Lip- or lymphedema?

The difference between lymph- and lipedema

Whether it is lipedema or lymphedema can be relatively quickly determined. We will give you some tips on how to recognize the difference. But please remember: edema can also occur in combination with other types of edema and can for this reason manifest itself as a pure form of lipedema or lymphedema or in other ways.

 

Lipedema Lymphedema
Symmetrical (example: both legs are fat) Asymmetrical (Example: one leg is fat, the other one is not)
Sensitive to pressure
(pain felt when pressure is applied to the leg)
Not sensitive to pressure
(no pain felt when pressure is applied to the leg)
Hematoma
(frequent bruising)
No hematoma
(hardly any bruising)
No eryspelas
(inflammation is rather rare)
Often erysipelas
(common)
Back of the foot unaffected
(the skin on the back of the foot is nor swollen and can be pulled up without difficulty)
Edema on the back of the foot (the skin on the back of the foot is swollen)
Thumb test negative
(the thumb leaves no imprint on the skin)
Thumb test positive
(the imprint of the thumb remains longer than usual on the skin´s surface)
Ripply “orange peel skin” Smooth plump skin
Lip- or lymphedema?

Thumb test