Diagnosing lipedema is exasperating. On one hand, we know it when we see it but on the other hand, there is no test that a physician can send out for. There are no known genes, no blood tests, and no accepted imaging modalities. Yet.

Some clinicians require pain in order to make the diagnosis.

Some clinicians require swelling in order to make the diagnosis.

Some clinicians require a different texture in the fat in order to make the diagnosis. Although these nodules can be felt by hand, even in early stages, there is no way to 'see' them without cutting into someone.

But the photos of lipedema show the same features:

Disproportion between abdomen and limbs
Normal feet with an increase of fat at the ankle
Fat pad inside below the knee
Inner upper thigh hang
Fat pad overhanging the knee
Lax skin and joints

So we can see it with our eyes. And we can feel it with our hands. But why can't we get a confirmatory test?

We'll get there. In the mean time, please review this and send feedback: diagnoses