Weight Doctors® Lipoedema surgery

A chronic fat distribution disorder in which fatty tissue increases abnormally, usually symmetrically on the legs and hips, often also on the arms and buttocks. Typical features are swelling and pain on pressure or touch; hands and feet remain slim.

Hardly against the diseased lipoedema fat – it does not respond to diet and exercise. Losing weight is still important if there is also excess weight: from a BMI of 35, obesity is treated first, then the lipoedema.

No. Lipoedema surgery is a specialised procedure that removes diseased fatty tissue in a targeted way while sparing lymphatic vessels and healthy tissue as far as possible. Aesthetic liposuction, by contrast, shapes stubborn but healthy fat deposits.

Depending on the extent, 1.5–3 hours, under general anaesthesia or under local anaesthesia with sedation.

Both are possible. After general anaesthesia you usually stay one night for observation; after local anaesthesia you can often go home the same day.

At least six weeks, depending on your doctor’s instructions. The compression garments reduce swelling, help the skin adapt and help prevent bruising and uneven results.

It is often recommended. Gentle manual lymphatic drainage supports the drainage of lymph fluid and can reduce swelling further. In some cases it is also used before the operation.

Swelling and bruising usually subside within a few weeks. The final result becomes apparent after about three to six months, once the swelling has subsided completely and the tissue has adapted. Results vary from person to person. Until then, avoid physical exertion, wear the compression garments and follow your doctor’s instructions exactly.

As with any surgical procedure, risks and side effects are possible: swelling, bruising, infections and irregular skin contours, in rare cases thrombosis or wound-healing problems. Choosing an experienced specialist and careful aftercare can reduce the risk; it is important to follow all medical instructions exactly.

Specialists in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, surgically active specialists in other surgical fields, and dermatologists. At Weight Doctors® RESHAPE, specialists in plastic and aesthetic surgery operate – all under Our specialists.

With cost coverage by health insurance from €950. As a self-paying patient, the price depends on the extent and the number of regions; you receive an exact cost estimate after the initial consultation, for which a fee of €30 applies under the German medical fee schedule (GOÄ). All prices: Costs & prices.

Yes, under certain conditions: diagnosis by an approved specialty, at least 6 months of documented conservative therapy without sufficient improvement, a stable weight and a BMI below 40. Your German health insurer decides on a case-by-case basis.

That depends on your policy. If lipoedema is included in the scope of benefits, the insurer needs the diagnosis, evidence of therapy, evidence of a stable weight, a medical certificate and a cost estimate from the clinic.

No. We check the requirements with you, compile all evidence and the cost estimate, and submit the application.

With cost coverage by German health insurance in the Weight Doctors® Nationalklinik in Wertheim. As a self-paying patient at all locations offering Weight Doctors® RESHAPE, for example in Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Nuremberg or Eindhoven.