Lipedema Surgery Step by Step with Dr. Jaume Masià

Lipedema treatment requires a specialised medical approach and a well-structured process that covers everything from diagnosis to postoperative recovery. In this article, Dr. Jaume Masià explains step by step what lipedema surgery at Clínica Planas involves, detailing each stage of the treatment: the first consultation, preoperative preparation, the surgical procedure, and follow-up care. A complete guide to understanding what to expect before, during, and after surgery.

How Lipedema Is Diagnosed

Diagnosing and treating lipedema is not as straightforward as it may seem, especially when the goal is to provide the level of excellence that patients with this condition require. To achieve this, it is essential to have an integrated team of professionals with extensive knowledge of all aspects of the disease. This is key to treating lipedema through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach.

In this regard, Clínica Planas has been recognised by the International Network of Excellence in lymphoedema and lipedema, both in research and education, an accreditation granted by an American institution.

We were the first European centre to obtain this accreditation and we remain the only accredited centre in Spain.

This is possible thanks to our healthcare ecosystem, built around professional excellence:

1. 1. a highly experienced team of plastic surgeons specialising in lipedema and lymphoedema
   2. advanced technology
   3. and a continuous commitment to innovation and research, contributing to scientific progress in this field.

Lipedema Treatment: What It Involves

What can a patient expect when they come to our centre for lipedema treatment?

First and foremost, a team of highly qualified professionals. Whether the patient is seen by Dr. Andrés Peñaranda, Dr. Cristhian Pomata, Dr. Leoveanu, or myself, they will be in the hands of specialists who are specifically trained and experienced in this field.

First Lipedema Consultation

1. A clinical diagnosis is carried out during the initial consultation.
2. This is followed by a confirmatory diagnosis using imaging tests, including lymphoscintigraphy and, in some cases when required, direct lymphography with indocyanine green.
3. In addition, a detailed explanation is provided regarding the most appropriate treatment plan for each patient.

Preparing for Surgery

Following the first consultation, a phase of patient education and preparation begins, led by a specialised nurse. During this stage, various measurements are taken, a full body scan is performed, and all the necessary tests are completed so that, when the patient arrives for surgery, they have the peace of mind of knowing their case has been thoroughly evaluated and that they are fully prepared for the procedure.

I personally review the entire process and see the patient again before surgery to ensure that no detail is overlooked.

Lipedema Surgery

The surgery is then performed, with the exact approach depending on the severity of each patient’s lipedema. In the vast majority of cases, only one procedure is required, although some patients may require two operations.

These are lengthy procedures, typically lasting between three and five hours, depending on the complexity of the case.

Postoperative Care

After surgery, a postoperative phase begins that is very different from that of many other procedures. Here, our goal is not for the patient to go home as quickly as possible, but rather to leave when they are genuinely ready and when we are confident that postoperative complications are unlikely.

Why?

So that patients can return home feeling reassured, without the anxiety of wondering: “What if a wound starts bleeding? What happens then?”

Throughout the entire recovery process, the nursing team, medical team, and physiotherapy team work in close coordination to provide the care each patient requires and to ensure they leave in the best possible condition.

This follow-up is continuous, personalised, and very close at hand.

Planas Guarantee: Two Years of Peace of Mind

The entire process is backed by the two-year guarantee offered by Clínica Planas and by the commitment of every professional who forms part of our team. Because it is not only the guarantee of a clinic: it is the professionals themselves who ensure that the journey of lipedema treatment is a shared process, with patients supported by their doctor and by the entire healthcare team around them.

For this reason, any patient who chooses our centre for treatment will find something that, fortunately, we are able to offer and that very few centres in the world can guarantee today.

Ultimately, what patients will find in the Lipedema Unit at Clínica Planas is comprehensive care delivered by experts in plastic surgery, specialised nursing, physiotherapy, and vascular surgery, all working together to provide the best possible treatment.

From the moment a patient walks through our doors until the day they are discharged, they will feel fully supported. Our goal is to deliver the highest standards of excellence, relying on the best surgical techniques, the experience of our team, and a constant commitment to improvement.

Because although absolute perfection may not exist, we work every day to come as close to it as possible.

Here, patients will feel supported, cared for, and, in a way, at home: in an environment where the entire team works towards a single objective — providing the excellence that patients with lipedema deserve.

RECOMMENDED TREATMENTS

Lipedema

At Clínica Planas, lipedema is diagnosed and treated by specialists in plastic surgery and experts in lymphatic system disorders.

Lymphedema

Lymphedema Microsurgery can help correct lymphedema, a side effect that occurs in approximately 20% of patients who have undergone a mastectomy.

DIEP Flap Microsurgery

The DIEP flap is one of the most advanced breast reconstruction techniques available. It uses only the skin and fat from the abdomen, without sacrificing any muscle, to create a new, natural-looking breast.