Resumen

Objectives: Evaluate non-invasive treatments for lipedema through patients' experience and their improvement in life quality, self-esteem and body measures. We evaluated 16 patients that were submittted to cryolipolysis in legs, buttocks, calves and arms. All the patients were diagnosed with lipedema by an experienced vascular surgeon. Introduction: Lipedema is a chronic feminine disease that causes abnormal fat deposition in lower limbs and occasionally upper limbs. Lipedema patients suffer from both physical and psychological disability. Despite the relatively high prevalence (about 20% in some female populations) and the impact on the quality of life, little is known about the disease. There is no known curative therapy for lipedema. The primarily focus of treatment is to reduce its related lower extremity symptoms, disability, and functional limitations to improve patients’ quality of life, as well as preventing disease progression. Materials / method: There is an increasing awareness of this condition, mainly due to social media. Therefore, dermatologists and aesthetic physicians are constantly facing patients with these symptoms, and they have little or no knowledge about diagnosis and managing these patients. We performed cryolipolysis in 16 patients in legs, buttocks, arms and calves; combined with the conservative treatment, that includes oral medication and life habits changes. The results were demonstrated by ultrassound exams, body measures and patients' perception of improvement. Results: We studied more than 10 cases at our clinic that were surgery candidates, but they didn’t want to submit themselves to this invasive treatment. At the end of the conservative treatment purposed by our team, they presented considerate improving on physical satisfaction, quality of life, body measures and fat consumption documented in ultrasound. Conclusion: We purpose a new, available, easily reproducible and affordable treatment with significant and long-term results in aesthetic complaints regarding this disease.