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Treating lipoedema without surgery in Dortmund

Compression, lymphatic drainage, exercise and a stable weight can ease the symptoms of lipoedema. What treatment without surgery does, where its limits lie and how we advise you at Westfalenklinik in Dortmund.

Who will treat you hereDr. Reifenrath, Dr. Gruner, Dr. Simidjiiska, Dr. med. univ. Zamani, Prof. Witt, Dr. Jenner
Aim
Relieving pain, heaviness and swelling
Building blocks
Compression, lymphatic drainage, exercise, weight
German health insurance
6 months before liposuction covered by health insurance
At a glance

Treatment without surgery at a glance

Aim
Relieving symptoms, making everyday life easier
Compression
custom-fitted, prescribed by a doctor
Lymphatic drainage
manual, on medical prescription
Movement
regular and suited to your symptoms
weight
keep stable, avoid an increase
Limits
does not remove the pathologically increased fatty tissue
German health insurance
at least 6 months before liposuction as a health insurance benefit
Consultation
at Westfalenklinik, Dortmund
  • Relieve, not remove: Conservative therapy helps with the symptoms, the increased fatty tissue remains.
  • Four building blocks: compression, lymphatic drainage, exercise and a stable weight work together.
  • Important for German statutory health insurance: At least 6 months of conservative therapy precede liposuction as a health insurance benefit.

Lipoedema without surgery in Dortmund: consultation at Westfalenklinik

Not every case of lipoedema has to be operated on, and every liposuction is preceded by treatment without surgery. It is meant to ease the symptoms that lipoedema causes in everyday life: pain on pressure and touch, heavy legs in the evening, a feeling of tension in the tissue. At Westfalenklinik in Dortmund, we advise you on which of this makes sense in your case and check with you whether and when an operation is an option.

For 25 years, you have found the specialist clinic for plastic and aesthetic surgery at Rosemeyerstraße 2–4, right by 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; you park on the building’s parking deck directly in front of the entrance. From the main station, take the U45 to Stadtgarten and change there to the U42 to Theodor-Fliedner-Heim.

What treatment without surgery can do

Conservative therapy addresses the symptoms. When carried out consistently, it can:

  • Ease pain and tenderness to pressure
  • Reduce the feeling of heaviness and tension
  • Counteract swelling over the course of the day
  • Make everyday life with lipoedema easier

What it cannot do: remove the pathologically increased fatty tissue. The proportions of the legs and arms hardly change through compression, lymphatic drainage and exercise. Anyone who continues to suffer from symptoms despite consistent treatment can consider lipoedema surgery.

The four building blocks of lipoedema treatment without surgery

  1. 01

    Compression

    Compression garments exert even pressure on the tissue. Many women with lipoedema find this a relief, especially when their legs become heavy over the course of the day. So that the garments fit well and do not constrict, they are usually custom-fitted and prescribed by a doctor.

  2. 02

    Manual lymphatic drainage

    In lymphatic drainage, trained therapists use gentle techniques to stimulate the drainage of tissue fluid. It can ease swelling and the feeling of tension, especially together with compression. Whether and how often you need it is determined by your doctor with the prescription.

  3. 03

    Movement

    Regular exercise supports the circulation, helps to maintain your weight and can ease the symptoms. Which sport suits you depends on what does you good. More important than performance is that you stick with it.

  4. 04

    A stable weight

    The course of lipoedema can be linked, among other things, to weight development and hormonal changes. According to current knowledge, there is no diet that specifically breaks down the pathological fatty tissue. A balanced diet does help to keep the weight stable, however. If you also want to lose weight, we also advise you in Dortmund on weight loss with medical support.

Woman lying on the sofa with her legs up, illustrative image for treating lipoedema without surgery

Compression and lymphatic drainage on prescription

Compression care and lymphatic drainage are prescribed by your treating doctors, for example in a family doctor’s or specialist practice. What your German health insurance covers and whether co-payments apply, you can find out from your insurer. You obtain the compression garments from specialist retailers, the lymphatic drainage at physiotherapy practices.

Keep prescriptions, treatment reports and therapy plans carefully. They later show how long and how regularly you were treated.

Six months of therapy: a requirement for lipoedema surgery under health insurance

Since October 2025, statutory health insurance can in principle cover liposuction for lipoedema at any stage. One requirement is that you have previously been treated conservatively on a doctor’s prescription for at least 6 months and your symptoms have not improved sufficiently as a result. Your weight should not increase during this time; this is proven by monthly weight checks at your family doctor’s practice.

