From Awareness to Advocacy: Lipedema Conversations with Sarah Kitchens

Sarah Kitchens on Lipedema: Diagnosis, Advocacy, and a Multi-Surgery Journey with Dr. HagopianHosts Cindy and Kristy welcome Sarah Kitchens, a wife, mother of three, professor, and trauma-focused therapist, to discuss her lipedema journey. Sarah believes symptoms began around age 9–10 but she wasn’t diagnosed until 40 after discovering lipedema on social media; she then pursued research, sought medical referrals (including MLD), and obtained an official diagnosis with Dr. Byrd. She describes years of body-image struggles, disconnection from her body, and confusion from being told to “eat less, exercise more,” and how diagnosis brought relief and deeper empathy for clients. Sarah details surgeries with Dr. Hagopian: Sept 2025 (10 liters from legs), Dec 2025 (3.5 liters from trunk plus fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty/panniculectomy), and March 2026 (12 liters posterior legs/back with spiral thigh lift), with a future arm surgery planned; she discusses wound risks, recovery challenges, insurance hurdles, costs, and the importance of strong family support, social media awareness, and persistent self-advocacy.00:00 Welcome to the Show00:56 Meet Sarah Kitchens01:32 Early Signs of Lipedema02:21 Finding Answers Online05:10 Mental Health Impact08:31 Diagnosis Journey11:41 Doctors and Advocacy16:10 Surgery Consult and Timeline20:18 Recovery and Wound Risks25:19 Choosing Surgery Despite Risks26:25 Sharing the Journey Online27:43 Anesthesia Confessions and Gratitude28:08 Insurance Battles and Costs34:52 Family Support During Recovery38:32 Recovery Realities No One Mentions41:15 Social Media Community and Awareness44:24 Advocacy and Educating Doctors46:58 Advice and Episode WrapFollow us on Social media!!!Kristy's Contact information:IG⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/dellalunawellness/⁠FB Group⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1F3pseJKUd/?mibextid=wwXIfr⁠⁠⁠⁠Website  Kristy Dellacroce, MS,OTR/L, MLD-C⁠⁠ Dellalunawellness.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lipedema Advocate 856-297-7437Cindy contact information⁠FB:⁠ ⁠https://www.facebook.com/withcindyhowell⁠⁠⁠Private FB Group:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/7021999704562921⁠⁠⁠⁠IG:⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/lipedema_withcindyhowell/⁠Cindy Howell RN, CLT, MPCHWebsite:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.withcindyhowell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠Lipedema advocate: 860-550-1161Top 5 Foods to Avoid for Managing Lipedema! Link:⁠ https://withcindyhowell.com/checklist/⁠Free surgery course: ⁠⁠https://l.bttr.to/6cATB⁠Sarah Kitchenshttps://www.instagram.com/sarah.lifelipedema/https://www.tiktok.com/@sarah.lipedema.unmaskedhttps://www.facebook.com/share/18ZSgTfLfn/?mibextid=wwXIfr