Body & Recovery

Lipedema Treatment

The swelling in your legs is not the kind that dieting fixes. Lipedema is a fat-tissue condition, and it responds to the right hands-on care. We help you manage the swelling, ease the pain, and slow how it progresses.

4.8 · 1,000+ reviews across Google, Yelp & More

What causes it

Why lipedema is not ordinary weight.

Lipedema is a chronic disorder of the fat tissue. The body lays down fat in an abnormal, painful way across the legs and hips, and it does not melt away with dieting the way typical fat does. Conservative care manages the swelling and pain, but it does not remove the fat tissue and it is not a cure.
A fat-tissue disorder
Most often responds toManaged with gentle manual lymphatic drainage
How We Treat It

How We Treat Lipedema

We are a conservative lymphatic clinic. We do not perform surgery, and we do not diagnose. What we do is the therapeutic, hands-on management that helps you live with lipedema more comfortably day to day. Every plan starts with an assessment, because as Sharon puts it, there is not just one way to do lymph drainage, since everyone is different. Lymphatic work is not right for everyone. We do not treat patients with AFib, COPD, emphysema, blood clots, or an active infection. Those conditions need your own physician's clearance, and severe cases can need a hospital lymphedema clinic with emergency care on site.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage for lipedema

Manual Lymphatic Drainage

A gentle, skin-level technique that moves pooled fluid toward the lymph nodes that clear it. Light work, made for tissue that is already sore.

View treatment
Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) for lipedema

Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT)

Manual drainage combined with compression guidance and self-care, so the gains hold between visits. The recognized standard for managing swelling of this kind.

View treatment
Lymphatic Enhancement Therapy (L.E.T) for lipedema

Lymphatic Enhancement Therapy (L.E.T)

A device-assisted drainage session that supports the same goal as the hands-on work, moving pooled fluid toward the nodes that clear it.

View treatment
Post-Surgical Lymphatic Massage for lipedema

Post-Surgical Lymphatic Massage

The gentle lymphatic drainage that surrounds specialized lipedema liposuction. A surgeon performs the procedure; we provide the supportive care around it.

View treatment
four stages of lipedema
The four stages of lipedema
Real patient stories

See the relief, in their words.

Real patients from our Hinsdale, Downers Grove, and Joliet clinics, in their own words. Choose a condition to see stories from patients like you.

  • Lymphedema: Lymphedema relief with lymph drainage: Kim's story
  • Lymphedema: Lymphedema after radiation: Joe's story
  • Swelling & Water Retention: Reduce swelling and water retention: Elisavet's story
  • Swelling & Water Retention: Visible results and less swelling: a client review
  • Swelling & Water Retention: Swelling relief: a real client review
  • Swelling & Water Retention: Recovery after serious infections and swollen joints: a patient's journey
  • Post-Surgical & Injury: Results from post-surgical swelling and injury
  • Post-Surgical & Injury: Reduced knee swelling and pain after lymphatic massage
  • Post-Surgical & Injury: Chronic swelling from sports and orthopedic injuries
  • Post-Surgical & Injury: Ankle swelling years after a bicycle injury
  • Pregnancy & Postpartum: Pregnancy swelling relief: a third-time mom's review
  • Lyme Disease: Lyme disease recovery with manual lymph drainage
  • Lyme Disease: Relief from Lyme disease symptoms with lymph drainage
  • Patient review: Audra Brown: a thoughtful, detailed review
  • Patient review: Rebin Roy: a fantastic experience with lymph drainage
  • Patient review: Does lymphatic drainage really work? Real results
  • Patient review: Janice: healing through lymphatic therapy
  • Patient review: Kary G. on Sharon's care
  • Patient review: Anita: ready to dance again after lymphatic drainage
  • Patient review: Michelle P.: lymph drainage relief
  • Patient review: Kathleen Heinz: a soothing, welcoming experience
  • Patient review: Thank you for the glowing five-star review!

Lymphedema relief with lymph drainage: Kim's story

Lymphedema after radiation: Joe's story

Reduce swelling and water retention: Elisavet's story

Visible results and less swelling: a client review

Swelling relief: a real client review

Recovery after serious infections and swollen joints: a patient's journey

Patient Reviews

What patients tell us

4.8★ across 1,000+ reviews on Google, Yelp & More

The Vogel Method is the only manual lymphatic massage that has decreased my joint swelling and improved my quality of life. I am willing to drive over an hour to see Sharon and team. She keeps my vertigo and joint swelling at bay.

MH

Mary H.

Google · joint swelling & vertigo · May 2026

Browse by Concern

Not sure where to start?
Start with what you notice.

You do not need to know which discipline treats your concern. We figure that out on your first visit.

Conditions & Concerns

Lymphedema

Body & Recovery

Lymphedema

Tap to learn more

Body & Recovery

Lymphedema

Persistent swelling from a lymphatic system that cannot drain on its own, managed long term with complete decongestive therapy and manual lymphatic drainage.

Learn more about Lymphedema
Lipedema

Body & Recovery

Lipedema

Tap to learn more

Body & Recovery

Lipedema

A painful, disproportionate fat and swelling condition, eased with specialized drainage and compression as supportive care.

Learn more about Lipedema
Post-Surgical Swelling

Body & Recovery

Post-Surgical Swelling

Tap to learn more

Body & Recovery

Post-Surgical Swelling

Swelling that lingers after a procedure, moved along with drainage timed to where you are in recovery.

Learn more about Post-Surgical Swelling
Post-Mastectomy Lymphedema

Body & Recovery

Post-Mastectomy Lymphedema

Tap to learn more

Body & Recovery

Post-Mastectomy Lymphedema

Arm or chest swelling after breast surgery, managed gently and coordinated with your oncology care team.

Learn more about Post-Mastectomy Lymphedema
Fibrosis After Liposuction

Body & Recovery

Fibrosis After Liposuction

Tap to learn more

Body & Recovery

Fibrosis After Liposuction

Hardened, uneven tissue that can form after liposuction, softened over a course of tissue-directed drainage.

Learn more about Fibrosis After Liposuction
Seroma After Surgery

Body & Recovery

Seroma After Surgery

Tap to learn more

Body & Recovery

Seroma After Surgery

A pocket of fluid that collects after surgery, supported alongside your physician's management.

Learn more about Seroma After Surgery
Start here

Not sure if lipedema care is right for you?

That is a fair question, and we would rather answer it honestly than book you blindly. Call us, tell us what is going on, and we will say plainly whether this work can help. If it can, we will get you in at the clinic nearest you: Hinsdale, Downers Grove, or Joliet.

FAQ

Lipedema: Common Questions