In addition there are a confirmed diagnosis by a specialist doctor authorised for this and the BMI limits: under 35, between 32 and 35 only with a waist-to-height ratio within an age-dependent limit. With our WHtR calculator you can work out your value yourself. You can read everything else about cost coverage under Lipoedema surgery for patients with German statutory health insurance.

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Conservative therapy and surgery go together

Liposuction does not completely replace treatment without surgery; the two work hand in hand. After the procedure, you first wear compression garments for about 6 to 8 weeks, day and night. Whether you need compression after that depends on your findings and your symptoms. A stable weight and regular exercise remain important after the operation too, because the remaining tissue can change with weight gain. What the weeks after the procedure look like, you can read under After lipoedema surgery.

Four women in underwear hold each other in their arms, illustrative image for the exchange among those affected

Taking the burden of everyday life seriously

For years, many women with lipoedema have been told they simply have to eat less or exercise more. Yet lipoedema is a condition in its own right, and the pain is real.

In the consultation, speak openly about what limits you in everyday life, including emotionally: this helps to find the right treatment. Exchanging experiences with others affected, for example in a self-help group, can also bring relief.

When lipoedema surgery is an option

The symptoms remain

Despite compression, lymphatic drainage and exercise, pain and tension do not subside sufficiently. According to the current guideline, the decision is based on these symptoms, not on the stage.

Everyday life is restricted

Walking, sitting or sport are difficult, the insides of the thighs rub against each other, the skin is irritated.

The requirements fit

Diagnosis, weight and prior treatment have been clarified. Whether an operation makes sense for you, we discuss in the consultation.

What does lipoedema surgery cost in Dortmund if conservative therapy is not enough?

You carry out the conservative therapy itself with your treating doctors, your physiotherapist and specialist retailers. At Westfalenklinik in Dortmund, we examine and advise you, assess the extent and stage of the lipoedema and plan the next step with you.

If an operation is an option for you as a self-pay patient, the costs depend on the extent of the treatment and the number of body regions affected. After your first consultation you will receive a no-obligation treatment quote. Westfalenklinik’s prices are final prices including statutory VAT; overnight stay, meals, follow-up treatments and anaesthesia are not added afterwards. Financing is possible through our financing partner; more under Financing your treatment.

Who will treat you here

The whole team

Frequently asked questions

Does lipoedema go away without surgery?

Treatment without surgery can ease pain, feelings of heaviness and tension, and swelling. It does not remove the pathologically increased fatty tissue. If the symptoms persist despite consistent therapy, lipoedema surgery may be an option.

Which compression helps with lipoedema?

For lipoedema, compression garments are usually custom-fitted so that they press evenly and do not constrict. Which type and which strength suits you is determined and prescribed by your doctor. It is important that you wear the compression regularly.

Does German statutory health insurance pay for compression stockings and lymphatic drainage?

Compression garments and lymphatic drainage are prescribed by a doctor. You can find out what your German statutory health insurance covers and whether co-payments apply from your health insurance or at your practice. Keep your prescriptions and treatment reports, because for later liposuction as a service covered by German statutory health insurance, the therapy must be documented without gaps.

How often do I need lymphatic drainage for lipoedema?

This varies from person to person and depends on how severely you suffer from swelling. Your doctor determines frequency and duration with the prescription.

Does sport help with lipoedema?

Regular exercise can ease the symptoms and helps to maintain your weight. Which sport does you good depends on your symptoms. Discuss this with your doctor.

Is there a diet for lipoedema?

According to current knowledge, there is no diet that specifically breaks down the pathological fatty tissue. A stable weight is nevertheless important, because the course of lipoedema can be linked to changes in weight. A balanced diet and exercise help with this.

How long do I have to do conservative therapy before health insurance pays for lipoedema surgery?

At least 6 months, prescribed by a doctor and without sufficient improvement, and your weight should not increase during this time. There are further requirements such as a confirmed diagnosis and the BMI limits. More on this under Lipoedema surgery for patients with German statutory health insurance.

Does Westfalenklinik offer lymphatic drainage and compression?

Your treating doctors prescribe the conservative therapy itself; you receive lymphatic drainage at physiotherapy practices and compression garments from specialist retailers. At Westfalenklinik in Dortmund, we examine and advise you and plan with you whether and when an operation makes sense.

What does lipoedema surgery cost in Dortmund?

The costs depend on the extent of the treatment and the number of body regions affected. As a self-pay patient, you receive a no-obligation treatment quote at final prices after your first consultation at Westfalenklinik; financing is possible through our financing partner.

Where in Dortmund can I get advice on lipoedema treatment?

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

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