Raising money for lipedema surgery

I have recently been diagnosed with lipedema. Lipedema is a fat disorder which can not be lost with diet or exercise, causes pain, swelling, And can lead to immobility and issues with lymphatics if left untreated.

This disorder can effect anyone, you can be under or overweight. The characteristics of this disorder include the larger or disproportionate apprearence of legs compared to the torso. The fat build up around the ankles, giving you ‘cankles’, the fat stops just by your feet, making a cuff around your ankles, and the tissue has a cellulite like appearance with deep indentations and lumps.

I have struggled with having larger legs since I was about 12, but I just thought it was how my body was. I wasn’t even fat, maybe a little chubby but my legs just grew on their own. About a year ago is when I heard about this condition through a girl sharing her weight loss journey on Instagram. It is still not a very well known condition, and I struggled to find a doctor who could diagnose me until I found a specialist in Germany, Dr. Josef Stutz.

The only thing I can do to ease the pain and stop the progression of lipedema is to get surgery, which involves liposuction of the diseased fat and it is going to be quite expensive. Sadly I can’t get the surgery funded as it is not a recognised condition where I live.

I would really appreciate any help to make this dream come true, and I hope this also spreads awareness that this condition is very real.