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Early stage
Smooth skin, thickened fat layer, small nodules felt under the fingers.
Specialist lipedema centre · Kyiv
Lipedema is a disease, not a lack of willpower
Diagnosis, conservative therapy and lymph-sparing liposuction. We guide you from the first consultation and ultrasound to full recovery.
11medical specialties in our MoH licence
I–IIIstages of lipedema, a plan for each
Kyiv52–54 Vozdvyzhenska St, Podil
What is lipedema
Fat that does not go with dieting
Lipedema is a chronic disorder of the fat tissue under the skin that affects almost exclusively women. Fat builds up symmetrically on the hips, buttocks, legs and sometimes the arms, while the feet and hands stay slim.
The affected tissue is tender and bruises easily. Diet and exercise reduce other areas but barely change the affected ones, which is why many women are told for years to “just lose weight”.
Learn moreSigns worth discussing with a doctor
- Symmetrical enlargement of legs or armsBoth sides change alike; the upper body may be much slimmer
- Pain and tenderness to touchEven light pressure can hurt
- Bruising for no clear reasonSmall blood vessels are fragile
- Heaviness and swelling by eveningWorse in heat and after long standing
- Feet and hands unaffectedOften a visible “cuff” above the ankle
- Volume stays when you lose weightFace and waist slim down, thighs do not
Lipedema or obesity?
They are often confused, yet the treatment differs. Only a doctor can tell them apart with an examination and ultrasound.
| Lipedema | Obesity | |
|---|---|---|
| Fat distribution | Disproportionate: legs, buttocks, arms | Fairly even, often the abdomen |
| Pain to touch | Typical | Usually none |
| Bruising | Easy | Not typical |
| Response to diet | Affected areas barely change | The whole body slims |
| Feet and hands | Stay slim | May enlarge |
Three stages of lipedema
The stage describes changes in the skin and the tissue beneath it. It does not always match the level of pain, so the treatment plan considers all symptoms.
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Moderate stage
Uneven skin surface, larger nodules and more visible contour changes.
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Advanced stage
Large lobes of tissue and overhanging folds, especially on the inner thighs and knees.
How we treat lipedema
Diagnosis
Surgeon consultation, examination and soft-tissue ultrasound. We rule out lymphedema, venous insufficiency and other causes of swelling.
Learn moreConservative therapy
Flat-knit compression garments, lymphatic drainage, exercise and weight management. It eases pain and swelling but does not remove lipedema tissue.
Learn moreLymph-sparing liposuction
Removal of the diseased fat tissue while protecting lymphatic vessels. Often done in 1–3 stages.
Learn moreYour patient journey
- Questionnaire or callTell us about your symptoms; a doctor reviews them
- Consultation and ultrasoundThe surgeon examines you and confirms the stage
- Plan and quoteTreatment options, stages and the exact cost
- Treatment and follow-upSurgery or therapy, check-ups, compression
Not sure it is lipedema?
Answer 7 questions and a doctor will review them and contact you to explain the next steps.
Only the doctor sees your answers. This questionnaire is not a diagnosis and does not replace an examination.
Prices
We publish starting prices so you can plan ahead. The surgeon confirms the exact amount after an examination.
- Lipedema consultation with a surgeon + soft-tissue ultrasoundfrom 40 EUR
- Lipedema liposuction: thighs, circumferential (all aspects)from 3,400 EUR
- Lipedema liposuction: lower legs (to the ankles)from 2,800 EUR
- Lipedema liposuction: upper armsfrom 1,700 EUR
The clinic
Our clinic in Podil, Kyiv
Our team
Plastic surgeons, a vascular surgeon, an anaesthetist and an ultrasound specialist work under one roof, so you do not have to collect opinions from different clinics.
DoctorsSupport from booking to discharge
We coordinate every step: booking, preparation, surgery day and your hospital stay. After discharge we stay in touch if you need help. If you live in another city or country, start with an online consultation based on photos and records.
