Science

The LipoClinic is committed to the intensive research of lipedema. It is particularly important to us that the environment and psychological conditions are also taken into account in the course of the therapy.

The 'WHO' and lipedema disease

The World Health Organization (WHO) officially included lipedema as a disease in its international classification in2017; it is listed in the currently valid ICD-10 (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems) from E88.20 (stage I lipedema) to E88.28 (other or unspecified lipedema).

WAL technique for the treatment of lipedema

WAL technique using the presented treatment protocol is an efficient method of operative treatment of early-stage lipedema patients leading to a marked decrease in symptom severity and need for conservative treatment.

Standards of lipedema surgery

Publication of the surgical technique developed by Dr. Heck and the establishment of a therapy protocol, the so-called ‘Heck protocol’‘. A short description of this protocol as well as a summary of our surgical standards can be found here.

Circulatory reactions after WAL for lipedema

In the period from 01/01/2012 to 31/03/2018, 1,000 surgeries were examined with regard to the postoperative circulatory response. Patients with lipedema stages I-III were treated. Lipo-decompression was performed according to our standardised surgical standards and evaluated, using an analogue scale. The evaluation of this study can be found here.

At the beginning of the 2000s, Dr. Falk-Christian Heck first came into contact with a previously unknown disease – lipedema. The clinical picture of the affected women was met with neither acceptance nor understanding by the doctors. Even today, in many cases lipedema is still misdiagnosed as overweight or obesity (adiposity). The disease often remains undetected for a long time. Those affected suffer from shame, self-reproach and frustration.

As an experienced surgeon, Dr. Heck developed a completely new and sustainably effective surgical method, the lipedema surgery (lipo-decompression), which

stops the lipedema
is a pain-free surgery
eliminates the need for compression garments
improves the quality of life

These are still our goals today at the LipoClinic!