Skip to content
EN

Language

Book consultation

Lipoedema in the arms in Dortmund

Thick upper arms that are sensitive to pressure, with slim hands, can point to lipoedema, often together with the legs. How you recognise it in the arms, how liposuction works at the Westfalenklinik in Dortmund and what matters after the operation.

Book consultation0231 54 504 900
Who will treat you hereDr. Reifenrath, Dr. Gruner, Dr. Simidjiiska, Dr. med. univ. Zamani, Prof. Witt, Dr. Jenner
Anaesthesia
local anaesthesia or general anaesthesia
Stay in the clinic
outpatient or 1 to 2 nights
Scars
puncture sites of about 4 to 5 mm
At a glance

Lipoedema surgery on the arms at a glance

Typical areas
Upper arms, mainly the back, sometimes the forearms
Hands
stay slim
Amount removed
a few hundred millilitres for a smaller finding
Anaesthesia
local anaesthesia or general anaesthesia
Stay in the clinic
outpatient or 1 to 2 nights
Compression
6 to 8 weeks, day and night
Financing
possible through our financing partner
  • Thick above, slim hands: At the wrist the padding often ends as if cut off.
  • Often together with the legs: If both are affected, the treatment is planned as a whole.
  • After the liposuction: compression for the arms and, if necessary, an upper arm lift.
Laughing woman in a sports bra flexing her upper arms, symbolic image of lipoedema on the arms

Lipoedema in the arms in Dortmund: consultation at the Westfalenklinik

Thick upper arms that hurt when touched and barely change despite exercise and dieting are a burden for many women over a long time. At the Westfalenklinik in Dortmund we examine your arms and legs, assess whether lipoedema is present and discuss with you whether liposuction is an option for you. A personal contact person accompanies you from the first consultation to the final check-up.

The Westfalenklinik is located at Rosemeyerstraße 2–4, directly on the B1/A40 in the immediate vicinity of the Signal Iduna Park. By car, leave the B1 at the Dortmund-Hombruch exit, turn right into Wittekindstraße and after 700 m right into Rosemeyerstraße; parking is on the building’s parking deck directly in front of the entrance. By public transport, take the U45 from the main station to Stadtgarten and change there to the U42 to Theodor-Fliedner-Heim.

How to recognise lipoedema of the arms

In the arms, lipoedema shows a pattern similar to that in the legs:

  • Both arms are affected to the same degree
  • Thick upper arms, especially at the back
  • Hands and wrists stay slim
  • The tissue hurts under pressure and touch
  • Losing weight changes the upper body, but hardly the arms
  • Sleeves become tight on the upper arm even though the size otherwise fits

The legs are often affected as well as the arms. Our self-test gives a first orientation; for what the stages describe, see Lipoedema symptoms and stages. Whether lipoedema is actually present is determined by a medical examination.

Which areas of the arms are treated

Upper arms

In the arms, the diseased fatty tissue is usually located in the upper arms, especially at the back. This is why the focus of the liposuction is usually here.

Forearms

Sometimes lipoedema extends as far as the forearms. Whether they are treated as well depends on your findings. The hands are left out.

Four women in white underwear with their arms raised, symbolic image of lipoedema on the arms and legs

Arms and legs: when both are affected

If the legs are affected as well as the arms, we plan the treatment as a whole. How much fatty tissue can be removed in one session is subject to limits of what is medically justifiable.

For a more extensive finding, we therefore spread the treatment over several sessions for safety reasons. In which order the arms and legs are treated is something you discuss with your doctor during the consultation in Dortmund.

Diagnosis and conservative treatment before surgery

The diagnosis required by German statutory health insurance comes from specialist doctors in, for example, angiology or dermatology, physical and rehabilitative medicine, or with additional training in phlebology. Whether surgery is carried out is then decided by another doctor. How to proceed is explained under Lipoedema diagnosis in Dortmund.

As a rule, conservative treatment comes before surgery: compression for the arms, manual lymphatic drainage and exercise can relieve pain and a feeling of tightness. For German statutory health insurance, at least 6 months of this therapy without weight gain are among the requirements. If symptoms persist nonetheless, liposuction may be an option, more under Treating lipoedema without surgery.

Curious to know more?

Write to us and we will call you back:

ProvenExpert Top Recommendation 2026 for the Westfalenklinik98 %Recommendation rateon ProvenExpert
Book consultation

This page is protected by a privacy-friendly spam protection: the check runs in your browser, without tracking and without cookies.

How lipoedema surgery on the arms works at the Westfalenklinik

Before the procedure we mark the areas on the upper arms and forearms that are to be treated and go through them with you once more. The operation is usually carried out under general anaesthesia. First, a tumescent solution is introduced into the tissue of the arms, after which the diseased fatty tissue is suctioned out through a few small punctures. The Westfalenklinik’s vibration-assisted method is intended to make the suction easier and to protect the surrounding tissue.

In the arms, the amount is usually smaller than in the legs: with a smaller procedure it is in the range of a few hundred millilitres. After a smaller procedure you can go home the same day; after a larger one you stay with us for 1 to 2 nights for observation.

Compression and everyday life after liposuction on the arms

In the first few days, swelling, a feeling of tightness and bruising on the arms are normal. You usually wear the compression garment for about 6 to 8 weeks, day and night. It is intended to counteract swelling and to help the skin settle back against the tissue.

As a rule, you are back out among people after 7 to 10 days. Many patients can work again with the compression after about two weeks; you discuss heavy lifting and sport with us beforehand. The body is usually fully recovered after 4 to 6 weeks. More on this under After lipoedema surgery.

