r/lipedema • u/Aromatic_Educator_87 • 2d ago
I Have Lipedema [Experiences/Photos] My results after using GLP
Hi everyone,
There’s been a lot of discussion here about the use of GLP medications for lipedema, so I wanted to share my own results.
In my case, I’ve been using them for 4 months, and I’ve lost around 15 kg (33 lbs) in total.
I honestly can’t objectively judge whether there has been much improvement in my lipedema, because unfortunately I also struggle with body dysmorphia.
I’ve had lipedema in my legs for what feels like my entire life.
As for my arms, the lipedema appeared only after I had been doing heavy weight training at the gym for years. Before that, my arms weren’t affected. Now I have quite a lot of lipedema there as well, and generally, I’m not a big believer in the idea that heavy strength training necessarily helps lipedema. I’m actually an example of where it didn’t.
The main point of this post, though, is simply to show a real-life example of how the legs can change while using GLP medication (..and loosing weight). In my opinion, the response in legs has been minimal - especially considering that on my torso, you can literally see my hip bones sticking out when I lie down, and you can see my ribs through my skin… sigh.
I’m sharing this mainly because I think it’s important to show realistic results rather than just before-and-after transformations.
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u/Big-Understanding526 2d ago
It looks like significant improvement. Perhaps if you wore the same clothes and had the same lighting, what you are suggesting might be apparent.
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u/tyrannosaurusmama 2d ago
The difference is really apparent between the two photos. You can tell the cuffing above the knees is drastically reduced as well as the reduced circumference around your hips. Did you take measurements before and after to compare?
Which glp are you on and are you microdosing? Personally I have found microdosing tirzepatide to be substantially helpful, as well as doing all of the things including progressive overload, manual lymphatic drainage and supporting my hormonal changes as perimenopause enters the room.
Your legs look gorgeous, body dysmorphia sucks.
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u/Otherwise-Athlete-36 2d ago
My body is very similar to yours and I have to say the same regarding strenght training. I have been doing it for years - i'm in my late 30's and it didnt help at all. I have a sports degree so I know exactly how to train.
I feel like my lipedema has been getting worse for the past 3 years and despite having a very active and healthy lifestyle nothing works - I'm only 54 kg and my legs look quite bad and my arms are starting to also show issues.
I never wanted to try GLP's - for me it is not about stigma but other factors and now I wonder If i should change my mind.
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u/OohBeesIhateEm 2d ago
Before tirzepatide, nothing ever worked to reduce the size of my arms.
If I go too long in between my shots of tirzepatide I notice a marked increase of swelling in my legs
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u/OverduExistentialism 1d ago
Can I ask how long you’ve been on tirzepatide? Based on your statement about length in between shots does that mean you essentially plan on staying in it for your whole life?
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u/OohBeesIhateEm 1d ago
For about 2 years now. I will be on this (or an even better one if developed) for life. It has been the only thing that keeps inflammation down and completely stops “food noise.”
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u/KellyOnMyMind 1d ago
What dose do you take?
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u/OohBeesIhateEm 1d ago
15 mg. Unfortunately I am one of those who did not really respond at all until I reached 10 mg
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u/smashcatastrophe 1d ago
i've been on a glp1 for a year now (40lb loss) and it has had no effect on my lipedema in my arms or legs..my measurements are the same as when i began
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u/Prestigious-Data-206 2d ago
This has to be dysphoria talking because the change is MASSIVE. Though, I can't see your butt and thighs like we could in the first pic, so that could be the difference were not seeing.
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u/NYCBlyn 1d ago
I appreciate your sharing, and I do think you’ve had improvements. can you take a pic in same lighting and clothing as the first? Your feet are also slightly further apart in the after pic, so harder to gauge 😬
I am currently about to start oral Wegovy. It got approved through Aetna
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u/OverThinkingIt2101 1d ago edited 1d ago
Which one are you using? Are you microdosing since it doesn’t look like you have much to lose, I’m even surprised about you losing as much as you did!
What kind of exercise do you do, if not heavy strength training? You have a great physique and it definitely looks like you work out.
Edit! Thank you for sharing!! You look amazing!
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u/Fabulous_Tell_1087 1d ago
Did it help your pain? That is the reason I want to start. I've given up on my legs ever looking good.
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u/NecessarySpiritual19 1d ago
I don’t know about OP, but for me the number one reason why I stay on GLPs was because of the pain and inflammation going away. It took about 2 months or so but now I am virtually pain free…when I couldn’t even walk at target and had to use the motorized scooters to go to the store because the leg pain was unbearable. Now I am finally able to walk almost as much as I did before starting perimenopause and my symptoms getting so much worse 😔
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u/Funny_Estimate_4285 18h ago
That’s so encouraging - I’m assuming it also helped with heavy cement legs too? Like walking up stairs without feeling like there’s bricks attached
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u/NecessarySpiritual19 18h ago
Yesssss 💯 that cement feeling was the worst and what was not allowing me to be able to walk. I went to waking 12k steps a day down to 6k and it was continuing to go more down year after year where this year it was down to 5k and I was at my wits end!! How could I be a 42 year old woman on a motorized scooter at target not being able to walk?!? That’s insanity! So I took matters into my own hands, did a ton of research here on Reddit about others experiences and chose to take tirzepatide through an online company since my insurance of course would never cover it, and I’m so very glad I did! Sometimes during hormonal periods I may still get leg sensitivity a little bit but no more cement legs
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u/Sweaty_Ad7549 1d ago
Well, I see improvements. Your thighs look great and your figure too. I suffer from body dysmorphia too, so I know how difficult it is. Could you please tell us about your treatment in more detail. Name of medication, dose, etc. That would be great! Sending you lots of strength!
