Lipedema is a chronic condition that causes painful swelling and discomfort. At La Clinique Naturelle in Geneva, we offer specialized care through manual lymphatic drainage and personalized therapeutic advice to reduce pain and minimize swelling.
What therapeutic and medical treatment options are available for lipedema in Switzerland?
Conservative" therapy
In Switzerland, there is no compulsory universal coverage for lipoedema treatments. Nevertheless, a certain number of benefits are currently covered, and coverage is tending to improve, particularly now that cover for surgery can be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
Treatment generally consists of relieving symptoms and slowing the progression of lipoedema through conservative therapy:
- A specialized lymphatic drainage technique that goes deeper than traditional lymphatic drainage
- Reduce swelling with a compression bandage over a few days to deflate the swelling before wearing compression garments over the long term.
- Made-to-measure support with the help of an orthopedist and a doctor's prescription,
- Appropriate exercise (water sports, walking, cycling, etc.) can help control weight gain and relieve pain. Aquagym, fitness classes, sports, and nutrition may be covered by certain supplemental health insurance plans.
- Good quality pressotherapy boots can provide relief between drainage sessions.
- Control your calorie intake to avoid weight gain.
In certain cases, surgery (liposuction) could be reimbursed by the LAMAL, but only for patients who suffer from pain, and for whom the intensive conservative therapy mentioned above is insufficient after at least 12 months.
However, it is important that this is carried out by a surgeon experienced in the treatment of this pathology. In some cases, the operation may be reimbursed by the LAMAL if the insurance company and hospital prove that other measures are no longer sufficient. In this case, the patient must be monitored by the hospital, which will first ask him or her to follow a healthy lifestyle as outlined above.
To begin the 12 months of conservative therapy, you need a diagnosis, usually by an angiologist, and prescriptions for compression garments and manual lymphatic drainage. The 12 months begin when the compression garments are ordered and the drainage begins. It is not necessary to be treated by the angiology department of the CHUV or the HUG to start intensive conservative therapy: most angiologists can prescribe it.
After this period, two doctors from disciplines related to the disease (angiology, dermatology, plastic surgery, etc.) must recommend the operation for it to be covered, and the operation must be performed by a specialist. The request cannot, in principle, be made by the patient or her GP.
At present, patients receive both refusals and approvals from insurance companies, but it seems that approvals are becoming more regular, and insurance companies are responding more quickly. In the event of an insurance refusal, it is possible to appeal. If you have legal protection, you can call on it (beware of coverage for this type of problem, depending on the contract, and of waiting periods). It can therefore be very useful for patients to take out this type of insurance before starting any steps to obtain reimbursement for an operation, or even before the diagnosis or as soon as it has been made.
At Clinique Naturelle, we offer the following therapeutic services:
What Makes Our Support So Effective
Are the sessions covered by supplemental insurance?
Some supplemental insurance plans may cover part of the cost of sessions. However, coverage depends on your policy, the type of therapy you receive, and the therapist you choose.
Before your first appointment, we recommend that you contact your insurance provider directly and provide them with the following information:
- the therapist's name;
- the therapy in question.
The therapists at La Clinique Naturelle hold professional accreditations that vary depending on their specialty, including accreditation fromASCA and/or RME. However, these accreditations do not automatically guarantee reimbursement for sessions: only your insurance provider can confirm the exact terms of your coverage.
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Further information
Sources and Medical Information
The information on this page is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.
The information on this page was compiled based on recommendations and authoritative medical sources on lipedema.
- German Society for Phlebology and Lymphology – S2k Guideline: Lipedema (2024)
Recommendations on the diagnosis and management of lipedema, including conservative treatments, compression, physical activity, and nutritional approaches.
https://register.awmf.org/assets/guidelines/037_D_Ges_fuer_Phlebologie/037-012le_S2k_Lipoedema__2024-08.pdf - Herbst K. et al. – Standard of Care for Lipedema in the United States, Phlebology (2021)
Recommendations covering, in particular, the evaluation of lipedema, manual lymphatic drainage, conservative therapies, and a multidisciplinary approach.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/02683555211015887 - NHS – Lipoedema
Medical information on the symptoms of lipoedema, its diagnosis, how it differs from other conditions, and the main treatment options.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lipoedema/ - NHS – Lymphedema
Medical information on lymphedema, its symptoms, causes, and management, which is particularly useful for distinguishing between lymphedema and lipedema.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lymphoedema/
Last update to this page: September 16, 2026