Lipedema in the Arms: Symptoms and WAL Treatment in Málaga

Is the fat on your arms out of proportion with the rest of your body, and does it hurt when someone holds you by the arm? You may have lipedema in the arms. Although it is still routinely mistaken for obesity or simple weight gain, lipedema is an inflammatory disease of the fat tissue, and it gets worse if it is not diagnosed and treated properly.

Acting on the first symptoms is what prevents the increase in volume from limiting your movement and turning into chronic pain.

What is lipedema and how does it affect the arms?

Lipedema is a disease of the adipose tissue, better known as body fat, in which fat cells build up progressively and abnormally. It most often affects the legs, but it can also affect the arms. The result is a disproportionate increase in volume that comes with a specific set of symptoms.

Its origin is not fully understood, but there is a clear genetic predisposition. Hormonal change appears to play a decisive role as a trigger: it commonly appears at puberty, after a pregnancy, or once the menopause begins.

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

Lipedema of the arms is far more frequent in women with the condition than in men. It shows up mainly around the biceps, with the painful fat tissue concentrated on the inner and back surface of the upper arm.

Because the skin of the arms is very thin, disproportionate volume becomes visible there earlier than elsewhere. If you have the following symptoms, you may be dealing with lipedema in the arms:

• The shape of your arms started to change at puberty, or got worse after a hormonal change.
• Your arms hurt even at rest, and the pain increases with exercise.
• It hurts when someone holds you by the arm.
• There is a clear disproportion, with much more fat volume in the arms than in the trunk.
• The fat feels firmer than abdominal fat and is sometimes nodular to the touch.
• You often find bruises on your arms without knowing where they came from, or after very minor knocks.

Can lipedema in the arms be treated?

There are conservative treatments that reduce the symptoms and relieve the pain to a certain extent. Depending on the case, they are either a first step or part of a combined plan alongside surgery.

If your lipedema is mild, in-clinic treatments may be enough. Radiofrequency in particular works well on the arms. If the disease is more advanced, surgery is the answer.

One thing worth saying plainly: there is currently no herbal or over-the-counter treatment for lipedema that has proven its efficacy scientifically.

Treatment for lipedema in the arms: the WAL technique

Many women ask whether lipedema has a solution at all. Radiofrequency can restore some of the tone lost when the skin has been stretched, while removing part of the fat tissue. The skin of the arms firms up and, in mild cases, the pain and throbbing can ease.

The definitive treatment, however, is to remove the diseased fat cells. The most advanced and most tissue-sparing way to do that is WAL liposuction (water-assisted liposuction), which uses a fine jet of pressurised water to detach the fat while preserving the lymphatic vessels. It should only be performed by surgeons with extensive experience in the technique.

At our clinic in Málaga, Dr. María Lourdes Yagües assesses and operates on lipedema personally. Consultations are available in English.