Lipedema Warrior Clinic FAQs

Lipedema is a rare disorder that affects adipose (fat) tissue, almost exclusively in women. It is marked by an uneven but symmetrical accumulation of fat in the legs, hips, and buttocks, and sometimes in the abdomen and arms, while sparing the hands, feet, and neck. This fat tissue is resistant to weight loss and exercise, often causing significant discomfort and impacting daily life. The condition commonly appears during major hormonal changes such as puberty, pregnancy, and menopause.

Any type of physician can diagnose lipedema but it is most beneficial to consult a healthcare provider who is knowledgeable about lipedema for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Common symptoms of lipedema include disproportionate fat deposits, tenderness or pain in affected areas, easy bruising, hypermobility, and difficulty losing weight in those areas despite diet and exercise. It's important to note that there are many symptoms and they vary greatly between stages, types, and individuals.

Services will be determined by the patient's goals. We are a full service lipedema clinic that will also support comorbidities in diagnosis, referrals (PT, vascular, ultrasound, labs, etc. can be run through insurance) prescriptions (compression, pumps, prescription drugs, can be ran through insurance), pre and post op care, genetic testing, nutrition guidance, and more.

We are not licensed in New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Lipedema Warrior Clinic operates on an all-cash or out-of-pocket basis. The clinic is not affiliated with any HMO panels. The clinic is an out-of-network provider for all insurance plans, and has opted out of Medicare. Patients pay for their services at the time of scheduling their appointment. Upon request, The clinic can provide an itemized receipt, which patients can use to seek reimbursement from their insurance providers, excluding Medicare.

Dr. Rodriguez works as a consultant in conjunction with your current health care team, and is not a replacement for your primary care physician. All patients must have a primary care physician for emergencies and routine care.

Some of the treatments for lipedema include conservative measures such as compression garments, manual lymphatic drainage, specialized exercises, and lifestyle modifications. In some cases, surgical options like liposuction may be considered.

Currently, there is no cure for lipedema, but its symptoms can be managed effectively with appropriate treatment and lifestyle changes.

No, lipedema is different from obesity. Lipedema involves abnormal fat distribution that is resistant to diet and exercise, whereas obesity is a general excess of body fat.

We offer telehealth appointments in the United States. Fill out this form to begin the consultation process or visit fees and services.