Lymphatic-Sparing Liposuction

The Superior Technique: Physicians in Europe have been diagnosing and successfully treating lipedema for over 20 years using Power Assisted Liposuction (PAL, such as HD Lipo) and Water Assisted Liposuction (WAL) as part of their treatment plan – much longer than anyone in the United States or England.  Based on their research and experience, they have found that lymphatic-sparing liposuction yields the best results for lipedema – so much so that patients travel from around the world and wait as much as 18 months for an opening in the surgeon’s schedule to be treated.  Removing the fat cells is not enough; the surgeon also works hard to protect, assist and enhance the lymphatic system during treatment and healing.

What is lymphatic-sparing liposuction?

  • Is it a tool?
  • Is it a technique?
  • Is it a type of garment?
  • Is it skill?
  • Is it a system of care?
  • Is it different treatment types?
Yes.  It is all of the above.

The lymphatic-sparing technique is more than just the type of liposuction equipment used.  Winning a car races takes more than just a good car; it requires a skilled driver, experience, support crew, good supplies and care before, during and after the race.  Similarly, lymphatic-sparing liposuction requires a thoughtful gathering of tools and techniques for success.

What is the Lymphatic System?

Every cell in the body must be bathed and covered at all times in watery fluid to give the cell nutrition and prevent it from drying out and dying. This extracellular fluid is continually refreshed, drained, collected and filtered by the lymphatic system and then recirculated into the blood. The fluid is collected by a system of thin channels and tubes starting in the ends of the arms and legs. These drain into gradually-larger ducts, passing through filters (called lymph nodes) to keep the fluid clean from infection, and then lead to the center of the body. Damage to this lymphatic system creates risk for infection later in life and more commonly causes permanent problems with the fluid not draining back in to the center of the body. This causes swelling of the arm or leg called lymphedema. A common example of damaged lymphatics is a woman who had a mastectomy with lymph node resection in the armpit due to breast cancer. Because the lymphatic system was damaged, they often have permanent swelling in that arm for the rest of their life. In a similar way, when treating lipedema with liposuction it is very important to protect and strengthen the lymphatic system to avoid more swelling in the future.

World Class Training & Therapeutic Treatments

Lipedema is a functional disease. The US medical community widely views and treats Lipedema as obesity or a cosmetic disease. That is why there are so many Lipedema deniers and why it has been a struggle to procure insurance coverage for interventional surgery. By contrast, in Germany, Lipedema is widely known, detected, and surgery for the later stages of the disease is often covered by insurance. This is due to research, evidence and advocacy of surgeons like Dr. Josef Stutz, a vascular surgeon and one of the foremost Lipedema surgeons in Germany. A world expert in the diagnosis of Lipedema, holding one of the longest records for surgical treating Lipedema, 25+ years, Dr. Stutz's work and mentorship contributed to the development of TLRS (Therapeutic Lipedema Reduction Surgery) in the US, here at Premier Lipedema Clinic. Considered the father of Lipedema care, Dr. Stutz has written many scientific medical papers and lectured around the world, including at FDRS. He advocates for early Lipedema treatment to prevent pain and increased impairment that would be caused by the progression of Lipedema.

Recognizing a need for preventive therapeutic surgical treatment for Lipedema in the US, Dr. Daniel Hagerty, the Founder and Medical Director of Premier Lipedema Clinic, traveled to Germany and spent hundreds of hours training with Dr. Stutz and his care team. Dr. Hagerty returned to the US a Certified Lipedema Diagnostician and Lipedema Surgeon eager to help those with Lipedema in his community. To this day, Premier Lipedema Clinic is dedicated to the detection, diagnosis and treatment of Lipedema and educating the medical community about Lipedema care.

Whether you want to know more about the disease, need a diagnosis or want to learn more about Lipedema treatment and TLRS, Premier Lipedema Clinic is here for you! Call now, (509) 608-3000 to speak with a Lipedema specialist. If you are not within driving distance to Spokane, WA, we can arrange for a private video conference consultation with Dr. Hagerty.

Where our Patients are coming From

  • Foley, AL
  • Anchorage, AK
  • Mesa, AZ
  • Phoenix, AZ
  • Tucson, AZ
  • Coarsegold, CA
  • Fremont, CA
  • Gilroy, CA
  • Jurupa Valley, CA
  • Aurora, CO
  • Denver, CO
  • Littleton, CO
  • Ewa Beach, HI
  • Boise, ID
  • Caldwell, ID
  • Coeur d’Alene, ID
  • Hayden, ID
  • Kingston, ID
  • Meridian, ID
  • Moscow, ID
  • Parma, ID
  • Plummer, ID
  • Post Falls, ID
  • Sandpoint, ID
  • Madisonville, LA
  • Jackson, MI
  • Fridley, MN
  • Butte, MT
  • Calgary, MT
  • Columbia Falls, MT
  • Hamilton, MT
  • Helena, MT
  • Laurel, MT
  • Williston, ND
  • Beaverton, OR
  • Bend, OR
  • Eugene, OR
  • Forest Grove, OR
  • Gresham, OR
  • Hillsboro, OR
  • Hermiston, OR
  • Klamath Falls, OR
  • La Pine, OR
  • Milton Freewater, OR
  • Newberg, OR
  • Pendleton, OR
  • Portland, OR
  • Warrenton, OR
  • Atlanta, TX
  • Flint, TX
  • Sanger, TX
  • Airway Heights, WA
  • Auburn, WA
  • Bellingham, WA
  • Blaine, WA
  • Bonney Lake, WA
  • Bremerton, WA
  • Chehalis, WA
  • Cheney, WA
  • Colville, WA
  • Colfax, WA
  • Des Moines, WA
  • Duvall, WA
  • Espanola, WA
  • Everett, WA
  • Federal Way, WA
  • Kennewick, WA
  • Kent, WA
  • Kirkland, WA
  • Lacey, WA
  • Lakewood Center, WA
  • Liberty Lake, WA
  • Maple Valley, WA
  • Monroe, WA
  • Moses Lake, WA
  • Mount Vernon, WA
  • Newport, WA
  • Omak, WA
  • Otis Orchards, WA
  • Pasco, WA
  • Port Angeles, WA
  • Port Orchard, WA
  • Puyallup, WA
  • Redmond, WA
  • Rice, WA
  • Richland, WA
  • Rochester, WA
  • Sammamish, WA
  • Seattle, WA
  • Shoreline, WA
  • Spokane, WA
  • Tukwila, WA
  • Vancouver, WA
  • Winlock, WA
  • Woodway, WA
  • Yakima, WA
  • Lyman, WY
  • Mountain View, WY
  • Alberta, Canada
  • British Columbia, Canada

Redefine Your Normal!

Our clinic’s mission is to tear down the barriers to care so that every Lipedema patient can get the world-class care she deserves. Contact us today to learn more about how you can redefine your normal.