Medicine and Me: Lipoedema in the Spotlight – What Clinicians and Patients Need to Know

Professor Manuel E. Cornely is a specialist in dermatology and venereology, and Honorary Professor of the University of Puebla for his services in lymphology. He is also the Founding President of the Professional Association of Lymphologists. He is currently working as a Senior Consultant in Lymphology at the ‘SchönKlinik’ in Düsseldorf, where he is setting up a new department for surgical lymphology.

Professor Cornely has been active in lymphological research since 1992. He has been operating regularly and continuously on lipoedema or lymphedema of the arms and legs since 1997. Since 2018, he has been the Scientific Director of the non-profit institute for lymphological basic research LY. SEARCH gGmbH in Düsseldorf. He publishes in national and international journals and is the author and editor of the compendium ‘Applied Lymphology – Fundamentals, Everyday Life, Perspectives.’

He developed the procedure Lymphological Liposculpture by Prof. Cornely™ and initiated the paradigm shift on the previously only conservatively treated disease lipoedema through the surgical treatment option. With over 20 years of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of lipohyperplasia dolorosa (lipoedema) and, as part of his team with well over 12,000 operations, Professor Cornely is highly skilled in the field of resective operative lymphology.

Currently, Professor Cornely and his medical centres are leading the LIPLEG study, approved by the Federal Joint Committee of Doctors and Health Insurance in Germany (G-BA: Gemeinsamen Bundesausschuss). Professor Cornely lectures at many national and international conferences and congresses and promotes the interdisciplinary exchange of information between renowned specialists and scientists on all aspects of lymphology, to be able to pursue scientific questions in a bundled and competent manner and to work them up in a goal-oriented manner.

Joanna Dudek is a psychologist, psychotherapist, and Assistant Professor at SWPS University in Warsaw, Poland. Her academic work focuses on the quality of life and psychological functioning of individuals living with lipoedema. She has conducted pioneering research highlighting the importance of psychosocial functioning and overall wellbeing in this patient group.

She is the co-author of numerous scientific articles, book chapters, and conference presentations, and has delivered workshops on the psychological aspects of living with lipoedema internationally. She is also actively involved in research on psychological interventions aimed at improving patients’ functioning and quality of life.

Her current international research includes studies on lipoedema and pregnancy, addressing specific challenges in this area.

Dr Dudek is a member of the Parliamentary Team on Lipoedema in Poland, where she contributes to efforts aimed at increasing public awareness, improving patient care, and reducing stigma and misunderstanding surrounding the condition.

Her overarching goal is to advance knowledge about lipoedema and promote an integrated approach to care that brings together both medical and psychosocial perspectives.

Holding a BSc (Hons) in Microbiology and Immunology, Lorraine has a career spanning over 20 years in wound care and medical devices.

Following graduation, Lorraine joined Johnson & Johnson Wound Management, remaining with the business through its evolution into Systagenix and subsequently Acelity/KCI. During this time, Lorraine held roles across R&D, clinical affairs, and scientific affairs, providing technical and scientific support across the moist wound healing, biologics, diagnostics, and antimicrobial platforms. During this time, Lorraine also went on secondment to the University of Massachusetts Plastic Surgery Department, where she undertook research projects bridging laboratory science and clinical practice in wound healing biology. Lorraine subsequently broadened their medical device experience as Clinical Strategy Manager at RB Healthcare, with responsibility across foot care, eye care, and the sexual health portfolio, before returning to Acelity as Scientific Affairs Manager for Advanced Wound Dressings. In this role, Lorraine led scientific, educational, and clinical projects, working closely with the medical education team — a collaboration that led to a transition into a Medical Education Manager role in 3M.

Lorraine currently serves as Clinical and Education Manager at Daylong Direct, a distributor and manufacturer of compression garments for lipoedema and lymphoedema. In this role, she is responsible for delivering training and education to healthcare professionals, and for supporting the clinical evaluation and evidence generation for their product portfolio.

After being qualified as in 1998, Associate Professor Forner-Cordero was trained in lymphology in France, Germany and Belgium. She has been working in the Lymphedema Unit in University Hospital La Fe, Valencia (Spain), since July 2000, in the diagnosis and treatment pf lymphedema and lipoedema. She has conducted some research and published the results in international journals and congresses.

Associate Professor Forner-Cordero is a Member of the Executive Committee of the European Society of Lymphology, Member of the Board of the Lipedema World Alliance, member of the Board of the International Compression Club, Developing partner of VASCERN and President and Founder of the Spanish Group of Lymphology. She is also Associate professor at University of Valencia.

ORCID identification: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2778-037X

Anne is an experienced nurse consultant, with a specialist focus on supporting people living with lymphoedema and lipoedema. Anne worked within the NHS for over 25 years before establishing Esklymphology, a clinical and consultancy organisation, in 2004. Anne is a retired university lecturer and now supports Lipoedema UK as a Research Advisor. Anne has led and collaborated on a range of research studies relating to lymphoedema and lipoedema. She took a leadership role in the development of the Best Practice Guidelines for the Management of Lipoedema in the UK in 2017.

Anne provides clinical treatment, care and support to people with lymphoedema, and women with lipoedema. She has worked with several third sector organisations, supporting them to develop and deliver services. She currently volunteers with Lipoedema UK where she supports academic developments, advocating to improve the opportunities for women with lipoedema in the UK and beyond.

Dr Philipp Kruppa is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon specialising in lymphatic diseases and microsurgery, with a primary clinical and research focus on lipoedema. His work centers on improving the diagnosis, evaluation, and surgical management of this often underrecognised condition. Lipoedema reduction surgery, combined with systematic assessment of symptoms and lymphatic function, is a cornerstone of his clinical practice. His research is dedicated primarily to lipoedema. Beginning during residency, his work has explored disease pathophysiology, staging, comorbidities, imaging, and patient-reported outcomes following surgery.

Dr Kruppa has authored numerous scientific publications, including studies demonstrating significant symptom relief and quality-of-life improvements after surgical treatment. As principal investigator, he led a mechanistic tissue study linking adipocyte hypertrophy, tissue remodeling, and macrophage polarisation to disease severity. Dr Kruppa’s ongoing research aims to identify objective biomarkers for lipoedema through molecular tissue and blood analysis, alongside advanced imaging techniques, with the goal of enabling more reliable diagnosis.

Actively engaged in international collaborations, Dr Kruppa works to advance standardised care and multicenter research. His overarching goal is to reduce the burden of lipoedema through improved diagnostics, optimised treatments and deeper understanding of disease mechanisms.

Linda-Anne Kahn, NCBTMB, CLT-LANA is a Lymphedema Therapist, Clinical Aromatherapist and Board-Certified Massage Therapist with over 35 years of clinical experience.

She holds International certifications from the Dr. Vodder School, Austria; Foeldi School, Germany; and University of Adelaide, Drs. John and Judith Casley-Smith, Australia. She is nationally certified by the Lymphology Association of North America and is a sought-after speaker at Lymphatic and Aromatherapy conferences, nationally and internationally. She is nationally certified by the Lymphology Association of North America (LANA).

Linda Anne is the founder and director of Lymphatic Therapy Services in San Diego, California, USA. She is a co-author of the Standard of Care for Lipedema USA and “Lymphedema and Lipedema Nutrition Guide” and is founding member of the Lipedema World Alliance.

Jonathan Kartt is CEO of the Lipedema Foundation, a US-based charity dedicated to advancing the scientific understanding of Lipedema and laying the groundwork for the next generation of diagnostics and treatments. The Foundation supports investigator-initiated research worldwide, funds infrastructure including the Lipedema Foundation Registry and tissue biobanking efforts, and convenes patients, clinicians, and scientists to accelerate progress in the field. He joined the Foundation in 2021 from the Rita Allen Foundation, where he led programs in basic biomedical research and chronic pain. Earlier, he spent eight years as a strategy consultant at Strategic Decisions Group and The Bridgespan Group, advising life sciences companies, nonprofits and foundations. He is committed to building the evidence base and resources that lipedema patients and their care teams urgently need.

Sara Percival-Mills MSc has been a Clinical Advisor for Lipoedema UK for over 10 years and became a Trustee in 2022. With a clinical background, an MSc in Advance Practice and qualifications in lymphoedema management, she is the Lead for the North Essex Lymphoedema Service which she helped set up in 2008 with charitable funding. Since this time, she has worked with Commissioning Boards and successfully secured NHS funding in 2015 and again in 2018 to extend the service remit to be able to see Lipoedema patients as well. She is passionate about raising awareness of Lipoedema and the impact it can have while promoting care equality. Outside of work, Sara enjoys the challenges of gardening, watching rugby and has recently taken up golf.