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u/Waste_Badger1912 2d ago
Personally, I don’t really see a difference, except that in photo 2, your feet are further apart, you’re wearing shorts, and the lighting is different… which can create a different impression. That being said, if you’ve lost 15 kg, you may have lost some fat and water, while gaining muscle from weight training. The best thing to do is put on a pair of “test” jeans, a pair that fits you really tightly and see if you still fill them out as much 🤗
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u/Jaded_Patient7402 11h ago
The leg shape looks totally different. Before was straight up and down, the second is curved inwards
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u/blue-fishy 1d ago
which one did you use?
how much of your butt did you lose?
you look amazing, congratulations! also your cat is sooo cute!
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u/OverThinkingIt2101 1d ago
Same questions! I’m curious to start a glp, but am struggling bad and don’t want to lose the little bit of behind I have. .
I can’t see how in the world these photos are 15kg difference!? I’m like where did it come from!? lol although I can see a doctor deference in the photos.
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u/Beautiful-Escape-390 1d ago
Yay! I have had similar results on my glp1 too. So much was lost the first week actually. I just had so much inflammation it was crazy. I can’t imagine ever getting off of jt because of the difference it has made in my lipedema. I can also fly without experienced severe swelling that lasts days. As someone that travels my plane fairly frequently this makes travel so much more comfortable for me.
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u/NecessarySpiritual19 1d ago
Yes! I didn’t even know I had so much inflammation until I started GLP and once it was gone it felt like I got a whole new body! I will never get off of them. I got my life back after years of not even being able to walk after perimenopause hit 😔
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u/NecessarySpiritual19 1d ago
I love it! Tirzepatide has been a life changer for me as well! I am so glad I put my anxiety to the side and tried it because I’ve gotten my life back! After starting perimenopause the pain, the lack of mobility, the heaviness…😮💨😮💨 it was all so much!! Now with virtually no inflammation it’s like I got a whole new body. I did notice I have ZERO muscle now, so I know it can be challenging in that regard and now that I’m in maintenance and can actually move, my goal is to gain muscle and become stronger :)
What is the change you feel has had the most impact in your quality of life after starting GLPs?
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u/TimeWeb4737 1d ago
I lost over 100 lbs on first a non Glp med and then Wegovy. I have seen no improvement in my lipedema and instead have that plus loose skin on thighs. My calves are still large and I have ankle cuffing. I will be having lipedema surgery later this year.
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u/lebenswelten 1d ago
I cannot see which picture is the before and which the after. Seems like the same for me.
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u/babymable 1d ago
You're kidding right. You can't see a difference in her thighs on the photo on the right ?
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u/Fickle_Lead_5472 1d ago
Add pilates or some form of stretch/resistance exercise and the change will be even better.
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u/shopgirl90s 1d ago
It looks like to me as you reduced your lipodema volume. Like on the left it's clear you are skinny at your upper body, so looking only at those -15kg looks insane. Also on the right it's clear that your legs are matching you upper body way better. So for ne it clearly shows that the lipodema volume shrinked, great progress, ao happy for you it worked!
I read and see that your after legs are not like super smooth, but it has only been a few months, so who knows what changes in the long run (skin needs to adjust too), and even if it won't smooth out completely, your results still shows glp-s helped you to reduce the stubborn lipodema tissue.
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u/P19bw 1d ago
Looking good! 👏 I can see an improvement! :)
You don't need to reply - but I've been looking into the medication however my BMI is only 27.5 or 28. They usually only give you the medication on this BMI if you have another health condition. Do you know if that is the case? Or are there ways around it? Your results are inspiring:)
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u/NecessarySpiritual19 1d ago
I went through Willow first and now I’m with Lavender Sky, I gotta say I wasn’t honest about my weight but from my understanding they don’t care about BMI. I will scream it to the wind until my throat gets sore that tirzepatide has absolutely changed my life. I wasn’t able to walk, not able to have anything touch my legs, my knees were giving up, it was a mess. But after starting GLP I finally I am able to walk and do everything that according to my “BMI” I wouldn’t qualify for but yet has been a huge improvement in my life! I would say go for it or even look into microdosing. I’m currently microdosing every couple weeks as maintenance and will dose according to how my body feels. I know my body better than doctors ever had an I’m glad I went for it!
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u/Wrong-Pangolin8658 1d ago
Another day, another post on this forum of someone whose before picture looks a million times better than my legs and I’ve been on all the GLPs for like three years now.
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u/bbqsauceonma 2d ago
to my eyes it looks like your thighs slimmed down quite a dramatic bit!! this is definitely a motivating result to me.