Lipedema in the Ankles: Symptoms and WAL Treatment

Lipedema in the ankles is one of the most difficult presentations of this inflammatory disease of the fat tissue. It is routinely mistaken for weight gain or fluid retention, but this abnormal build-up of fat does more than change how the leg looks: it restricts the joint and it affects how you live.

The swelling usually begins around the ankle joint and at the back of the knee. Treating it in time frees the joints and prevents the more serious consequences, stiffness and chronic pain.

How do I know if I have lipedema in my ankles?

The first clue is that the fat does not respond the way ordinary fat does: diet and exercise are usually ineffective on it, however disciplined you are.

The second is the pattern. The fat tissue builds up symmetrically on both legs, and it stops abruptly at the ankle, so the foot stays slim while a ring of tissue forms just above it. Very often the calf thickens first, and the fat then accumulates downwards towards the ankle.

The most common symptoms are:

• Legs that are out of proportion with your weight and with the rest of your body.
• Marked tenderness in the affected areas.
• Hands and feet that stay slim while the limb above them does not — the characteristic cut-off.
• Gradual loss of mobility if it is left untreated.
• Loss of elasticity in the skin.

If any of this sounds familiar, have yourself assessed by someone who treats lipedema regularly. The earlier it is identified, the less tissue there is to deal with.

Surgery with the WAL technique

There are several treatments available to reduce the diseased fat cells in patients with lipedema in the ankles. Topical solutions are rarely of any use here; the whole limb is normally treated in order to remove as much of the abnormal fat as possible.

Lipedema around the joints tends to appear in two steps, with the first fatty layers forming separately in each area. That is why many patients notice local swelling around the knee and the ankle before anything else.

With the WAL technique (water-assisted liposuction) the joint can be freed from the fat tissue that is restricting its movement and causing chronic pain. Because of how delicate the area is, this should only be performed by a surgeon who does it regularly.

The result is significant: the joint is released from a substantial part of the excess tissue, and mobility comes back.

Lipedema surgery for the ankles in Málaga

If the symptoms are affecting your quality of life despite conservative treatment, surgery is the recommended option. The aim of the operation is to remove the dense, fibrous fat tissue, improving both what you feel (pain, pressure) and what can be measured (volume and mobility).

What the surgery achieves:

• Relief from the pain and the feeling of pressure.
• A clear improvement in joint mobility.
• A leg with a proportionate shape again.

Dr. María Lourdes Yagües assesses and operates on lipedema personally at her clinic in Málaga. Consultations are available in English.