If you have lipedema, the right compression garment can make your legs feel lighter, less achy and less tender by the end of the day. The wrong one can roll, dig in at the ankle or knee, or simply end up in a drawer. This guide walks through what we look at when we help someone with lipedema choose a garment, so you know what to ask about at your fitting.
What compression can and can't do for lipedema
Lipedema is a build-up of tender fat, usually in both legs and sometimes the arms, that diet and exercise don't shift the way they do ordinary fat. Compression does not remove lipedema fat or change the shape of your legs. What many people notice instead is less heaviness, aching and bruising, less swelling by evening, and support for the skin and tissue. That is the goal we fit for: comfort you can wear every day.
Start with comfort and tenderness
Lipedema legs are often sore to the touch, so a garment that feels like a vice won't get worn. For many people a lighter level, often 15–20 or 20–30 mmHg, is the right place to start, and your provider or lymphedema therapist will set the level for you. We also pay attention to the fabric itself:
Soft, stretchy knits are easier on tender legs and easier to pull on. Examples we carry include Juzo Soft and mediven comfort.
Textured, high-waist styles made for lipedema, such as Juzo Sensation capris and pantyhose, are designed with lipedema shape and tenderness in mind.
Footless leggings like mediven comfort sculpt can suit milder symptoms and work well under everyday clothes.
Ready-to-wear or made to measure?
Ready-to-wear (circular-knit) garments are seamless and stretchy. They can work well in earlier lipedema when your leg shape is fairly even. Because they stretch so much, though, they tend to cut into areas where the shape changes sharply, such as a fat pad at the ankle ("cuffing"), around the knee, or at the thigh.
Made-to-measure (flat-knit) garments are knitted to your exact measurements and hold their shape across those curves instead of digging in. They are usually the better choice when you have:
A ridge or cuff of tissue above the ankle
Folds, lobules or a big difference in size from ankle to thigh
Swelling that has started to involve the feet (sometimes called lipo-lymphedema)
A ready-to-wear garment that keeps rolling, sliding down or leaving deep marks
Softer made-to-measure lines such as Sigvaris OPTIFORM FLEX, JOBST Elvarex Soft, Juzo made-to-measure Soft, mediven cosy and L&R Tribute Freedom are often chosen for lipedema because they are gentler on tender tissue. For more detail, read Flat Knit vs. Circular Knit Garments for Lipedema.
Pick the style that covers where you feel it
Capris or leggings if your symptoms are mostly hips, thighs and knees.
Pantyhose or waist-high if the whole leg is involved. A high waist helps keep the garment from rolling at the tummy.
Open toe if your feet are not affected, or if closed toes feel tight.
Adjustable wraps (for example CircAid Juxtafit Essentials or L&R ReadyWrap) if pulling on a garment is hard because of arthritis, weak grip or tenderness. The straps let you set the fit yourself.
Matching your needs to a garment
Here's where we usually start for common lipedema needs. Your fitter will confirm the level and size, and we may suggest others depending on how your legs measure.
Legs are tender or bruise easily: soft, stretchy ready-to-wear such as Juzo Soft or mediven comfort. In made-to-measure, Sigvaris OPTIFORM FLEX or JOBST Elvarex Soft.
Mild symptoms and you want something easy to wear under clothes: mediven comfort sculpt (footless legging with a tummy shaper, 15–20 mmHg) or Juzo Sensation capris or pantyhose (15–20 mmHg, made for lipedema).
Ankle cuffing, folds, or a garment that keeps rolling or digging in: made-to-measure flat knit such as Sigvaris OPTIFORM FLEX, Juzo made-to-measure Soft, mediven cosy 450 or L&R Tribute Freedom capris and pants.
Your feet or toes swell too: a firmer made-to-measure flat knit such as JOBST Elvarex, mediven 550 (toe caps available) or Sigvaris OPTIFORM HOLD.
Pulling garments on is hard: adjustable wraps such as CircAid Juxtafit Essentials or L&R ReadyWrap, or a custom garment with a zipper (L&R ExoCustom offers zipper options).
Sensitive skin or a latex allergy: latex-free lines such as Sigvaris OPTIFORM FLEX, JOBST Elvarex Soft or L&R Tribute Freedom.
Legs swell or ache at night: ask about a night garment such as CircAid Profile or JOBST JoViPak.
Before your fitting: a quick safety check
Tell us, your doctor or your therapist if you have any of these. They don't always rule out compression, but your provider needs to check first:
Calf pain when you walk that eases when you stop, or foot pain at night
Feet that are often cold, pale or numb
Diabetes with numbness in your feet
Heart failure or kidney problems
Any open sore or wound on your legs
Tips that make lipedema garments easier to live with
Get measured in the morning, before swelling builds up.
Use rubber donning gloves. They help you smooth the fabric without pinching tender skin.
Have two garments so one can be washed while you wear the other.
If a garment rolls, digs in or leaves deep grooves, call us. That usually means the size or style needs to change, not that you should push through it.
Pair compression with movement you enjoy. Walking, swimming and water exercise are often comfortable with lipedema. See Living with Lipedema: Comfort and Lifestyle Tips.
Talk to us
Every leg is different, and the right garment is the one you'll actually wear. Our certified fitters will measure you, talk through how your legs feel day to day, and help you compare options from several manufacturers. Call 800-883-1549 or text (517) 657-5223 to book a fitting.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Your provider or lymphedema therapist decides what compression level and garment type are right for you.
