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Lipoedema Awareness Month Survey

About the Survey

This survey has been developed by Lipoedema Surgical Solution to better understand the impact of lipoedema on women.
Lipoedema can affect people in many ways. By sharing your experience, you are helping to build a clearer picture of how this condition is felt and managed over time.
The insights gathered will be used to raise awareness, support education, and help others better understand the realities of living with lipoedema. From time to time, we may share de-identified, aggregated results to highlight these experiences and contribute to broader awareness.
Your input is valuable, and we appreciate you taking the time to be part of this.
Background - Lipoedema
Lipoedema is a chronic condition that affects how fat is distributed in the body, most commonly in the legs, hips, arms and abdomen. It can lead to a noticeable disproportion between the lower and upper body and may be associated with pain, tenderness, and reduced mobility over time.
The condition is thought to affect a significant number of women and is often linked to hormonal changes, typically developing around puberty and sometimes progressing during pregnancy or menopause. There may also be a genetic component, with many women reporting a family history of similar symptoms.
Lipoedema is not caused by lifestyle factors and can be difficult to distinguish from other conditions such as obesity or lymphoedema. Diagnosis is based on clinical assessment, as there is currently no single test to confirm it.
Beyond the physical symptoms, lipoedema can also impact emotional wellbeing, with many women reporting feelings of frustration, anxiety, or low mood.
Early recognition may support access to appropriate management strategies, which can include approaches such as compression, manual therapies, and lifestyle adjustments aimed at supporting overall health.
1.What is your name? (optional - complete if you agree to be contacted for follow up or future research)
2.What is your email address? (optional - complete if you agree to be contacted for follow up or future research)
3.Are you Australian?(Required.)
4.In what country do you live?(Required.)
5.How old are you?(Required.)
6.How old were you when your lipoedema condition was diagnosed?(Required.)
7.How many doctors did you consult about your swollen legs/arms before receiving a diagnosis?(Required.)
8.How many of these doctors were GPs? If none put 0.(Required.)
9.How many of these doctors were specialists? If none put 0.(Required.)
10.How many years did it take to get a diagnosis of lipoedema, from the time you noticed symptoms in your legs to the time you were diagnosed?(Required.)
11.What stage is your lipoedema?
(Required.)
12.What type of lipoedema do you have? (select all that apply)
(Required.)
13.Does your condition cause you pain?(Required.)
14.Has your condition reduced your mobility?(Required.)
15.Have the features of your lipoedema been associated with depression or anxiety?(Required.)
16.Have you developed an eating disorder to manage your disproportionate limbs?(Required.)
17.Has your condition reduced your ability to work?(Required.)
18.How have you managed your lipoedema? (select all that apply)(Required.)
19.What is your attitude towards lipoedema surgery?(Required.)
20.In an average year, how many days does lipoedema affect your ability to work? If none put 0.(Required.)
21.In your lifetime, how many days has lipoedema affected your ability to work? If none put 0.(Required.)
22.In an average year, what is your estimated financial loss of income relating to your lipoedema condition? If none put 0.(Required.)
23.In your lifetime, what is your estimated financial loss of income relating to your lipoedema condition? If none put 0.(Required.)
24.In an average year, what are the financial costs of managing your lipoedema?

Please include the cost for all compression garments, regular MLD, cost associated with nutritionists/dieticians and anti-inflammatory diets, doctors and specialists appointments, podiatrists, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and surgery costs associated with the lipoedema i.e. degenerative joint surgery, weight loss surgery etc. Feel free to provide a high level itemisation of these costs in the box below, simply include a lump sum.(Required.)
25.In your lifetime, what has been the financial cost of managing your lipoedema?

Please include the cost for all compression garments, regular MLD, cost associated with nutritionists/dieticians and anti-inflammatory diets, doctors and specialists appointments, podiatrists, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and surgery costs associated with the lipoedema i.e. degenerative joint surgery, weight loss surgery etc. Feel free to provide a high level itemisation of these costs in the box below, simply include a lump sum.(Required.)
26.Are you on Centrelink or NDIS payments associated with your lipodoema condition?(Required.)
27.Please include an impact statement of how lipoedema has affected your life. (Optional)
Current Progress,
0 of 27 answered