Lipoedema Empower You Podcast

What happens after lipoedema surgery — and what can you do to support your recovery?In Part 2 of our conversation, Vanessa Armstrong and Carrie Reedy continue talking with Germany-based physiotherapist and Manual Lymphatic Drainage therapist Tanja Bröse-Kronz.We get practical about recovery, including:post-surgery Manual Lymphatic Drainagecompression and garment choicesswelling and recovery expectationsself-management between MLD appointmentspreparing for surgery away from hometravelling and flying after surgerywhat patients may want organised before their proceduresupporting your body beyond the initial surgical recoveryTanja combines her professional experience supporting lipoedema patients before and after surgery with her own lived experience of lipoedema and surgery.Whether surgery is part of your own plan or not, this conversation also highlights the ongoing role of lymphatic care, compression, movement and understanding your individual body.ETO Garments manufacture post-surgical compression garments and the made-to-measure ETO Grace range for lymphoedema and lipoedema. ETO states that ETO Grace garments can be used before and after liposuction of areas including the legs, thighs, hips, abdomen and buttocks. Australia — Haddenham Healthcare AustralasiaHaddenham AustraliaUnited Kingdom — Haddenham HealthcareHaddenham UKGermany — Your ETO GarmentsETO Garments GermanyInternational / Europe — ETO GarmentsETO Garments international siteInternational distributor list — including Australia, Germany, UK, Netherlands, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Singapore and others. Find an ETO distributorTanja Bröse-KronzPhysiotherapist & Manual Lymphatic Drainage Therapist — GermanyInstagram: @tanja_broese_kronzWebsite: tbklymphaticdrainage.com

Lipoedema surgery isn’t the finish line.In this episode, Vanessa Armstrong and Carrie Reedy are joined by Germany-based physiotherapist and Manual Lymphatic Drainage therapist Tanja Bröse-Kronz.Tanja brings both professional and lived experience with lipoedema. She works with women receiving MLD and supports patients before and after liposuction and other surgical procedures.In Part 1, we talk about:Tanja’s own lipoedema journeythe role of MLD and conservative carepreparing your body before surgerywhat patients often underestimaterecovery expectationswhy ongoing self-management still matterswhat Tanja is hearing from surgeons in Germanywhy her advice to women considering surgery is simple: take your timeThis episode is not only for women considering surgery. It is also about understanding lipoedema care more broadly and making informed choices about the tools and treatments that may support you.Connect with Tanja Bröse-KronzInstagram: @tanja_broese_kronzWebsite: tbklymphaticdrainage.comComing in Part 2:We continue the conversation with Tanja and go deeper into post-surgery recovery, MLD, compression, practical self-management, and what women travelling for lipoedema surgery should think about before and after their procedure.Lipoedema Empower YouHosted by Vanessa Armstrong & Carrie ReedyWebsite: lipoedemaempoweryou.com.auEmail: [email protected] about surgery - connect with [email protected]:This podcast is for general education and shares personal experiences only. It is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek personalised advice from appropriately qualified healthcare professionals before making decisions about your health, conservative treatment or surgery.Knowledge is your superpower.

