Last week I had lipedema surgery on my calves and ankles. My surgeon, @drariamd, used tumescent liposuction to perform this surgery. This means they first fill the area with a special anesthetic fluid to fully numb and help break up the fat and make it easier and safer to remove. In my case, the lipedema was really fibrotic. That means it had a lot of scar tissue from chronic inflammation. Mine was the “nodular” type, which looks kind of lumpy and was visibly different (more whitish) when it came through the tubing and into the canisters. Altogether, 2.4 liters of pure fat (after subtracting out the numbing fluid) were removed from my calves and ankles. Even with the swelling in my calves and ankles, I could already see a noticeable difference in the fullness when seeing my results. I have some loose skin in this area, which can make it harder to see the full impact, but it’s such a relief knowing that this diseased fat is finally out of this area of my body! I didn’t feel much soreness in my legs right away (as long as they were wrapped and no one touched them 😂), but a few days post-op, the soreness started to kick in. I also had a burning sensation in my heels the first few nights after surgery. Once the soreness in my lower legs showed up, it gradually increased day by day for about a week, but it’s never been overwhelming or something I’m constantly aware of. Overall, I’d say the discomfort in my legs has actually been less than I expected! My lower legs will stay fairly swollen for about 3 months, and it’ll take closer to 6 months to get a more accurate picture of the final results. But even now, I’m already loving what I see and can’t wait to watch my legs continue to transform over time! It’s so comforting to go through these surgeries for a condition like lipedema (which is so often misunderstood or overlooked) with professionals who truly specialize in it. Dr. Aria is not only deeply knowledgeable but also so skilled in treating lipedema, and being in the care of him and the amazing team at the @Advanced Lipedema Treatment program at @The Roxbury Institute has made this intense process feel so much lighter for me! 🤗 #DrAriaMD #ALTProgram #Partner #lipedema #lipedemasurgery *All surgeries come with risks and everyone has to decide what the best option for them is! - @leahhopehealth