This 62-year-old patient, residing in the Gold Coast, was diagnosed with Stage 2 Lipoedema after years of undiagnosed symptoms. She first learned of her condition during a consultation for a tummy tuck, when her doctor recognised the signs and referred her to Dr. Lekich. Reflecting on her diagnosis, she recalls, “It was such a relief to finally know what was going on with my body.”
For many years before receiving this diagnosis, she had sought answers from her GP regarding her unexplained symptoms – persistent heaviness in her legs, frequent bruising, and difficulty losing weight. Despite these concerns, her condition was never properly identified, with Lipoedema never being mentioned. This lack of awareness delayed her understanding of the true cause of her struggles.
Looking back, she realised her late mother also exhibited symptoms of Lipoedema, though it was undiagnosed. “She struggled with her appearance, constantly dieting, unaware that Lipoedema was the cause,”. Out of five siblings, three have now been diagnosed with the condition, highlighting its hereditary nature.
Upon referral to Dr. Lekich, she began Conservative Management, which included Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) Therapy, wearing compression garments, and extensively researching ways to manage her condition. In February 2023, she underwent her first surgery, utilising a minimally invasive Lymph-Sparing technique. During this procedure, 3.5 litres of Lipoedema fat were removed from her lower legs. She then had an additional 2.4 litres removed in April 2024 from her upper legs along with Renuvion treatment which helps with skin laxity / redundancy.
Her surgical journey continued with an arm surgery in 2024, has expressed immense satisfaction with the results, stating, “Instead of renovating my home, I decided to renovate myself.” For years, she struggled with low self-esteem, often hiding the excess fat around her knees. “I still can’t believe I have knees,” she said, reflecting on her post-surgery transformation.
Experiencing lifelong frustration with ineffective dieting and exercise, the patient recounted, “It was such a mental battle. I could never find clothes that fit, and after pregnancy, I gained even more weight.” Other symptoms included easy bruising and heaviness in her legs, which were consistently misdiagnosed by her GPs. In fact, after receiving her diagnosis, her GP admitted they were unfamiliar with the term ‘Lipoedema.’
She expressed the wish that she had been diagnosed earlier, at age 30 or younger, to have spared herself years of frustration. Since her surgeries, she has become much more active, regularly attending the gym, cycling, and experiencing a profound improvement in her mental health.
The patient believes Lipoedema awareness is critical, as it can dramatically change lives when diagnosed and treated early. In her professional life, she now recognises symptoms of the condition in others and sees the toll it takes on their daily lives. She emphasised the importance of early intervention, particularly before menopause, when symptoms can worsen.
Looking ahead, she plans to continue her healthy lifestyle and may consider additional Renuvion treatments for her arms. She feels deeply grateful for the care she has received and the life-changing results of her surgeries.