Cellulite or Lipedema? Get the Right Diagnosis

Описание: Every week, I meet women worried about the appearance of lumpy, bumpy, “cottage cheese” skin on their legs—often convinced it’s just stubborn cellulite that no diet or exercise can fix. While cellulite is a common cosmetic concern, there’s another medical condition frequently misdiagnosed as cellulite: lipedema.
In this video, I explain the important differences between lipedema and cellulite. Cellulite is harmless and caused by how fat interacts with the connective tissue under your skin, leading to that dimpled, orange peel look. Unfortunately, there’s no permanent surgical fix for the collagen network behind cellulite, and treatments like Avilae or Subcision mostly target deep, isolated dimples—not the wider, lumpy look. Even traditional liposuction can sometimes make cellulite worse.
Lipedema, by contrast, is a chronic, often painful fat disorder marked by symmetrical fat buildup on the legs (and sometimes arms), while sparing the feet and hands. Key signs of lipedema include pain, frequent bruising without clear cause, a column-like leg shape, and firmer lumps under the skin. It’s not caused by obesity and can affect women of all sizes. Despite what many have heard, lipedema often doesn’t respond to weight loss and is not just “bad cellulite.”
If you’ve tried everything for stubborn cellulite and are still dealing with swelling, tenderness, and easy bruising, I encourage you to learn more about lipedema. The right diagnosis can be life-changing—and there are effective treatments, including tumescent liposuction, that may help improve pain, mobility, and confidence.

Hello, I’m Dr. Markelov, expert lipedema surgeon, Lipedema specialist, and double board certified plastic surgeon specializing in lipedema.

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0:00 Intro
0:28 What Is Cellulite? Causes And Mechanism
1:00 Why Cellulite Is Hard To Get Rid Of
1:19 Why Liposuction Doesn’t Help Cellulite
1:26 What Is Lipedema? Main Differences
1:54 1) Pain Factor
2:19 2) Bruising Factor
2:34 3) Fat Distribution
2:57 4) Texture Factor
3:17 Misdiagnosis And Treatment
4:00 Why It’s Important To See a Specialist