In Part 1, Vanessa shared how she went from “I don’t need surgery”, to becoming curious, researching her options and eventually developing her own Surgery WHY.In Part 2, Carrie and Vanessa continue the conversation with what happened after the decision was made, as well as how you can begin to research and be aware of RED FLAGS. Vanessa shares her personal experience of travelling from Australia to Germany for lipoedema surgery with Dr Christian Stanger at Rosenpark Klinik — including preparing for surgery, the reality of surgery and recovery, and what life looks like approximately two years later.We talk about the things that can be harder to see in an Instagram before-and-after:• preparing your body and health before surgery• why your complete medical history matters• the emotions and fear that can come before surgery• travelling overseas for treatment• Vanessa's experience of tumescent/TLA lipoedema surgery• the early recovery period and allowing your body time to heal• expectations versus reality• body image after surgery• protecting the investment you have made in your health• what improved for Vanessa — and what surgery did not magically change• what she has learned now that she can look back approximately two years later.Most importantly, this is one woman's experience — not a roadmap for yours.Vanessa is not recommending that anyone have surgery, travel overseas for surgery or choose the surgeon or clinic she chose.There is no single “best” surgeon, country, technique or pathway for everyone.Your health, stage of lipoedema, medical history, risk profile, finances, family situation, priorities and personal Surgery WHY may be very different.Do your own due diligence.Research beyond the beautiful results on social media. Speak with long-term patients where possible. Understand the qualifications and experience of the clinician treating you. Ask about the actual procedure being recommended, risks, alternatives, aftercare and complication pathway.Knowledge should help you make your own informed decision, not convince you to make Vanessa's.Lipoedema Empower Youhttps://lipoedemaempoweryou.com.auFollow the podcast and find our latest episodes, resources and ways to connect with Carrie and Vanessa.Vanessa's personal lipoedema surgery journeyhttps://www.instagram.com/lipoedema.aus.germany.surgery/This is Vanessa's personal, educational account documenting aspects of her own surgery journey. It is not a recommendation of a surgeon or surgical pathway.Global Lipoedema Awareness - Surgeries/Surgeonshttps://www.facebook.com/share/g/19WrvDusgd/An international Facebook community where women with lipoedema can connect, share experiences and learn from others around the world. As with any social-media group, patient experiences can be incredibly useful starting points for research — but they should not replace your own medical advice and due diligence.Vanessa ArmstrongHealth & Mindset CoachFounder – Keto Buddies & Lipoedema CoachingKeto Buddies:https://www.ketobuddies.com.auLipoedema Coaching:https://www.lipoedemacoaching.com.auIf you would like support to clarify your own Surgery WHY, prepare your body and mindset, explore conservative-management strategies or build sustainable health habits, you can connect with Vanessa through Lipoedema Coaching.Carrie ReedyFunctional NutritionistFounder – Carrie Reedy Functional NutritionYou can also connect with Carrie through the Lipoedema Empower You website:https://lipoedemaempoweryou.com.auPLEASE FOLLOW & REVIEW THE PODCASTIf you're enjoying Lipoedema Empower You, please follow the podcast and leave us a 5-star review.Thank you for listening. 💜Educational disclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences and general educational information. It is not medical advice and should not replace individual advice from appropriately qualified healthcare professionals.

When Vanessa Armstrong was first diagnosed with lipoedema, surgery was not on her radar at all.She had already lost around 45 kg, was active, playing tennis, managing inflammation through nutrition and lifestyle, and felt she had a strong conservative-management toolbox.So how did she go from:“I’m not having surgery.”to“I’ll get curious about surgery.”to“There’s no way I’d go overseas.”to eventually travelling to Germany for lipoedema surgery?In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Carrie turns the microphone on Vanessa to explore the journey before surgery — the research, questions, uncertainty and decision-making that helped Vanessa discover her own Surgery WHY.Perhaps you’re only beginning to explore whether surgery is right for you, already researching surgeons and feeling overwhelmed, or preparing for surgery and recovery.Vanessa supports women to discover their Surgery WHY, build a strong conservative-management toolbox, and reduce inflammation to better support their pre- and post-surgery goals. She helps women clarify what matters most to them, identify the questions they may want to ask potential surgeons, define what a successful outcome looks like for them, and prepare their body and mind before surgery and through recovery. If you are curious about support, Vanessa offers first consultations free. 👉 Book your free consultation HERE 👉 See more at Vanessa's surgery instagram HERE @lipoedema.aus.germany.surgeryThis episode is not about telling you whether to have surgery or who to choose. It is about becoming a more informed patient. This is not medical advice; it is an individual's journey to her own decisions. Vanessa shares how she:• approached surgery as a tool, not a cure• explored Australian options before widening her research overseas• interviewed several surgeons rather than simply asking “Who is the best?”• created a spreadsheet and asked similar questions across consultations• learnt to see a consultation as a two-way interview• contacted previous patients, including women years after surgery• asked about pain, recovery, complications, scarring, quality of life and whether they would choose the same surgeon again• used MLD therapists and other practitioners as valuable sources of information• learnt why another woman’s “perfect surgeon” may not be right for you• managed the mental load of surgery research• discovered why she believes you should never choose a surgeon from Instagram aloneOne of Vanessa’s strongest messages:You can research surgery without deciding to have surgery.Curiosity does not equal commitment.The goal is not simply to find the surgeon everyone else recommends. It is to understand your body, your priorities, your expectations and what a successful outcome means to you.Germany, surgery preparation, surgery day, recovery, what surprised Vanessa, what changed, what didn’t — and how she feels about her decision two years later.Medical DisclaimerThis podcast shares personal experience and general educational information only. It is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, nor is Vanessa’s experience a recommendation to undergo surgery, travel overseas for medical treatment, or choose any particular surgeon, clinic, hospital or technique.Every person’s health, lipoedema presentation, medical history, risks and circumstances are different. Always seek personalised advice from appropriately qualified healthcare professionals before making healthcare decisions.🎙️ Lipoedema Empower You PodcastHosted by Vanessa Armstrong & Carrie Reedy🌐 lipoedemaempoweryou.com.auhttps://www.instagram.com/lipoedema.aus.germany.surgery/

