Stages of lipedema: Understanding and recognizing

Understand the stages and types of lipedema

If you have been diagnosed with lipedema, you can begin your journey into a new life without pain, frustration and self-doubt. Our circular and radical approach guarantees you a lasting and stable surgical result. To create an individually tailored surgical strategy, we first determine the stage, location and symptoms.

Darstellung der Lipödem-Stadien am Arm von Stadium I bis III.

There are three stages and four types of lipedema. However, our experience shows that every finding is different and therefore the standardized surgical procedure is tailored to each patient individually.

Skizze der vier Typen des Lipödems je nach Ausbreitung am Körper.

Stages of lipedema

The three stages of lipedema describe the structure of the tissue and the texture of the skin. The degree of severity is defined based on the surface of the skin and the palpable findings. Unfortunately, the common classification says nothing about the symptoms of the patients. Especially in the early stages with comparatively minor findings, massive pain can significantly limit mobility, quality of life and joy of life! In these patients, the disease is often misunderstood and the diagnosis is not made. This means that these women are often denied the opportunity of an initial, pain-relieving conservative therapy with custom-made compression stockings.


Stadium I:

Subcutaneous fat tissue thickened, possibly small nodules: skin surface still smooth


Stadium II:

Subcutaneous fat tissue changed into coarse nodular structures: skin surface dimpled and uneven


Stadium III:

Tissue even coarser and harder: Flap formation of the skin on the inside of the leg

Types of lipedema


When determining the four types of lipedema, the affected parts of the body are taken into account:


Type 1:

The subcutaneous fat is particularly increased in the buttocks and hips area. The result is what is known as saddlebags.


Type 2:

The lipedema has spread to the knees. There is increased fat formation on the inside of the knees.


Type 3:

The disease extends from the hips to the ankles. However, the feet always remain slim (except for lipedema-related dorsal foot edema).


Type 4:

The lipedema can now also be found on the arms. However, the wrists and hands are not affected.