Lipedema Care
Personalized treatment. Support at every step.
Lipedema can affect how you feel, how you move, and how you live each day. At Tampa Face + Body, we take the time to understand your symptoms and develop a treatment plan around your needs.
Led by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Tom McEwan, our lipedema program offers outpatient surgery and large-volume, hospital-based liposuction for patients with lipedema. We offer both insurance-based and self-pay care and welcome patients from Florida and beyond to our program based in Tampa.
What is lipedema?
Lipedema is a chronic condition involving an abnormal buildup of fatty tissue, most often in the hips, buttocks, thighs, and lower legs. It can also affect the arms. Although its exact cause is not fully understood, genetic and hormonal factors are thought to play a role. Symptoms often begin or worsen during hormonal changes such as puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. Lipedema occurs almost exclusively in women and typically affects both sides of the body, while sparing the hands and feet.
Common symptoms include:
Pain or tenderness in the affected areas
Heaviness in the legs or arms
Easy bruising
Uneven or nodular tissue beneath the skin
Disproportionate fullness in the affected areas that persists despite weight loss
Difficulty walking, exercising, or performing everyday activities
Lipedema care begins with nonoperative treatment. Regular compression therapy, appropriate exercise, and weight management when indicated are important conservative measures. For some patients, symptoms and tissue volume remain difficult to manage despite these treatments. Surgery can be a valuable option when pain, heaviness, or functional limitations persist despite appropriate conservative care.
Your lipedema consultation
Your consultation begins with a conversation about your symptoms, medical history, previous treatments, and goals. Dr. McEwan will examine the affected areas and discuss whether surgery may be appropriate for you.
Together, we will review the areas to be treated, whether treatment should be divided into stages, the surgical setting that best fits your health and goals, and what to expect during recovery. We will also discuss the potential benefits, limitations, and risks of treatment so you can make an informed decision.
We offer both virtual and in-person consultations. At the conclusion of your consultation process, you will receive a customized surgical plan, including the anticipated number of procedures and estimated timeline for completing treatment.
Lipedema reduction surgery
Surgical treatment usually begins with specialized liposuction to remove affected fatty tissue. Treatment is planned with careful attention to the underlying lymphatic structures. Dr. McEwan uses lymphatic-sparing techniques and selected liposuction equipment to help minimize the risk of lymphatic injury. The goals are to reduce symptoms and improve mobility, comfort, and quality of life.
Patients commonly need more than one procedure to address all affected areas. Excess skin is also a concern for many patients, and treatment plans include skin-removal procedures when appropriate.
Surgery in the setting that fits your needs
We offer lipedema surgery in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and in hospitals for larger-volume procedures. The setting is selected according to your health, the extent of treatment, and your anticipated recovery needs.
Outpatient care: Selected patients can undergo surgery in an ASC and return home the same day. This approach can suit patients needing smaller-volume treatment or those who prefer treatment divided into more stages, with less extensive recovery after each procedure.
Hospital-based care: For patients who are appropriate candidates for more extensive treatment in a single procedure, we offer hospital-based surgery with observation or inpatient care as needed. This allows us to perform larger-volume treatment in selected patients with the necessary monitoring and support.
The amount of tissue treated in any session is individualized. Your safety and recovery needs guide the plan.
Insurance and self-pay options
We offer insurance-based care for eligible patients, as well as self-pay options. Insurance coverage for lipedema surgery varies by carrier and specific plan. Plans that cover surgery generally require detailed documentation of your diagnosis, symptoms, functional limitations, and prior nonsurgical treatment.
Our team can help you understand the steps involved in pursuing authorization. For some out-of-network plans, a single-case agreement may be an option.
For patients choosing self-pay care, we will provide an individualized estimate based on the proposed procedures and surgical setting.
Help preparing for surgery and navigating insurance
Preparing for lipedema surgery often involves documenting your diagnosis, completing appropriate conservative treatment, and understanding your insurance plan’s requirements. Patients pursuing insurance coverage have two options for navigating this process:
Navigate the process with support from your care team. You may choose to take the lead in navigating your insurance requirements with help from our practice, your primary care provider, therapists, and other treating clinicians. This includes gathering medical records, documenting conservative treatment and persistent symptoms, and assembling the information needed to pursue authorization.
Work with Lipedema Coverage Connection (LCC). LCC is an established patient-advocacy company focused on lipedema. Its team has years of experience helping patients navigate insurance approval and coordinate the presurgical care and documentation needed to prepare for surgery. Additionally, they have industry leading experience in negotiating with insurance companies, particularly for patients with denials or those who need to pursue out of network care such as single case agreements.
It is important to note Tampa Face + Body and LCC are independent companies with no financial relationship. We share a common mission: helping patients access the surgical lipedema care they need. Working with LCC is recommended.
Recovery and ongoing care
Recovery varies with the areas treated and the extent of surgery. We will develop a postoperative plan that includes compression, therapy, activity guidance, and follow-up visits. Patients traveling for care will also receive guidance on the anticipated local recovery period and follow-up arrangements.
Lipedema is a chronic condition. Surgery can offer significant symptom relief, but it is not a cure. Ongoing nonsurgical care may remain an important part of your treatment.
Let’s discuss your surgical options.
To make your surgical consultation as useful as possible, we encourage you to first obtain an established lipedema diagnosis and complete a trial of appropriate conservative treatment. If symptoms persist despite these measures, a surgical consultation can help you understand the next steps.
Having records of your diagnosis, prior treatments, and ongoing symptoms allows us to focus your visit on surgical options, treatment planning, and recovery. If you are still completing these steps, please contact our team for guidance on preparing for a surgical consultation.
Schedule a Consultation
Call or text: (813) 355-8412
Email: info@tampafacebody.com