A holiday should not become another full-time lipoedema management project. Vanessa and Carrie share what genuinelyhelped—and what they deliberately let go—during recent trips through Canada and Europe. How do you travel with lipoedema without spending the entire holiday worrying about swelling, food, compression, clothing or getting out of your routine?After recent trips through Canada, Europe and a Mediterranean cruise, Vanessa and Carrie come together for an honest conversation about what worked, what did not, and what they learned about permitting themselves to live.They discuss long-haul flights, heat, compression choices, airport mobility assistance, movement, hydration, eating away from home, alcohol, overpacking, body confidence and returning to routine without punishment or all-or-nothingthinking.In this episode:• Preparing your body and your practical travel plan before a long flight• Compression options and simple movement strategies while flying• Why asking for airport assistance or a seatbelt extender is not failure• Choosing food experiences intentionally—and enjoying them without guilt• Protein-led meals, restaurant swaps, portion sharing and travel-day snacks• Managing heat, hydration, electrolytes and tired legs• Why stress reduction and being present may matter as much as a perfectroutine• Alcohol delay strategies and avoiding the ‘holiday is already blown’ mindset• Wearing the shorts, swimsuit, skirt or flowy pants that help you participate• Returning home gently and rebuilding your normal rhythmThe central message: manage your lipoedema so you can live—not live your whole life solely to manage lipoedema. There is no perfect holiday routine. Plan what matters most, adapt to the reality in front of you, and give yourself grace to enjoy the people and places you travelled to experience.This conversation shares lived experience and general education only. Speak with your own qualified health professional about compression, blood-clot risk, medication, exercise or other individual travel needs.Connect With UsLipoedema Empower You websiteVanessa Armstrong – Keto BuddiesVanessa– Lipoedema CoachingCarrie Reedy Functional NutritionHelpful Listener ReferencesLipoedema Australia – Treatment and management principles — Australian overview of compression and individualised lipoedema management.Lipoedema Australia – Resources — Compression FAQs and best-practice resources.Better Health Channel – Lipoedema — Victoriangovernment health information on management options.Healthdirect Australia – Lipoedema — Australian consumer health information.CDC – Blood clots and travel — Long-distancetravel risk factors, movement and when to seek personalised advice.Standard of Care for Lipedema in the United States— Peer-reviewed overview of conservative management and self-care.We’d Love Your SupportIf you’re enjoying the podcast, please take a moment to follow, rate and leave us a five-star review.It helps more people in the lipoedema community discover the podcast and find the support, information and encouragement they may need.Thank you so much for supporting us. Ness and Carrie. #lipoedema#lipedema#inflammation#holidaywithlipoedema#lipoedemaaustralia#lipedemasurgery#lowcarb#keto