treated her lipedema comprehensively, reducing the affected tissue in her legs, hips, abdomen, and arms while tightening the skin for a balanced, comfortable result.

Common Questions About This Case

How many surgeries does lipedema treatment take?
 It depends on how many areas are affected and how much tissue needs to be removed. This patient had lipedema of the legs, hips, abdomen, and arms, and we completed her treatment in three stages over about ten months.

Why were her legs treated in two separate stages?
 There are limits to how much tissue can be safely removed in a single operation. Treating her legs in two stages allowed us to reduce the lipedema tissue thoroughly while keeping each surgery within safe limits, and the second stage gave us the opportunity to add thigh and calf lifts once the volume had been reduced.

Can the arms and abdomen be treated in the same operation?
 Yes. When it can be done safely, combining areas reduces the total number of surgeries a patient needs. This patient’s arms and abdomen were treated together in her second stage.

Does abdominal lipedema liposuction always require a tummy tuck?
 Not always. Whether skin removal is needed depends on skin quality and how much loose skin remains after tissue reduction. This patient’s abdomen was treated with liposuction alone.

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