Lipoedema is a lipodystrophy (a condition affecting the distribution of fat cells in the body) that occurs mainly on the upper and lower legs and includes orthostatic oedema, which tend to appear during the second half of the day, along with vague pain (Lipohyperplasia dolorosa). If these three elements are not present, the condition is referred to as lipohypertrophy.
In the case of lipoedema, the swellings tend to stop at the ankles. The arms and trunk are often affected, which is why it is referred to as a systemic condition.
The first symptoms tend to appear at the end of puberty, but the condition can occur at any stage of life.
According to epidemiological studies, around 10% of all women are affected. However, as the condition is very hard to diagnose and there aren’t many doctors with the requisite qualifications and expertise, we expect the number to be far greater in reality.