One of the main causes of swollen legs is inflammation. Inflammation is a natural response if you break a bone or tear a tendon or ligament, but it also may be a sign of a more serious inflammatory illness.

Common causes of swollen legs can be vein issues:

  • Varicose veins and venous insufficiency
  • Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and thrombophlebitis

Additional causes can be chronic conditions which result in long term suffering for patients:

  • Lipoedema:
  • Lymphoedema

Lipoedema is a chronic condition characterised by a painful and abnormal accumulation of fat cells in the hips, thighs, buttocks, legs and often arms. Your legs may become swollen, bruise easily, feel tender, heavy, and painful.

Patients that suffer from early-stage lipoedema may have column-shaped legs that are disproportionate in size.  As the condition worsens the fat continues to build up and the lower half of their body becomes heavier. The lipoedemic fat can also build up in the arms. The fat cannot be exercised or dieted away, weight loss surgery and medications will not remove the diseased fat. Many patients eat well and exercise yet continue to develop fat on their lipoedemic areas.

If not diagnosed and managed properly lipoedema can result in further complications including reduced mobility and lymphoedema due to scarring of the lymphatics caused by the inflammatory nature of the lipoedema tissue; as well as depression, anxiety or eating disorders. The condition almost exclusively affects women, and it is estimated that 1 in 10 women suffer with lipoedema. The average age for diagnosis is 48 with many women suffering for long periods of time prior to diagnosis.  The most common time of onset is around puberty or when there are other hormonal shifts.  Early diagnosis leads to early intervention through appropriate conservative management and surgery to remove the fat so it does not progress.

At Vein Doctors Group, Dr Chris Lekich leads a team of expert phlebologists who have completed specialised training with the Australasian College of Phlebology.   Beyond this, our team of doctors has sub-specialised in the management of Lipoedema and Lymphoedema through formalised training, based on Dr Lekich’s collaboration with world-leading German Lipoedema Surgeon, making this proven world-class protocol available in Australia. Lipoedema is often diagnosed by Vein Doctors Group, however, we have a sister clinic that specialises specifically in this condition, called Lipoedema Surgical Solution.

For women who need to stop taking hormone-based contraceptive as part of their Lipoedema journey, our team can provide a referral to Metrocentre.  Metrocentre is part of the Coastal Medical Services group and is led by Dr Lekich.  Metrocentre provides vasectomies that use a carefully considered and reconstructive procedure, inspired by microsurgical vasectomy reversals, to maximise success of sterility.  A vasectomy performed the Metrocentre way offers the following benefits:

  • Reduction in Post Vasectomy Pain (Congestion) Syndrome as a post-operative complication
  • Retain normal function of the male reproductive organs
  • Maximise the potential of a successful future reversal
  • Preserving  lymphatics, nerves, veins and arteries
  • Metrocentre microsurgical reversals are ideal to avoid IVF hormones for women with venous and lipoedema/lymphoedema conditions.

We offer a range of conservative management treatment options to sufferers, as well as a surgical solution.