Lipedema is a chronic condition that mainly affects women and causes abnormal fat accumulation, pain, heaviness, tenderness, swelling, and difficulty with movement, especially in the lower limbs. Liposuction is sometimes used to reduce the abnormal fatty tissue in people with lower-limb lipedema. However, after surgery, patients may still experience swelling, pain, bruising, tissue stiffness, and reduced mobility during recovery.
Physiotherapy is an important part of recovery after liposuction for lipedema. It may include compression therapy, manual lymphatic drainage, gentle exercises, walking, skin care, and patient education. These treatments aim to reduce swelling, improve circulation, support tissue healing, and help patients return to daily activities.
This study will investigate whether adding Endermologie to a standard physiotherapy program can improve recovery after liposuction for lower-limb lipedema. Endermologie is a non-invasive mechanical massage technique that uses gentle suction and rolling movements to mobilize the skin and soft tissues. It may help support lymphatic drainage, reduce swelling, improve tissue flexibility, and decrease discomfort.
Participants in this study will be divided into two groups. One group will receive only standard postoperative physiotherapy. The other group will receive standard postoperative physiotherapy plus Endermologie sessions. The study will compare both groups to see whether Endermologie-assisted physiotherapy provides a better improvement in swelling, pain, tissue stiffness, mobility, and overall functional recovery.
The results of this study may help physiotherapists develop more effective rehabilitation protocols for patients recovering from liposuction for lower-limb lipedema.
Clinical diagnosis of lipedema confirmed by the treating physician or specialist physiotherapist.
Lipedema stage II or stage III based on clinical presentation, including disproportionate fat deposition, pain/tenderness, easy bruising, tissue nodularity, or lobular tissue changes.
Scheduled for or recently underwent lower-limb liposuction for lipedema management.
Body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 35 kg/m².
Primary or secondary lymphedema unrelated to lipedema, unless clearly differentiated and documented.
Lipedema stage IV with advanced lipo-lymphedema requiring complex decongestive therapy beyond the study protocol.
BMI greater than 35 kg/m² or less than 25 kg/m².
Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, uncontrolled hypertension, severe cardiovascular disease, renal disease, hepatic disease, or active systemic inflammatory disease.
Parallel
Endermologie-Assisted Physiotherapy
DeviceMechanical massage-assisted physiotherapy consists of standard postoperative physiotherapy combined with non-invasive mechanical soft-tissue mobilization using controlled suction and rolling movements. The intervention will be applied to the operated lower-limb areas after surgeon clearance and according to patient tolerance. Treatment will aim to support postoperative edema reduction, pain relief, tissue mobility, and functional recovery. Areas with open wounds, infection, hematoma, seroma, severe bruising, excessive tenderness, or other postoperative complications will be avoided.
Standard Postoperative Physiotherapy
DeviceStandard Postoperative Physiotherapy is a structured rehabilitation program after liposuction for lower-limb lipedema. It includes manual lymphatic drainage, compression garment education, gentle exercises, walking progression, breathing exercises, limb elevation advice, skin care, and activity modification. The program aims to reduce edema and pain, support tissue healing, and improve functional recovery.
Lower-limb edema volume:
Circumferential measurements at 4-cm intervals from ankle to proximal thigh; truncated-cone volume estimation; mean percentage change across both limbs
• Pain intensity
Pain will be assessed using a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale (VAS), where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain.
• Functional status:
Functional mobility will be evaluated using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Participants will rise from a standard chair, walk three meters, turn, return, and sit down. Time will be recorded in seconds, and the best or average of repeated trials will be documented
Tissue induration/fibrosis
High-frequency ultrasonography of subcutaneous thickness/echogenicity
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
This trial is not recruiting at the moment. You can still explore other options:
