MONARKA CLINIC · LIPEDEMA PROGRAM
Your body deserves a real diagnosis.
Lipedema affects 10% of women and often goes undiagnosed for years. Monarka offers the only multidisciplinary diagnostic program that integrates specialists in vascular, endocrinology, and metabolic studies into a single process.
10%
Women with lipedema
+10
Years of diagnostic delay
3
Integrated specialties
360°
A view of metabolism
01
Visit with a lipedema specialist
02
Visit with vascular surgeon + ultrasound
03
Resting metabolism study
⸻The Monarka approach
Why lipedema takes so long to be diagnosed.
Lipedema is routinely mistaken for obesity or fluid retention. It’s a symmetrical accumulation of adipose tissue with a hormonal, genetic, and vascular basis—it doesn’t respond to diet or exercise because its origin is different.
The consequence is years of misdiagnosis, inadequate treatment, and the emotional distress of feeling like your body won’t respond to any effort. The problem isn’t you. It’s the diagnosis.
A proper approach requires multiple perspectives: the specialist who identifies the lipedema, the vascular specialist who evaluates the lymphatic and venous systems, the endocrinologist who analyzes the hormonal and metabolic context, and a basal metabolic rate study that explains how your body functions at rest.
“Half of the cases are diagnosed more than ten years late. Early diagnosis changes the prognosis of the disease.”
10%
Prevalence in adult women
Estimated at between 6% and 11% according to various European epidemiological studies. One of the most common and least diagnosed diseases.
+10 years
Average time to diagnosis
Most patients consult multiple specialists before receiving a correct diagnosis of lipedema.
46%
Specialists who recognize lipedema
Only 46% of vascular specialists surveyed in a European study were able to correctly identify lipedema.
100%
Resistant to diet and conventional exercise
Lipedema adipose tissue does not respond to calorie restriction or ordinary exercise. It requires a specific and personalized approach.
⸻ The program
A diagnostic
process
like no other.
Throughout the lipedema diagnostic process, the patient will receive psychological support with a humanistic approach. This support is designed to offer a space for listening, understanding, and emotional containment, respecting individual needs and timing at each stage of the process.
01
02
03
LIPEDEMA SPECIALIST
Initial consultation and clinical evaluation
Complete medical history, physical examination, and lipedema stage classification.
Initial consultation and clinical evaluation
Complete medical history, physical examination, and lipedema stage classification.
- Detailed medical history: onset of symptoms, relationship to hormonal changes, family history
- Physical examination: fat distribution, tenderness, spontaneous bruising, extremity involvement
- Classification by type (I–V) and stage (I–III) according to international criteria
- Differential diagnosis with obesity, lymphedema, and venous insufficiency
- Assessment of indication for further testing
ANGIOLOGY AND VASCULAR SURGERY
Vascular and lymphatic evaluation with ultrasound
Ultrasound examination of the venous and lymphatic system to rule out additional components and guide treatment.
Vascular and lymphatic evaluation with ultrasound
Ultrasound examination of the venous and lymphatic system to rule out additional components and guide treatment.
- Vascular ultrasound of the lower limbs: evaluation of the superficial and deep venous system
- Assessment of the lymphatic system: detection of associated lymphedema (lipolymphedema)
- Identification of chronic venous insufficiency as an aggravating factor
- Recommendation on therapeutic compression and lymphatic drainage
- Vascular report integrated into the final diagnosis
METABOLIC STUDY
Resting Metabolism and Energy Expenditure
Indirect calorimetry to understand how your metabolism works and design a nutritional and physical activity strategy that makes sense for you.
Resting Metabolism and Energy Expenditure
Indirect calorimetry to understand how your metabolism works and design a nutritional and physical activity strategy that makes sense for you.
- Measurement of basal metabolic rate using indirect calorimetry (resting VO2)
- Calculation of total energy expenditure and substrate distribution
- Identification of metabolic pattern: preferential oxidation of fats or carbohydrates
- Scientific basis for designing an individualized dietary plan
- Objective basis for prescribing adapted physical activity
⸻ What you receive
The diagnosis you have been searching for.
Official medical report
A documented and signed diagnosis of lipedema by a specialist. Useful for health insurance, second opinions, and access to treatments.
Vascular ultrasound report
Comprehensive ultrasound evaluation of the venous and lymphatic systems. Clinical map of the vascular factors that modulate your lipedema.
Personalized dietary plan
Nutrition plan based on your actual metabolism, not a standard diet. Designed to reduce inflammation and optimize your body composition.
Adapted physical activity guideline
Specific recommendations on type, intensity and frequency of exercise according to your metabolism and stage of lipedema.
“Lipedema is not a matter of willpower. It is a biologically based disease that deserves a serious diagnosis and a plan built on real data.”
Medical team Monarka Clinic
What if the diagnosis indicates that surgery is the best option?
⸻ Why Monarka?
What makes us different.
01
Diagnosis first, always
We begin by understanding your case before proposing any treatment. If, after diagnosis, surgery is the best option, we have a specialist lipedema surgeon within the clinic itself.
02
Metabolism measured, not estimated
We use indirect calorimetry to measure your resting metabolic rate. There are no generic formulas: your nutrition plan is built on your actual biology.
03
Four specialties in one process
Specialist in lipedema, vascular surgery, endocrinology, and metabolic studies. All coordinated in a single clinic, with a single integrated final report.
04
Documented and official diagnosis
You receive a signed medical report. Not guidance. Not a “looks like lipedema”. A diagnosis you can present wherever you need.
05
Action plan, not just diagnosis
The process doesn’t end with the paperwork. It includes specific guidelines for diet and physical activity tailored to your individual needs—so you know exactly what to do.
06
Medical approach, not aesthetic
Lipedema is a disease. We treat it as such, with the same seriousness and scientific rigor as any other chronic condition that impacts quality of life.
⸻Frequently Asked Questions
What you should
know before
your first appointment.
Which doctor diagnoses lipedema?
Diagnosing lipedema requires a specialist with specific training in this condition. Since it shares symptoms with obesity, lymphedema, and venous insufficiency, a differential diagnosis is essential. At Monarka, we perform this with an integrated team of four specialties.
What is the difference between lipedema and lymphedema?
Lipedema is a bilateral and symmetrical accumulation of adipose tissue, primarily in the legs and arms, sparing the hands and feet. Lymphedema is a lymphatic drainage disorder. Both conditions can coexist (lipo-lymphedema). The vascular assessment included in our program allows us to identify if there is an additional lymphatic component.
Is there a cure for lipedema?
Lipedema has no definitive cure, but it can be very effectively managed. With a correct diagnosis and a plan tailored to your individual needs—diet, physical activity, and, when indicated, specific medical treatment—most patients significantly improve their quality of life and slow the progression of the disease.
What information does resting metabolism provide?
A resting metabolic rate (RMR) test measures your actual basal metabolic rate and substrate oxidation pattern. This information is essential for designing a nutrition plan that works for your specific biology—not a generic diet—and for prescribing the most effective type of exercise based on your metabolism.
⸻ Request an assessment
Start to understand your biology.
The Lipedema Diagnostic Program is designed for those who want real answers. Places are limited due to the multidisciplinary nature of the process.
Clinic
Monarka Clinic · Barcelona
Web
www.monarkaclinic.com
Program price
Three specialties.
One process.
One fixed price.
Lipedema specialist
Vascular surgeon + ultrasound
Resting metabolism study
Official medical report
Personalized dietary guidelines
Adapted physical activity plan