The PANTEA Center for Lipedema Surgery - we are among the internationally recognized top lipedema researchers
We are not only a leading center for lipedema surgery in Germany, but also internationally recognized lipedema scientists.
As the daughter of a married couple of professors of molecular biology and herself a lipoedema sufferer, Dr. Anna-Theresa Lipp has made it her mission to advance research into lipoedema. Together with her parents and the doctors at PANTEA, she conducts cutting-edge research in the field of lipoedema with her own research team.
His father, Prof. Dr. Hans-Christian Bauer, studied biology, physiology, psychology and philosophy at the University of Innsbruck and graduated with distinction. He then conducted research as a Max Planck Fellow at the Institute for Immunobiology in Freiburg, as a Fogharty Fellow at the Laboratory for Developmental Neurobiology in Bethesda and at the Howard University Cancer Center in Washington, DC. Dr. Bauer has been working in Salzburg since 1983 - first as a group leader at the Institute of Molecular Biology at the Austrian Academy of Sciences, then from 2004 as head of department at the Department of Organismic Biology at the University of Salzburg and from 2012 to 2018 as head of the Research Institute for Tendon and Bone Regeneration at the Paracelsus Medical Private University Salzburg. He has been a professor emeritus and honorary researcher for PANTEA since 2018.
Dr. Hannelore Bauer studied Romance languages and literature and biology at the University of Salzburg. She received her doctorate in biology with distinction. This was followed by numerous research stays at research institutes and universities in London and Bern, among others. She completed her habilitation in 2005 at the University of Salzburg in the field of organismic biology. Dr. Bauer has received several awards for her outstanding teaching at the University of Salzburg and for her commitment to the development of virtual zoology and anatomy. Since 2019, she has been conducting basic research on lipedema at the University of Salzburg in cooperation with her daughter and is an honorary researcher at PANTEA.
For many years, we have been conducting joint research on topics such as nutrition in lipoedema and cell studies in an independent laboratory in Salzburg. In basic research on lip edema, Dr. Lipp's team focuses on the development of the disease (pathology) by means of histological examinations (cell examinations). This has led to research collaborations with the University of Salzburg and the Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg.
Dr. Lipp and her team have already received several international awards for their successful research.
Prestigious research awards won for outstanding cutting-edge research
EASAPS - Voice of Europe Award 2019
Best Paper - PRS Award 2020
Video: Lipedema research at the PANTEA Private Practice for Plastic & Aesthetic Surgery
General studies on lipoedema - causes and development
The cause of lipoedema is still unclear. There are currently various hypotheses about its development - the doctors at PANTEA have also been researching the causes and treatment options for lipoedema for years. Dr. Anna-Theresa Lipp is considered one of the world's leading basic researchers in this field.
On the one hand, a genetic predisposition is suspected. A family history can often be observed. Since lipoedema usually occurs or worsens during phases of hormonal change, a connection with oestrogen is suspected. A disruption in the distribution pattern of certain oestrogen receptors in the affected fatty tissue is suspected.
Another cause of lipoedema is microvascular dysfunction in the lymphatic and blood capillaries. A lack of transport capacity in the lymphatic vessels prevents the removal of lipid- and protein-rich substances and leads to congestion. As a result, fewer and fewer fat cells can be removed.
The vessels are permeable and fragile in lipoedema, which is why fluid leaks into the connective and supporting tissue. This capillary damage to the blood vessels is also thought to be the cause of the increased tendency to hematoma.
However, none of these correlations have yet been definitively proven. This is why there are always studies looking into the fat distribution disorder and wanting to better understand the disease through lipoedema research.
Summary of the latest research results of individual studies on lipoedema
Together with her team, Dr. Anna-Theresa Lipp conducts basic research into lipoedema. She is currently supervising five doctoral students in the final stages of their dissertations. It is very important to her to get to the bottom of the pathogenesis and causes of lipoedema. This distinguishes us and is a unique selling point in the treatment at PANTEA. Thanks to our research activities, we are up to date with the latest developments in the field of fat distribution disorders and thus offer unique, comprehensive care for those affected.
We are happy to provide a brief overview and summary of our research topics:
SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATION ON LIPEDEMA RESEARCH 2023
"Lipedema: The use of cultured adipocytes for identification of diagnostic markers (2023)"
"Lipedema: The use of cultured adipocytes to identify diagnostic markers (2023)"
Anna M Ernst, Marianne Steiner, Verena Kainz, Herbert Tempfer, Gabriel Spitzer, Tanja Plank, Hans-Christian Bauer, Nikolaus Bresgen, Andreas Habenbacher, Hannelore Bauer, Anna-Theresa Lipp
Key message: Although many results from various studies have already been published, questions about the genetic background and various medical contexts or the development of the disease remain unanswered. The research group therefore looked at various cells in search of a marker for a better and simpler diagnosis.
