ABOUT
US
From Potsdam to Rome - now all roads lead to Melbourne
Introduction to Lipedema World Congress
The Lipedema World Congress was launched in 2023 to give a dedicated global home to lipedema science, clinical practice, and patient advocacy. The inaugural congress in Potsdam brought together more than 500 participants and leading experts from over 35 countries for the first time, establishing a new international forum for sharing evidence, debating best practice, and aligning on priorities for research and care.
Building on that momentum, the 2025 congress in Rome expanded both the scale and depth of the program, with plenary sessions, multiple oral and poster tracks, workshops, and surgical demonstrations, alongside more than 250 original scientific contributions. Across the two events, the congress audience and program have grown in parallel with the field itself: from foundational work on definition, diagnosis, and conservative and surgical management in Potsdam, to more advanced discussions of pathophysiology, imaging, personalised treatment pathways, and person‑centred care models in Rome.
The 2027 congress will continue this trajectory, reflecting how rapidly lipedema science has matured while keeping its core mission: to connect clinicians, researchers, and patient associations to accelerate understanding and improve outcomes worldwide.
Lipedema Science Coming of Age
Setting the Agenda for Lipedema World Congress III
The theme of the Lipedema World Congress III - “Lipedema Science Coming of Age” - reflects a pivotal moment in the journey of this condition. Over the past decade, we have witnessed remarkable growth in lipoedema research: from small, single-centre studies to larger, multi-national collaborations; from case reports to more robust clinical trials; and from isolated interest to a genuine, global scientific community.
Lipedema is no longer a niche topic confined to the margins of medicine. It is gaining traction across disciplines—among vascular specialists, endocrinologists, physiotherapists, psychologists, surgeons, and primary care clinicians. Research funding is increasing, dedicated clinics are emerging, and lipoedema is beginning to feature more prominently in guidelines, conferences, and academic discourse.
This growing momentum is something to celebrate. It signals that the field is maturing, that questions once dismissed are now being asked seriously, and that people living with lipoedema are benefiting from a stronger evidence base and more informed care.
And yet, “coming of age” does not mean “the battle is won.” Far from it. Many people with lipoedema still face delayed diagnosis, limited access to care, and a lack of recognition in health systems and policy. Stigma persists. Gaps in knowledge remain. The work ahead is substantial.
But from a scientific perspective, the outlook is increasingly positive. The foundation is being built for the next stage: more rigorous research, better-defined diagnostic criteria, clearer treatment pathways, and stronger advocacy grounded in evidence.
At this congress, we aim to capture this moment of transition—to showcase the progress made, to confront the challenges that remain, and to foster the collaborations that will carry lipoedema science into its next, more mature chapter
Who should attend?
The Lipedema World Congress (LWC) is a scientific congress designed primarily for researchers, medical practitioners, and allied health professionals working in or interested in the field of lipoedema. The program focuses on current research, clinical practice, and professional development, and is intended to support evidence-based care and collaboration across disciplines.
For this reason, registration for the Lipedema World Congress is not open to patients or the general public.
Representatives of patient organisations are welcome to attend, provided they can demonstrate that they are part of a registered not-for-profit organisation in their home country. If you are a patient advocate or organisation representative, you will be asked to provide details of your organisation and your role as part of the registration process.
For patients, advocates, and supporters
Running concurrently with the Lipedema World Congress is the Lipoedema Australia Conference, with a program specifically designed for patients, advocates, carers, and supporters. This conference focuses on lived experience, practical management strategies, peer support, and community connection.
If you are a person living with lipoedema, a family member, or a supporter, we encourage you to register for the Lipoedema Australia Conference, where the content and environment are tailored to your needs. Details and registration information can be found below
About the organisers
The Lipedema World Alliance
The Lipedema World Alliance (LWA) is a not‑for‑profit association founded in 2022 by healthcare professionals, researchers, and patient‑association representatives from multiple countries. Its purpose is to foster scientific dialogue and collaboration across disciplines and borders to improve understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of lipedema, and to support people living with the condition.
The LWA’s membership includes clinicians from lymphology, surgery, internal medicine, rehabilitation and allied health, as well as researchers and patient advocates, and it is supported by founding donors from the medical‑device and health‑technology sectors.
Since its first General Assembly at the 2023 Potsdam congress, the Alliance has helped shape the Lipedema World Congress program, convened consensus work (including a Delphi‑based position paper on the definition and management of lipedema), and promoted biobanking and other research infrastructure to advance the field. The LWA now organises the biennial Lipedema World Congress as its flagship activity, creating a recurring global platform where science, practice, and patient experience can inform one another and drive progress in lipedema care.
About the hosts
Lipoedema Australia
Lipoedema Australia (LA) is the national representative body for people living with lipoedema in Australia. LA's roots go back to January 2012 as the Lipoedema Australia Support Society (LASS), a small Facebook support group for women with lipoedema - one of the first English‑speaking lipoedema support groups in the world. Lipoedema Australia became a registered charity in 2017, and is led by a working board of directors, assisted by an Advisory Council, dedicated to raising awareness, promoting acceptance of, and advocating for those living with lipoedema.
The organisation supports thousands of patients, carers, and health professionals through information, resources, and connection. LA runs biennial national conferences that bring together the Australian lipoedema community with clinicians and researchers, providing a key forum for education, networking, and the latest evidence in lipoedema care.
Beyond patient support, Lipoedema Australia offers a professional membership and a practitioner directory, and delivers training and education sessions for health professionals. It works directly with general practitioners to improve recognition and understanding of lipoedema in primary care, and engages extensively with all levels of government to increase supports and services for people living with lipoedema.