Bullies dubbed me 'tree trunk legs' after rare illness saw them balloon – after having fat sucked out I can wear bikinis

LEAH Paton was called ‘tree trunk legs’ and ‘elephant legs’ before she
was diagnosed with a chronic progressive disorder she’d never heard
of.

The 23-year-old had gone through high school embarrassed by her weight
and the size of her legs.

But a shopping trip with her mum proved to be the turning point where
Leah was determined to find out the cause of her ‘big legs’.

Leah, from Biddulph Moor, Staffordshire, said: “I’ve always had big legs, and it’s always run in the family, but when I was 15 they seemed to get a lot
bigger. I’d also put three stone on, so I’d just put it down to weight
gain.

“I got a personal trainer when I was 18 and lost a lot of weight but
my legs were still bigger and every time I measured them they were
still the same size.

“I was out shopping with my mum and she said that even though I was
exercising, my legs were still quite big. I got really defensive and
upset, but I knew there was something not quite right. I was a size 10
up top, but nearly a 20 on my bottom.

“I got home a googled ‘small top, bigger legs’ and lipedema showed up
and the pictures looked just like my legs.”

Leah got booked in for a doctor's appointment and took printouts of
her own research, but the GP had never even heard of the condition.

A consultant at Royal Stoke University Hospital recognised her
condition, and told her about her options.

The progressive chronic disorder is an accumulation of fat cells and
has no cure, but can be treated with compression, lymphatic massages
or liposuction.

Leah travelled to London to see expert professionals about her sore
and swollen legs, where she received a formal diagnosis.

She said: “To get a diagnosis was such a relief because I finally knew
what was causing my legs to be big, but I was gutted to be part of the
11 per cent of women affected by the condition.

I hated my legs and was called some vile names like tree trunk legs and elephant legs, which stopped me wearing bikinis. It was a real
mental battle.

“I had it in my thighs, buttocks and lower back, and was told I’d need
three operations to remove it.

“I had to travel to Germany for treatment as the liposuction isn’t
offered on the NHS often as it’s classed as cosmetic. I know the NHS
can’t do everything, but it had a real effect on my mental health.

“I hated my legs and was called some vile names like tree trunk legs
and elephant legs, which stopped me wearing bikinis. It was a real
mental battle.”

Leah and her family self-funded three visits to a German clinic
specialising in liposuction for lipedema patients, with her first
operation in May 2017.

Each visit cost between £3,000 to £5,000 – with hotel and travel fees on top.

The 23-year-old added: “I had my inner thighs done first and the
operation took five hours. My recovery was quite slow and I was really
dizzy. My bandages needed changing twice a day and I needed to wear
compression 24 hours a day for two weeks.”

Leah had her second operation in April 2018, followed by a third in
July the same year, which she described as ‘life changing’.

She said: “Those operations really changed my life. I really struggled
throughout high school as people just thought I was fat. I was growing
up around girls comparing their weight, and I would always lie about
mine because I was embarrassed.”

Now, Leah is so much happier and wants to support other women with the
condition, and is undertaking a personal training and nutritionist
diploma.

She now walks 10,000 steps a day and goes to the gym for five hours a week.

She said: “I feel so much better and I’m a lot happier to talk about
my condition now. I’ve been really into my health and fitness since my
operations and have started my diplomas.

What is lipodema?

Lipoedema is a chronic condition where there's an abnormal build-up of fat cells in the legs, thighs and buttocks, and sometimes in the arms.

The condition usually only affects women, although in rare cases it can also affect men.

Feet and hands aren't affected, which creates a "bracelet" effect or "band-like" appearance just above the ankles and wrists.

Leg and arm size can vary between individuals with lipoedema, and the condition can gradually get worse over time.

As well as becoming enlarged, affected areas of the body may:

• feel soft, "doughy" and cold
• bruise easily
• ache or feel painful or tender
• have small broken veins under the skin

It can also lead to reduced mobility and psychological issues, such as low self-esteem.

Someone with lipoedema may eventually get fluid retention, known as lymphoedema, in their legs.

This type of swelling can worsen by the end of the day and may improve overnight, whereas the fatty swelling of lipoedema is constant.

The cause of lipoedema isn't known, but in some cases there's a family history of the condition.

It tends to start at puberty or at other times of hormonal change, such during pregnancy or the menopause, which suggests hormones may also have an influence.

Although the accumulation of fat cells is often worse in obese people, lipoedema isn't caused by obesity and can affect people who are a healthy weight.

There's been little research into lipoedema, so there's some uncertainty about the best way to treat the condition.

The only treatment that appears to be effective in reducing the build-up of fatty tissue associated with lipoedema is a procedure called tumescent liposuction.

“Being active has really helped me with my overall health, and I’ve
noticed that certain foods can trigger swelling in my legs, like
dairy. I’ve moved to a more plant based diet and I've felt so much
better since.

“Having the condition has really shaped my career. I was so miserable
and was drinking because I was miserable and the next day I'd eat
loads due to the hangover.

“Since getting into fitness I really want to help others and if I can
specialise in helping those with lipedema to help women who need
guidance on what to eat and how to manage their condition and raise
awareness of it.”

This mum told how she wanted to 'chop her leg off' after lipodema caused her legs to swell.

And meet the woman who was fat-shamed for years because of lipodema.

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