"Whether I've gained weight or if I'm swollen..." What is fat edema?
Sep 03, 2024
"Whether I've gained weight or swollen...I think only the legs are getting bigger and bigger."
If you have ever had this concern, you need to suspect 'fat edema' rather than just weight gain.
Unlike commonly known obesity, fatty edema is a chronic disease caused by the abnormal accumulation of unnecessary fat in certain areas, especially in women and increases the likelihood of developing during hormonal changes.
Lim Joon-yong, head of the hospital at 365mc Hospital in Seoul, explained that "fat edema should not be confused with simple weight gain" and that "fat accumulates only in a specific area, and pain is felt when pressed on that area."
Fatal edema usually appears in the legs, but can also occur in the arms, hips, and abdomen. The disease is characterized by the accumulation of fat with bilateral symmetry. Symptoms that may suspect adipose edema include feeling pain in adipose tissue, swelling of the area easily, bruising easily, and bumpy skin surfaces. `In the area of fat edema, fibrous nodules of the size of rice and beans can be touched under the skin,' Lim said.
Fat edema is divided into stages 1 to 4 depending on the stage of progression.
In the first stage, the skin surface looks normal, but it feels gravelly under the skin and can cause pain and bruises. In the second stage, the skin's surface becomes rugged and turns like a walnut peel. By stage 3, a large nodule occurs, the subcutaneous layer thickens, and tissue lumps appear inside the thighs and knees. In the final stage 4, lymphadenoma may occur with adipose edema. Fat edema is easily mistaken for a simple weight problem, but complications resulting from this can significantly reduce quality of life. If fat swelling is suspected, it is important to take appropriate measures through consultation with experts. Improving the quality of life through early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, and preventing potential complications, is the key to managing adipose edema.
If fat edema is left untreated, it can cause various complications. Major complications include walking disorders, lymphoma, venous diseases, flat feet, joint diseases, knee-to-knee bumps, anxiety disorders and depression. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are of paramount importance.
Treatment of adipose edema is mainly done with conservative therapy. There are compression therapy and lymphatic drainage massage.
Recently, liposuction has been considered as an effective option for symptom relief and prevention of complications.
According to a research team led by Dr. Alexandre C. Amato in Brazil, liposuction has been announced to have a significant effect on improving pain, swelling, and bruises in patients with lipoedema. It was published in the medical journal Cureus (Journal of Medical Science). However, the research team emphasized that despite these positive results, liposuction needs to be carried out carefully. According to the research team, the complexity of lipid edema cannot be ignored, and due to the limitations of the reviewed studies, even if liposuction is received, it should be considered carefully.
Director Lim of the hospital also said, "Liposuction for patients with adipose edema should be performed to relieve pain and minimize discomfort in daily life, unlike conventional body correction procedures""Fat swelling is a complex disease, and early diagnosis and proper treatment of it are important, so if you experience symptoms of it, consult an expert immediately."," he said.
If you have ever had this concern, you need to suspect 'fat edema' rather than just weight gain.
Unlike commonly known obesity, fatty edema is a chronic disease caused by the abnormal accumulation of unnecessary fat in certain areas, especially in women and increases the likelihood of developing during hormonal changes.
Lim Joon-yong, head of the hospital at 365mc Hospital in Seoul, explained that "fat edema should not be confused with simple weight gain" and that "fat accumulates only in a specific area, and pain is felt when pressed on that area."
Fatal edema usually appears in the legs, but can also occur in the arms, hips, and abdomen. The disease is characterized by the accumulation of fat with bilateral symmetry. Symptoms that may suspect adipose edema include feeling pain in adipose tissue, swelling of the area easily, bruising easily, and bumpy skin surfaces. `In the area of fat edema, fibrous nodules of the size of rice and beans can be touched under the skin,' Lim said.
Fat edema is divided into stages 1 to 4 depending on the stage of progression.
In the first stage, the skin surface looks normal, but it feels gravelly under the skin and can cause pain and bruises. In the second stage, the skin's surface becomes rugged and turns like a walnut peel. By stage 3, a large nodule occurs, the subcutaneous layer thickens, and tissue lumps appear inside the thighs and knees. In the final stage 4, lymphadenoma may occur with adipose edema. Fat edema is easily mistaken for a simple weight problem, but complications resulting from this can significantly reduce quality of life. If fat swelling is suspected, it is important to take appropriate measures through consultation with experts. Improving the quality of life through early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, and preventing potential complications, is the key to managing adipose edema.
If fat edema is left untreated, it can cause various complications. Major complications include walking disorders, lymphoma, venous diseases, flat feet, joint diseases, knee-to-knee bumps, anxiety disorders and depression. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are of paramount importance.
Treatment of adipose edema is mainly done with conservative therapy. There are compression therapy and lymphatic drainage massage.
Recently, liposuction has been considered as an effective option for symptom relief and prevention of complications.
According to a research team led by Dr. Alexandre C. Amato in Brazil, liposuction has been announced to have a significant effect on improving pain, swelling, and bruises in patients with lipoedema. It was published in the medical journal Cureus (Journal of Medical Science). However, the research team emphasized that despite these positive results, liposuction needs to be carried out carefully. According to the research team, the complexity of lipid edema cannot be ignored, and due to the limitations of the reviewed studies, even if liposuction is received, it should be considered carefully.
Director Lim of the hospital also said, "Liposuction for patients with adipose edema should be performed to relieve pain and minimize discomfort in daily life, unlike conventional body correction procedures""Fat swelling is a complex disease, and early diagnosis and proper treatment of it are important, so if you experience symptoms of it, consult an expert immediately."," he said.
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