Learn moreSafety
Surgery and recovery are not affected by power cuts or air-raid alerts
The clinic has its own blast shelter, independent power, backup internet and a water reserve, so treatment continues whatever happens.
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48 hours on batteries
Deye inverters and batteries keep the whole clinic running for up to 48 hours without mains power. Operating rooms, medical equipment and inpatient rooms switch to backup power without shutting down.
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Diesel generator and solar panels
A powerful diesel generator can run for as long as needed — it only takes refuelling. Solar panels are an additional power source.
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Starlink backup internet
If the main internet provider goes down or has outages, the clinic’s communications and dispatch systems switch to Starlink automatically. The clinic stays connected.
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Water reserve
The clinic has its own water reserve in case of supply interruptions.
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Blast shelter in the building
A modern blast shelter (skhovyshche) — the most protected type of civil defence shelter in Ukraine: sealed and equipped with life-support systems.
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Inpatient rooms inside the shelter
When needed, patients stay in rooms on level −2, inside the shelter. There is no need to move anywhere during an alert, so recovery continues uninterrupted.
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Ground floor in the historic centre
The clinic is on the ground floor of a historic building in Podil, Kyiv’s historic centre.
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Underground parking for patients
Parking is on underground level −1. You can leave your car for the whole stay, whether for surgery or rehabilitation — under cover and secure.
Lipedema research
What the research shows
Lipedema explained in plain language — with figures, charts and links to the original studies, so you come to your consultation prepared and know what to expect.
- ≈10%of women have lipedema by the most widely cited estimate — about one in tenDeutsches Ärzteblatt, 2020
- 68% vs 8%of patients had a meaningful reduction in pain at 12 months: after liposuction vs conservative therapyLIPLEG, The Lancet, 2026
- 18 yearson average from the first symptoms to a diagnosis — which is why it pays not to delay an examinationPatient survey, Netherlands, 2018
Liposuction for lipedema: what the research shows — from 12-year follow-up to LIPLEG in The Lancet
Research on liposuction for lipedema: the first large randomised trial, LIPLEG (410 patients, The Lancet, 2026), follow-up of up to 12 years, meta-analyses, risks and who the operation is for.
Read the article →Lipedema or obesity: 6 differences worth knowing
How lipedema differs from obesity: fat distribution, pain, bruising, response to dieting, feet and hands. When to see a doctor.
Read the article →Diagnosing lipedema: criteria, ultrasound and why BMI is misleading
How lipedema is diagnosed in 2026: clinical signs from the international consensus, the role of ultrasound, waist-to-height ratio instead of BMI, differences from lymphedema and obesity, and the ICD-11 code.
Read the article →Frequently asked questions
Do I need a referral?
No. You can book a consultation directly. If you have previous test results (vein ultrasound, blood tests, reports), please bring them.
Can diet or exercise cure lipedema?
Healthy eating and exercise matter: they reduce overall weight, swelling and joint strain. But lipedema fat barely responds to dieting, so these measures alone do not remove it.
How many liposuction stages will I need?
It depends on the number of areas and the volume of tissue. Treatment is often split into 1–3 stages a few months apart. The surgeon draws up the exact plan after an examination and ultrasound.
How long is the recovery?
As a rough guide, people return to light activity after 1–2 weeks and wear compression garments for several weeks. Timelines vary, and the surgeon will explain yours at the consultation.
Will there be scars?
Liposuction is performed through small incisions a few millimetres long. They usually fade over time, depending on your skin.
Can I come if I am not sure it is lipedema?
Yes. That is what the consultation is for: the doctor assesses your symptoms, performs an ultrasound and explains whether it is lipedema, obesity, lymphedema or a combination.
How to find us
- Address52–54 Vozdvyzhenska St, Kyiv, UkraineGoogle Maps
- Phone+38 050 551 54 54
- HoursMon–Fri 8:00–19:00, Sat–Sun by appointment
Book a consultation
Leave your details and our coordinator will contact you, arrange a time and answer your questions.