Is Lipedema Surgery Painful?

Lipedema surgery is pain-free, as you will be under local or general anesthesia, depending on the technique used. As the anesthesia wears off, you’ll experience some manageable pain, including soreness, bruising, and tightness. Pain medication will help you tolerate the discomfort.

How Many Appointments Will I Need?

In addition to the initial consultation and surgery, you will likely need several appointments to get the optimal results. The severity of your lipedema influences the number of appointments, the number of affected areas, which areas will be treated, the amount of fat in those areas, and the surgical approach.

How Long Until I See Results?

Most patients begin to see improvement anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on the severity of the condition. Be patient, as swelling can take a long time to subside. Attend all appointments in line with the timeline to ensure optimal results.

How Long Do the Results of Lipedema Surgery Typically Last?

The results of lipedema surgery vary based on the severity of the lipedema and the stage you have. In general, you can expect long-lasting relief, as the procedure removes diseased fat cells. That being said, lipedema surgery does not cure the condition, but it can slow progression and significantly relieve pain and excess fat.

Can I Combine a Lipedema Surgery With Other Procedures?

Yes, you may combine a lipedema surgery with other procedures. Doing so helps you achieve comprehensive results and combines the downtime into one recovery period. You can discuss the options for combinations during your consultation with Dr. Zamani.

What Are the Risks Associated With a Lipedema Surgery?

Like any procedure, lipedema surgery is associated with risks that vary in frequency and severity. Dr. Zamani’s expertise reduces the risk of complications, including infection, bleeding, swelling, bruising, pain and discomfort, anesthesia-related risks, scarring, contouring irregularities, unsatisfactory results, and nerve damage.

Beverly Hills, CA

Lipedema

Introduction

Introduction to Lipedema Surgery

Lipedema can be extremely frustrating to live with. The condition often causes persistent pain, swelling, heaviness in the legs or arms, and fat deposits that do not respond to diet or exercise. Because lipedema is frequently misdiagnosed, it is important to consult an experienced specialist such as Dr. Maryam Zamani, a dual board‑certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills who treats patients from across the Los Angeles area.

If you suspect or know you are suffering from lipedema, you may have tried treatments that were not effective. Though there is no cure for lipedema, lipedema surgery may be the solution that helps you tolerate the symptoms.

Your Procedure Breakdown

Lipedema Surgery

During the surgery, abnormal, painful fat deposits and fibrous tissue will be removed from the legs and/or arms using a specialized technique, primarily liposuction. The surgery will look different for each individual, depending on the technique used. Generally, you can expect the surgery to yield a natural-looking, more contoured appearance.

Recovery

Recovery from lipedema surgery is a gradual process focused on reducing inflammation, maintaining your lymphatic system, and ensuring your aesthetic and functional results develop. Follow the steps Dr. Zamani gives you during your consultation and after your surgery in Beverly Hills in the greater Los Angeles area.

Anesthesia

Local anesthesia combined with twilight sedation or general anesthesia may be used, depending on the technique used during the surgery. This will be discussed during your consultation in Beverly Hills in the greater Los Angeles area.

Surgery Length

The length of your Beverly Hills surgery in the greater Los Angeles area will vary depending on factors such as the area size, the number of areas treated, and the surgical technique. In general, you can expect the surgery to be anywhere from 1 to 3 hours.

A woman with long, wavy light brown hair lies on a smooth taupe floor. She wears a black, long-sleeved top with a ruched waist and matching black shorts. Her arms are bent, hands near her head, with a neutral expression. Soft, diffused lighting highlights her skin, and the floor appears polished, creating a serene, elegant atmosphere. - Abdominal Etching in Beverly Hills, CA

What is Lipedema?

Lipedema is a chronic, progressive disorder resulting from an abnormal buildup of fat in the lower body, primarily in the legs, but it can also affect the arms. Lipedema primarily affects women and is frequently underdiagnosed or mistaken for obesity or lymphedema. There are four stages of lipedema.

Stage 1: Normal-looking skin with subtle pebble-like bumps under the skin. Pain and bruising may begin to occur.

Stage 2: Uneven skin surface with dimpling, resembling cottage cheese

Stage 3: Your legs look similar to inflated rectangular balloons, and large folds of skin and fat have formed. It may be hard to walk.

Stage 4: You have limited movement, are in pain, bruise easily, and are at an increased risk of infection. Your lipedema may also have led to lymphedema.

There are five types of lipedema, and you may have more than one type at one time, depending on where your symptoms are. The types of lipedema are:

Type 1: Fat located between the belly button and the hips.

Type 2: Fat located between the pelvis and knees.

Type 3: Fat located between the pelvis and ankles.

Type 4: Fat located between the shoulders and wrists.

Type 5: Fat located between the knees and ankles.

What is Lipedema Surgery?

There are several possible techniques used in lipedema surgery, depending on the patient’s personalized assessment. The different techniques for lipedema surgery include:

Tumescent lymph-sparing liposuction: Injection of a saline, lidocaine, or epinephrine solution to numb the area, shrink blood vessels, and loosen up the fat before suction with a blunt cannula
Power-assisted liposuction (PAL): Uses a vibrating cannula to break up fat
Water-assisted liposuction (WAL): Uses a stream of pressurized saline to gently dislodge fat cells, reducing trauma for the fragile tissues frequently found in lipedema
Vibration-assisted liposuction: Uses rapid oscillating movements to break up lipedema tissue with less trauma to the surrounding areas
Ultrasound-guided lymphatic preservation: Uses precision-guided ultrasound technology to locate and map the tiny lymphatic vessels before targeted intervention
Circumferential micro-cannula: Uses tiny cannulas to treat the tissue from several angles while preserving essential lymphatic vessels and reducing post-operative swelling
Sequential compression liposuction protocol: Combines systematic fat removal with strategic compression therapy

Patients in the greater Los Angeles area will discuss which technique is best for them during their in-person consultation at Zamani Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills with Dr. Zamani.