When the skin on the upper arms loses firmness

How well the skin retracts after the liposuction depends mainly on its elasticity and the amount removed. If excess skin remains after healing, there are two options at the Westfalenklinik:

Upper arm lift

In an upper arm lift, excess skin and fatty tissue are removed from the inner side of the upper arms. The procedure takes about 1 to 2 hours, is carried out under general anaesthesia and leaves a scar on the inner side of the upper arm.

RENUVION®

For moderately slack skin, RENUVION® may be an option, even directly after the liposuction through the same puncture sites. If the skin is markedly slack, surgical tightening is more likely to be an option.

Which option suits you is also covered under Skin tightening after lipoedema surgery.

What does lipoedema surgery on the arms cost in Dortmund? Quote, German health insurance and financing

The costs depend on the areas treated, the amount removed and whether the arms are treated together with the legs. After the consultation in Dortmund, we will prepare a no-obligation treatment quote for you as a self-pay patient for the treatment of your arms. The Westfalenklinik’s treatment prices are final prices including statutory VAT; accommodation, meals, follow-up treatments and the costs of the anaesthetist are not added afterwards. Financing is possible through our financing partner, more under Financing your treatment.

Since October 2025, German statutory health insurance can in principle cover liposuction for lipoedema at any stage if the requirements are met, more under Lipoedema surgery as a patient with statutory health insurance. Health insurance does not usually cover skin tightening.

Who will treat you here

The whole team

Frequently asked questions

How can I recognise lipoedema in the arms?

Typical signs are thick upper arms, especially at the back, while the hands and often the forearms as well stay slim. Both arms are affected equally, the tissue hurts under pressure or touch, and losing weight barely changes the arms. Whether lipoedema is present is determined by a medical examination.

Can lipoedema occur in the arms only?

The legs are often affected as well as the arms. Whether and where lipoedema shows itself in your case, we assess during the examination, and we also look at the legs.

Are the arms and legs treated in one operation?

That depends on the total amount that is to be removed. For a more extensive finding, we spread the treatment over several sessions for safety reasons. Which areas are treated, and in which order, we plan together with you.

How long do I have to wear compression after surgery on the arms?

You usually wear the compression garment for the arms for about 6 to 8 weeks, day and night. The even pressure is intended to reduce swelling and to bring the skin of the upper arms back against the tissue.

When can I go back to work after liposuction on the arms?

As a rule, you are back out among people after 7 to 10 days. With the compression for the arms, many patients can work again after about two weeks. You discuss heavy lifting and sport with your doctor beforehand.

Does the skin on the upper arms stay slack after the liposuction?

That depends mainly on the elasticity of your skin and the amount removed. If excess skin remains after healing, an upper arm lift may be an option, and for moderately slack skin RENUVION® as well.

What does lipoedema surgery on the arms cost in Dortmund?

The costs depend on the scope of the treatment, that is, on the areas, the amount removed and whether the arms are treated together with the legs. As a self-pay patient, you will receive a no-obligation treatment quote after the consultation at the Westfalenklinik. The prices are final prices including accommodation, meals, follow-up treatments and anaesthesia; financing is possible through our financing partner.

Where in Dortmund is lipoedema of the arms treated?

At the Westfalenklinik, Rosemeyerstr. 2–4, 44139 Dortmund, directly on the B1/A40 near the Signal Iduna Park. By car, take the Dortmund-Hombruch exit and park on the building’s parking deck directly in front of the entrance; from the main station, take the U45 to Stadtgarten and then the U42 to Theodor-Fliedner-Heim.

Your question is not among them?

Get in touch with our team now:

ProvenExpert Top Recommendation 2026 for the Westfalenklinik98 %Recommendation rateon ProvenExpert
Book consultation

This page is protected by a privacy-friendly spam protection: the check runs in your browser, without tracking and without cookies.

Book consultation

Find your consultation appointment now

Your consultation in 3 steps:

  1. Choose treatment
  2. Choose preferred appointment
  3. confirm by code

or call

0231 54 504 900
The building

Your treatment in Dortmund.

Consultation, procedure and aftercare in one place: at the Westfalenklinik on Rosemeyerstraße.

Directions to the clinic
  • Waiting area of the Westfalenklinik01Waiting area
  • Consultation room of the Westfalenklinik02Consultation
  • Operating area of the Westfalenklinik in Dortmund03Operating area
Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars

5,975 reviews of the CGCE Group on ProvenExpert

All reviews on ProvenExpert

Reviews by patients of the Westfalenklinik on ProvenExpert, newest first.

Consultation in Dortmund

Let’s get to know each other.

In the first conversation we listen, examine and explain what is possible and what is not. Afterwards you decide in your own time.

Book consultation0231 54 504 900
Address
Westfalenklinik
Rosemeyerstr. 2–4, 44139 Dortmund
Directions
Consultation hours
Mon–Fri 8 am–8 pmSat 9 am–3 pm
Phone
Mon–Fri 8 am–8 pmSat 9 am–3 pm
Message
Go to the contact form

Phone Mon–Fri 8 am–8 pm, Sat 9 am–3 pmPersonal consultation in Dortmund

0231 54 504 900Ask a questionBook consultation
Ask a question

Write to us.

We will get back to you by email or phone. You can reach us by phone on 0231 54 504 900.

Phone

This page is protected by a privacy-friendly spam protection: the check runs in your browser, without tracking and without cookies.