Dr. Alexo Carballeira, prestigious specialist in Plastic Surgery and medical director of the Fontana Hospital, has created the Valencian Lipedema Institute (IVALI). A pioneer in Europe, this center aims to give visibility to Lipedema and to advance in its diagnosis and treatment.
For this reason, it has assembled a multidisciplinary and expert team in Lipedema formed by plastic surgeons, vascular surgeons, aesthetic doctors, physiotherapists and nutritionists. This makes it possible to cover the entire process from diagnosis, conservative and surgical treatment, as well as follow-up.
The scientific medical character of the Institute can be seen in the study and research of the disease. Currently, there is an ongoing study (with a sample of almost 1,000 patients) on Lipedema, its treatments and how the pandemic has worsened the health of women affected by this pathology.
The Valencian Lipedema Institute (IVALI) is located at the Fontana Hospital. This hospital, which is a landmark of plastic surgery with more than 30 years of experience, has operating rooms, suites, medical boxes, conference room and the most advanced technology. In this way, the center’s facilities provide comprehensive treatment to patients from Valencia and abroad. Located right in the center of Valencia, next to the North Station, the fact that the center has such complete infrastructures means that patients from the rest of Spain and abroad visit the center.
On the other hand, it is important to take into account that Dr. Alexo Carballeira has become a great reference in the surgical treatment of Lipedema. He is an expert in Reconstructive Microsurgery and has been trained in prestigious national and international hospitals. He learned Lymphedema and Lipolymphedema microsurgery in Japan. He participated in the first leg transplant in the world together with Dr. Pedro Cavadas and was one of the first in Spain to acquire the Body-Jet machine, also known as WAL or ACUALIPO. Therefore, he is one of the most experienced surgeons in Liposuction for Lipedema.
In this pathology, the diagnosis is one of the fundamental aspects, since this disease affects a high number of women. However, Lipedema is very little known, even among professionals. There are many undiagnosed or misdiagnosed women, as it is often confused with obesity or cellulite. This generates great frustration among patients, as well as a worsening due to lack of treatment or because of late treatment. For this reason, the dissemination and training being carried out by the Valencian Lipedema Institute is very important. In this sense, the role played by Dr. Ignacio Sánchez Nevárez, an expert in Vascular Surgery, who is also part of the Angiology and Vascular Surgery Unit of the Hospital La Fe in Valencia, is fundamental.
Lipedema or Painful Fat Syndrome is a disease of the lax connective tissue identified by an increase of fat in the buttocks, hips and extremities, giving rise to unbalanced silhouettes. Lipedemic tissue can be very painful and does not respond significantly to diet, exercise or bariatric surgery. The origin is unclear, as there is a genetic and hormonal component. In fact, it usually manifests or worsens at puberty, pregnancy, menopause, when taking the contraceptive pill, etc.
Characteristic symptoms of Lipedema
- Increase of localized fat in the affected area.
- Disproportion of the affected area in relation to the rest of the body.
- Swelling and swelling
- Subcutaneous cellular tissue with hard nodules
- Spontaneous pain or pain on palpation
- Telangiectasias (spider veins)
- Decreased skin elasticity
- Decreased knee and ankle flexion
- Hands and feet unaffected
- Wrist and ankle bracelet sign
Treatment of Lipedema
Lipedema has no cure at present. However, there are treatments aimed at improving symptoms and slowing progression. There are conservative treatments that can reduce symptoms and relieve some of the pain. Depending on the case, these may be an initial step or part of a combined treatment with surgery.
Conservative treatment consists mainly of:
- Wearing compression stockings
- Performing low-impact sports
- Following an appropriate diet
- Specialized physiotherapy plans
Surgical treatment of Lipedema is performed by removing the diseased adipose tissue through a specific Liposuction. Water liposuction, also known as WAL liposuction or Body-Jet liposuction, is the most appropriate technique, because it favors the detachment of fat cells without damaging the lymphatic ducts. However, Dr. Alexo Carballeira and IVALI experts combine it with other liposuction techniques depending on the patient’s characteristics, such as vibroliposuction (PAL) and manual lipedema extraction (MLE).
IVALI collaborates with the Lymphedema Lipedema patient associations in Spain. Specifically, in the Valencian Community with ACVEL, but also with: AGL in Galicia, ALIPEMUR in the region of Murcia, LINFACALL in Catalonia, AMAL in Madrid, with ADALIPE and the Spanish Federation of Lymphedema Lipedema Associations (FEDEAL). The common objective is to give visibility to this disease, to advance in its research, treatment and to support affected women.