29/09/2026
Some new research on the positive effects/ benefits of Lipoedema surgery. 🙌
New research findings update!
The German LIPLEG trial, ‘Liposuction versus conservative therapy for patients with lipoedema in Germany: a multicentre, randomised controlled clinical trial’ (Podda et al., 2026), found that liposuction produces substantially greater leg-pain relief and quality-of-life improvements than conservative therapy alone for women with stage I–III lipoedema.
It’s the first large, multi-centre randomised controlled trial of its kind, and at 12 months, 68% of participants receiving liposuction achieved a clinically meaningful reduction in pain, compared with just 8% receiving conservative treatment.
However, surgery also carried a higher risk of adverse events, including infections, reduced haemoglobin, seroma and thrombosis.
Longer-term outcomes are still being followed, reinforcing the importance of:
careful individual assessment fully informed decision-making about benefits and risks access to experienced, multidisciplinary lipoedema care.
For people living with lipoedema, this trial provides some of the strongest evidence yet that liposuction can be an effective option for pain and function; while also highlighting why safe, specialist surgical pathways and ongoing conservative support remain essential.
Published in The Lancet, you can read it here: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(26)00910-4/fulltext
This evidence-based knowledge strengthens our advocacy as we work towards Medicare coverage for lipoedema care. It is a long road, but high-quality research like the LIPLEG trial helps build the case for why Medicare support is needed.
If you are looking for a Specialist Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon (FRACS) with experience in lipoedema, please visit our Practitioner Directory here: https://members.lipoedema.org.au/practitioner-directory
Mark Butler MP Chronic Pain Australia