What Are the Benefits of Lipedema Surgery?

The benefits of lipedema surgery in Beverly Hills can provide immense relief in a variety of ways for individuals in the greater Los Angeles area, making this a very appealing option for people dealing with lipedema. These benefits include, but are not limited to:

Pain and tenderness relief in affected areas
Reduced swelling and inflammation
Improved mobility, making walking, climbing stairs, and other everyday activities easier
Increased energy due to less pressure on joints and muscles
Better overall motor function, such as tying shoes or getting out of a chair
Slowed progression of the condition, worsening, and prevents secondary lymphedema
Boosted confidence
Improved mood
Fuller participation in lifestyle activities
Easier weight management
Better clothing fit

Who Are the Best Candidates for Lipedema Surgery?

Candidates in the greater Los Angeles area seeking lipedema surgery at our office in Beverly Hills must be diagnosed with lipedema by a qualified specialist, such as Dr. Zamani. Here are other key characteristics of ideal candidates:

Have pain, tenderness, heaviness, swelling, or low mobility from fat accumulation
Did not have any long-lasting success with non-surgical methods
Have otherwise good overall health, a BMI under 35, and do not smoke
Have realistic expectations and understand that permanent solutions are not possible
Can be supported in a healthy environment while recovering

What’s the
first step?

Every patient in the greater Los Angeles area who receives treatment at Zamani Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills requires a consultation with Dr. Zamani. Lipedema surgery, in particular, requires a consultation because it is frequently misdiagnosed. During your consultation with Dr. Zamani, you will receive a comprehensive medical evaluation and diagnosis to determine whether you have the condition. If it is confirmed that you have lipedema, you will work together to create a customized treatment plan that will help you cope with the symptoms in the most comfortable way.

Dr. Maryam Zamani a board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, California.

What to Expect on the Day of Lipedema Surgery

On the day of your lipedema surgery in Beverly Hills, in the greater Los Angeles area, we will welcome you into our prestigious office and have you check in by completing forms. When you’re ready to begin the surgery, Dr. Zamani will give you local or general anesthesia, depending on which technique is used for your unique situation. The exact steps of the surgery will vary by technique, but you can expect the fat deposits to be broken up and removed using a professional-grade device.

You’ll likely feel some immediate pain relief, but you’ll be given supportive garments and bandages to reduce swelling, so you may not notice a significant difference in size. Some drainage may occur, but this is normal.

Depending on the extent of your lipedema surgery, you will be discharged the same day or required to stay overnight. If discharged the same day, you must be picked up by a trusted person who can monitor you and assist with recovery for the rest of the day or longer.

Lipedema Surgery Recovery

Recovering from lipedema surgery in Beverly Hills near the greater Los Angeles area will help you achieve optimal results, so make sure to follow Dr. Zamani’s instructions. Recovery steps include:

Constantly wearing compression garments
Going on light walks to prevent clots
Taking plenty of time to rest
Expect significant bruising, swelling, soreness, leakage of pink fluid, and scarring, which will gradually subside over several weeks to several months.
Drink lots of fluids.
Avoid strenuous activity
Returning to work after a few weeks to a month, as long as your job is not physically demanding

How Much Does Lipedema Surgery Cost in Beverly Hills, CA?

Few surgeons combine technical mastery and an intuitive understanding of beauty quite like Dr. Maryam Zamani in Beverly Hills, CA. A double board-certified plastic surgeon through the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Plastic Surgery (RCPSCPS), Dr. Zamani brings an international standard of excellence to every patient she treats.

Her training spans reconstructive and aesthetic plastic surgery, granting her a rare dual perspective: the ability to restore form and function with surgical rigor, while sculpting results that embody softness, proportion, and grace. As a respected member of the Aesthetic Society and the Canadian Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (CSAPS), she remains at the forefront of modern cosmetic techniques, continually refining her approach to meet the highest standards of safety and artistry.

Why Choose
Dr. Zamani?

Dr. Maryam Saheb-Al-Zamani (known to her patients as Dr. Zamani, or affectionately as “Dr. Z”) is a female, double board-certified aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgeon with advanced fellowship training in aesthetic facial, breast, and body procedures. She has had accelerated career growth, bringing the latest surgical and non-surgical treatment options to serve her patients and teach future aspiring surgeons. She serves on the editorial board of leading journals in the field of aesthetics (The Aesthetic Surgery Journal and The Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum) and has multiple journal and book chapter publications.

Dr. Zamani’s practice is aesthetic-focused, and she offers her patients a unique female perspective and approach. She should be your choice for Abdominal Etching in Beverly Hills and the greater Los Angeles area.

She is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Plastic Surgery (RCPSCPS).

Lipedema Surgery FAQs

Rediscover

Timeless Beauty

If you have already been diagnosed with lipedema or are seeking a diagnosis and treatment to address your pain, swelling, and heaviness in the legs and/or arms from excess fat, you may schedule a consultation with Dr. Zamani to get you started on relieving the symptoms associated with lipedema.

Schedule a consultation

@dr.maryamzamani