Background: Cells were taken from adipose tissue of patients with and without diagnosed lipoedema and examined by laboratory chemistry. Growth and appearance, metabolic activity and genetics were examined.
Results: An upregulation of so-called adipogenic cells in the tissue was observed in normal-weight lipoedema patients. A reduced adiponectin/leptin ratio was also observed in obese lipoedema patients compared to normal-weight patients with lipoedema. The reduced adiponectin/leptin ratio is suspected to be one of the causes of functional disorders in adipose tissue.
Conclusion: Not only lipoedema itself, but also the body mass index significantly influences the occurrence of certain genes. The study was therefore able to show how important it is to pay attention to the simultaneous occurrence of lipoedema and obesity.
SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATION ON LIPEDEMA RESEARCH 2022
"Lipedema Research - Quo Vadis (2022)"
"In which direction is lipedema research heading (2022)"
Anna M. Ernst, Hannelore Bauer, Hans-Christian Bauer, Marianne Steiner, Anna Malfertheiner, and Anna-Theresa Lipp
Key message: The literature review focuses on lipoedema research and compiles findings from various laboratory studies and clinical trials that have been collected over the last few decades. It also discusses whether the current staging of lipoedema is still sufficient to describe the disease
Background: The aim of the work was to provide an overview of the various laboratory approaches and the findings obtained from them.
Results: Many different procedures have shown that lipoedema can manifest itself on many levels and have reconfirmed that many more studies are needed to fully understand the clinical picture. However, it has also become clear that many questions remain unanswered and much preliminary data still needs to be explored in more depth. We have also addressed the main obstacles that stand in the way of lipoedema research. It is also clear that too little attention has been paid to the problem of concomitant obesity for too long.
Conclusion: In order to do further justice to the clinical picture of lipoedema, further studies need to be carried out in lipoedema research. However, the implementation of new findings and the consolidation of data from different disciplines will pave the way for the successful elucidation of this disease.
SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATION ON LIPEDEMA RESEARCH 2019
"New Insights on Lipedema: The enigmatic disease of the peripheral fat (2019)"
"New findings on lipoedema: the mysterious disease of peripheral fat (2019)"
Anna-Theresa Lipp, Dominik von Lukowicz, Katrin Lossagk, Matthias Aitzetmueller, Philipp Moog, Michael Cerny, Holger Erne, Daniel Schmauss, Dominik Duscher, Hans-Guenther Machens
Key message: After liposuction for lipoedema, patients' quality of life increases significantly. There was a significant, i.e. clear reduction in pain, tenderness and swelling after lipodecompression.
Background: This study presents the epidemiological situation, i.e. research into factors that could lead to the clinical picture of lipoedema. This is an important point in lipoedema research, as the conditions that trigger the onset or progression of lipoedema have not yet been researched.
Results: It was found that lipoedema patients live with the condition for an average of 15 years before a diagnosis is made. Liposuction led to a significant reduction in pain, swelling and tenderness. The known tendency to bruising was also reduced by surgery. Lipoedema patients are affected by hypothyroidism and depression with above-average frequency. The incidence of diabetes mellitus (diabetes) was conspicuously low.
Conclusion: In this study, it was observed which secondary diseases occur frequently in lipoedema patients and which diseases are less common than average. Lipoedema differs from obesity, which is often wrongly diagnosed, in that diabetes, high blood pressure and lipometabolic disorders are less common. The study also demonstrated the effectiveness of liposuction for lipoedema through a significant improvement in quality of life.
SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATION ON LIPEDEMA RESEARCH 2019
"Adipose stem cells from lipedema and control adipose tissue respond differently to adipogenic stimulation in vitro (2019)"
"Adipose stem cells from lipedema and control adipose tissue respond differently to adipogenic stimulation in the test tube (2019)"
Anna-Theresa Lipp, Dominik von Lukowicz, Katrin Lossagk, Ursula Hopfner, Manuela Kirsch, Philipp Moog, Hannelore Bauer, Hans-Guenther Machens, Daniel Schmauss
Key message: Various genetic characteristics of lipoedema fatty tissue differ significantly from non-lipoedema fatty tissue. The results of the study could potentially be used in future to make a standardized diagnosis at cell level.
Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the pathophysiology (i.e. the formation and development of pathologically altered body function) of lipoedema fat cells under laboratory conditions. It was hoped that this would provide a marker for the diagnosis of lipoedema at cell level.
Results: Patients with lipoedema showed an altered formation of adipose tissue cells at an early stage compared to patients without lipoedema. In addition, reduced amounts of adiponectin (a tissue hormone with effects on lipid and glucose metabolism) and leptin (a hormone involved in the control of hunger and satiety) were detected in the fatty tissue of lipoedema patients. The expression of certain hormones (e.g. IGF-1), enzymes (aromatase) and messenger substances in inflammation (interleukin 8) was also altered in the tissue of lipoedema patients.
Conclusion: The stem cells from lipoedema adipose tissue differed significantly from those from non-lipoedema adipose tissue in cell examinations in the laboratory. In particular, the expression of adipokines (signaling molecules in adipose tissue) could potentially serve as a marker for the diagnosis of lipoedema in the future.
CURRENT SCIENTIFIC LIPÖDEM RESEARCH 2021 ff.
"Ongoing study on liposuction for stage I, II and III lipoedema (2021 ff.)"
The so-called LIPLEG study deals with the question of the benefits of liposuction in lipoedema patients compared to conservative treatment of lipoedema alone.
The Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) would like to use the study to gain insights into the surgical treatment of lipoedema so that liposuction and its success can be better assessed in the future.
The study has been running since 2021, but final results are not yet available. Since the lipoedema patients who have undergone surgery in the trial study will be followed up for 12 months, results are not expected until the end of 2024 at the earliest.
It is expected that it will then be possible to publish the first reliable results on liposuction for lipoedema and also on conservative therapy.
LECTURES AND CONGRESSES OF THE PANTEA RESEARCH TEAM
In addition to publishing various research topics, the PANTEA team would also like to pass on the collected knowledge to the specialist public.
This is why we regularly present our research results as lectures or poster presentations at congresses.
LECTURES AND CONGRESSES OF THE PANTEA RESEARCH TEAM
1st Lipedema World Congress 2023
"RANDOMIZED NUTRITIONAL STUDY WITH 3-D SCAN MEASUREMENTS OF THE LOWER EXTREMITIES FOR WEIGHT AND CIRCUMFERENCE REDUCTION IN LIPEDEMA PATIENTS"
Dr. med. Michaela Ehrl, assistant physician at PANTEA
3rd DGFLC Congress 2023 (Dr. med. Anna-Theresa Lipp as President of the DGFLC)
"SURGICAL OPTIONS FOR THE TREATMENT OF LIPOEDEMA"
Dr. Mirko Dozan, specialist in plastic aesthetic surgery at PANTEA
"PUBERTY, PREGNANCY, MENOPAUSE - ARE HORMONAL CHANGES THE ENEMY OF ALL LIPOEDEMA"
Dr. med. Simone Hermanns, specialist in gynecology at PANTEA
"NUTRITIONAL STUDY IN LIPOEDEMA PATIENTS - LOW CARB OR LOW FAT DIET AND ITS EFFECTS ON WEIGHT AND CIRCUMFERENCE REDUCTION"
Dr. med. Michaela Ehrl, assistant physician at PANTEA
"LIPEDEMA SURGERY - NEW METHODS AND OLD WISDOM"
Dr. med. Anna-Theresa Lipp, specialist in plastic aesthetic surgery and owner of PANTEA
12th Munich Lymph Symposium 2022
"NUTRITION AND WEIGHT REDUCTION IN LIPOEDEMA AND CONCOMITANT OBESITY"
Dr. med. Anna-Theresa Lipp
10th Bochum Lymph Day 2021
"NUTRITION AND LYMPHOEDEMA - IS THERE A LYMPHOEDEMA DIET?"
Dr. med. Anna-Theresa Lipp
LECTURES AND CONGRESSES OF THE PANTEA RESEARCH TEAM
8th Scar Symposium 2021
"CURRENT QUESTIONS ON LIPOEDEMA - STATE OF KNOWLEDGE AND RESEARCH IN THE AREAS OF GENETICS, DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS AND DIFFERENTIATION FROM OBESITY"
Dr. med. Anna-Theresa Lipp
1st DGFLC Congress 2020
"NEWS FROM LIPOEDEMA RESEARCH - WHERE DO WE STAND?"
Dr. med. Anna-Theresa Lipp
International Federation of Adipose Therapeutics and Science IFATS Congress Miami 12/2017
"ADIPOGENIC FACTOR EXPRESSION IN LIPEDEMA ADIPOCYTES DIFFERS FROM CONTROL ADIPOSE STEM CELLS"
Bauer A.-T., von Lukowicz D., Hopfner U., Lossagk K., Kirsch M.B., Aitzetmueller M., Machens H.-G., Schmauss D.
26th World Congress of Lymphology ISL Barcelona 09/ 2017
"ADIPOGENIC FACTOR EXPRESSION IN LIPEDEMA ADIPOCYTES DIFFERS FROM CONTROL ADIPOSE STEM CELLS"
Bauer A.-T., von Lukowicz D., Hopfner U., Lossagk K., Kirsch M.B., Moog P., Machens H.-G., Schmauss D.
Annual Congress of the DGPRÄC/ÖGPRÄC/VDPÄC Graz 09/2017
"CELL BIOLOGICAL AND PROTEIN EXPRESSION STUDIES ON MSC AND ADIPOCYTES OF LIPEDEMA PATIENTS IN COMPARISON TO HEALTHY PATIENTS"
Bauer A.-T., von Lukowicz D., Hopfner U., Lossagk K., Kirsch M.B., Moog P., Machens H.-G., Schmauss D.
